SE London: The Laurels or Sydenham High GDST?

[Ginandcolic]

Hello MNers,

Having had some excellent advice from this board in the past, I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of the Laurels and / or Sydenham High GDST in SE London?

DD is in Yr7 but her current school is not working out. We are quite far into conversations with both schools and I wondered if anyone with girls in either school (ideally in Yr7 but just generally if not), could give me some thoughts on what they're actually like?

I'd particularly love to know about the culture and dynamics within the school / year.

Thanks very much 😊

We know a number of parents with girls at Sydenham High who are very happy with it. Our girls are younger than year 7 but will go to the senior school. The new(ish) head is very engaged and the school are improving some of the facilities. I like that it is only 100 girls per year. Friendly, supportive, nurturing ethos and I am always impressed with the older girls who I meet!

Thank you! That's really helpful 😊

No personal experience but I have heard the Laurels is VERY Catholic no matter how much they downplay it at open days.

My DD went to the Laurels when it was at a different site. It was fantastic. The HT in particular is amazing. DD got great results and I thought the ethos was very special.

I am interested in this thread because I went to Sydenham High (the senior school). It was a very long time ago and I've no doubt it's different now but I hope others come along and say more about it. I remember it all so well, Miss M D Yardley was Headmistress in my time.

The Laurels is a relatively new school, maybe ten years old. It is on the site of the old Virgo Fidelis school which I do remember, knew people who went there. Laurels seems to be a good school academically and quite nurturing. However, it espouses the Opus Dei ethos and I would have reservations about that.

Thanks everyone for your comments, this is really helpful. It's so hard to get insight into a school from the open days and tours so I really appreciate your thoughts.

I've heard, but only third hand, that there are issues with bullying in Sydenham and the Laurels feels much more tailored and nurturing. It's really hard!!

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and thoughts

It’s true that the Laurels was set up by a group of parents affiliated with Opus Dei, but I wouldn’t say it has an “Opus Dei ethos”. I’m Catholic but not a member of Opus Dei and didn’t have any concerns about any “Opus Dei-ish-ness”. The HT is affiliated to Opus Dei and a couple of the other senior teachers but I would say that is one of its strengths: they are genuinely dedicated to the school and the girls in a quite inspiring way.

Sorry. One last thing. DD had friends who weren’t Catholic there. It is very Catholic but also inclusive.

(I’m not employed to do their marketing but am a real fan and would send my younger DD there if it wasn’t too far at the new site.)

Fair enough, Laurelsmum, you know better than I. My information was gleaned from their website. I too am a Catholic but moderately liberal. I also no longer have a schoolchild, am just interested.

It certainly does look like a gentle, nurturing school.

@Laurelsmum thank you for taking the time to share your experiences. It's really good do hear about the inclusivity.

@LBFseBrom thank you for raising the Opus Dei point - it's incredibly helpful to get all perspectives on it and the conversation between you and Laurelsmum has pre-empted questions I had for the school

Really appreciate all the help with this very difficult decision!

Has your daughter been offered a taster day at either school?

The Laurels website literally says it has an Opus Dei ethos:

[[https://www.thelaurelsschool.org.uk/opus-dei

I don’t think that was on the website back in my DD’s day @minipie. Thanks for the correction!

Yes she has so that's going to be helpful in terms of getting a clearer sense of what they're like but I was keen to understand any insider info people could share as it's hard to understand a school properly until you're there and we've had such a bad experience with her current school

Hi all, just in case anyone wanted an update, we have decided to go with the Laurels. DD had taster days in both schools and the Laurels suited her much better so she's starting there after Easter.

She did not get a sense of the school being evangelical and will be in a class with Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and atheists so feels that being non-religious will not be a problem. I think it's probably not right for people who actively disagree with Catholicism (obviously!) but the impression we got from the teachers and girls was that you definitely do not need to be catholic to join and it's not forced on anyone.

Sadly, Sydenham High did not work out so well and DD said the girls in Yr7 spoke of quite disruptive behaviour and a gang of girls who were fuelling a culture that was unfriendly and not very welcoming (which echoes what I'd heard about that particularly year group having issues with bad behaviour and bullying).

It's so hard to judge a school from the outside when you're just trying to do the right thing by your child but everyone's comments on here have been really helpful and given me some great questions to ask the schools and things to think about.

Thanks very much :)

Kind of you to update us. I’m envious! I’ve just checked the travel time and it’s still too far for us alas.

I met a couple of other Laurels mums at a party recently — also very happy with the school. Hope you and your DD will be, too.

Thank you! That's lovely to hear about the other parents - although sorry the travel time doesn't work for you. We are very excited the move, just need to get DD through this term.

Thanks again for your help 😊

@Ginandcolic I wonder how your daughter has been getting on at Laurels? Our children have been offered a place for Sept

Hi @perzanowska my daughter LOVES the Laurels. The change in her since she started has been incredible.

The teachers are very open and accessible, the ethos of the school is really experienced by the girls day to day and the fact that we are not catholic has not been an issue at all. DD's close friends include atheists, Muslims, Hindus and Jews and everyone is treated with the same respect.

TBH, my biggest concern was the academics as a few people had said to me that it doesn't push the girls as much as other schools (Alleyns / JAGS / SCHS) do. I think that is true in that there's not as much pressure to perform all the time but what we've seen is that the teachers create a lot of headroom for the girls - for example, DD has always been strong in maths and the school has worked with this and created opportunities for her to stretch herself where she's able. I think they're excellent at teaching mixed ability classes so DD can excel where she's strong and get additional support in subjects where she needs it without feeling like she's being treated differently to her classmates.

I would say, however, that DD is very motivated and loves learning. I think she does well when there isn't a constant pressure to perform but I know some girls need an extra push to reach their potential.

The teachers have made room for DD to work on mini projects which she has presented back to the class which has made her feel really proud of her work and has helped her to develop independent learning skills. I really like this as they are building a rounded skill set rather than just focusing on academic attainment. They do this for all the girls, by the way, not just DD!

The personal tutor sessions have also been wonderful for DD and have really helped to boost her confidence.

As you can tell, I'm a big fan and DD is flourishing. Two girls from her old school are moving to the Laurels next year - obviously they did not base their decision just on DD's experience but it was what got them interested in the school.

Please DM me if you have any specific qus or if I can tell you anything more about the school :)

@Ginandcolic thank you so much for your detailed response. It’s always so nice to hear stories from actual parents and this is so helpful

You're very welcome 😊

@Ginandcolic since you mentioned Alleyns / JAGS / SCHS i wonder what you thought of the school grounds and curricular offerings at Laurels in comparison?

i know the school only moved recently so it might still be in development but on their website the variety of clubs are definitely not as wide would you agree?

The head mentioned mentoring where the girls at Laurels run classes for the kids in the junior school Oakwood which we really like - the school gives of a very "family" vibe which appeals to us.

Is there much interaction with the boys school Cedars apart from the shared grounds? I went to a co-ed school so always like the idea of mix - i know they combine again for 6th form

Hi @perzanowska the grounds are definitely not as extensive as Alleyns or JAGS. I'm not sure about SCHS. They don't have a swimming pool but do take the girls swimming locally - not all the time though, so each year group swims once a week for a term. They also have access to trampolining too (which my DD loves)!

The girls use the big fields just next to the school and they do a lot of different types of sport there and in the gym.

If you are looking for a sporty school, I would say the Laurels provides breadth and a great team spirit but not the kind of elite sport coaching on offer in some of the other schools. Their head of PE is fantastic though and has done wonders for DD's confidence.

I have found the extra curriculars to be brilliant actually, I wonder if the website doesn't do them justice. I'll PM you the latest club lists for Yr7 so you can see what you think. My DD does robotics, art, athletics, running, science, backstage theatre and maths clubs and they offer a load more. Were you looking for something in particular?

Yes the Laurels girls help with the Oakwood kids (if they want to) and my DD loves this. She's an only child and really enjoys spending time with the little ones. (Possibly because she can give them back after half an hour 😂)

They do interact with the Cedars boys too. This term, they have had two half day workshops with them - one in maths, one in something else which I've forgotten (I think it was a mystery solving exercise but can't remember exactly, sorry!) and they see them around the school / in the lunch hall. DD knows many of them by name and they tend to chat at the bus stop etc. I think the schools encourage this so it's not such a shock to go co-ed in the 6th form!

I'll see if can PM you the clubs list now ...

Hi guys
Just to revitalise this thread - thinking of putting my DD into The Laurels (which will be Fidelis College) from September 2025 - my daughter has done a taster class and we like so far! Anyone have any reservations about it going co ed in Sept? Any inside info? Thanks in advance!

My DD left a while ago now so my info is out of date. I know that the previous head left as she didn’t support them going co-ed. But I think they didn’t have much choice given the economic climate.