Westminster vs St Pauls vs Harrow vs Winchester - Application Process Sixth form

[Rennypie03]

Hi there, we are considering starting applications for Sixth form for my DS. He is very academic and wants to do Maths, Physics, Further Maths and Chemistry/Economics for Alevels. He is also a great Cello player, in the choir at his current school and plays Rugby (but he isnt very sporty)

I prefer he goes to a 'hot house' or a school that will push him academically. I have no preference for single sex or co-ed.

I see from MN boards that these 4 schools are very challenging to get into? I dont want to apply to all 4 (only 2) and I really dont want very stressful application interview process. I sent an email to Winchester for a private tour but was declined and told to try next year - too early

I have emailed Harrow and no response

We will be applying to Kings Canterbury and Bromsgrove as well as I find them to be good all round schools and they have both responded to my emails :-)

A friend recommended Dulwich College and Epsom as other top notch schools with less application stress. Any thoughts?

Location is not an issue

What are your son's preferences? That's quite important for sixth form.

Also the schools are now on holiday so I wouldn't expect any replies until after the New Year.

Thank you for responding, I understand. My question really is which of these calls has an easier application process? either less exams? less interview dates?

I expect they will all have similar- 2 or 3 exams on the same day and then a few interviews should they get through the exams. These would be fairly short and related to subjects. That would be standard for most of the academic London schools at 16 plus.

You need to speak to the admissions dept of Westminster and ask how many boys they admit into the sixth form as the process is geared towards girls as it's a mixed 6th form. St Paul's says on its website that they admit 15 boys into the 6th form.
I'm sure Winchester would be an easier option as they are going through a period of change and Epsom College definitely would be easier if you wanted a 6th form boarding place but it's without the academic rigour of Westminster and St Paul's - look at the league tables to see this.

Also- it sounds as though you want boarding school? I would discount St Paul's on that basis- it's primarily a day school.

DD did the entrance exams for Westminster sixth form a few years ago but that was Covid era and the exams and interviews were online. She thrives on interrogation and one to ones so enjoyed the interviews and got offered a place but whilst shortlisted for a scholarship she didn't get the Queen's (as it was then) scholarship so we couldn't afford for her to go and she was more than happy to continue at her state grammar sixth form. The Westminster tests wouldn't be for everyone as they are a serious test of academic ability and rigour but then DD liked the thought of working alongside students who had also been through the same process and were similarly minded.

It is slightly at odds that you are looking at an academically rigourous schools but one which doesn't test much on entrance. DD was fortunate to have a great (free) option that she was extremely happy with as she had done years 7-11 there and she is now in Y1 at Cambridge so you don't have to go to one of the top schools to get to the top universities.

Thank you so much for all the comments. Actually very clear and reassuring. With good perspective on number of boys day vs boarding etc

Yes I do have less academic schools on the list because one never knows who gets in and who doesn't. Whilst I know he is very smart, I don't know the ultimate criteria the schools use to make offers. Or if he will dislike the schools when he visits. So I do need to be flexible....

I am open to any more thoughts comments pointers please

It is slightly at odds that you are looking at an academically rigourous schools but one which doesn't test much on entrance.

I had the same thought. If a rigorous admissions process is an important turn-off then I'm think it may be wise to examine what you're really meaning & wanting when you say "hot house" and why that environment seems like the best fit for your DS.

What year is your DS? Is he wanting to board? What are his reasons for leaving his current secondary?

@Rennypie03 I can help you with the Westminster process. There are 80 places available at 6th form at Westminster for both boarding/day places and for both sexes. I have a child there. It is probably one of the most competitive entry processes your DS could try for as it isn’t just domestic pupils sitting the examinations (they take international boarders only in the 6th form) and the year my DC is in has students from all around the world. The entrance process is very clear and all of the dates for entry are on the website. 2024 intake is closed (current y11 students) so registration for y12 will open for current y10 students who will start in September 2025 in June. It is very unlikely you will get a ‘private tour’ but admissions are incredibly helpful if you want to know something specific. Around 900 sit the entrance exam and exams are taken in every subject the student wishes to do for A level. The next stage is an interview in every subject. Then an offer. The school suits independent thinkers are self-starters as they teach the subject, not how to pass an A level - the interview process is looking for those, not a student who has been coached to death. The school balances out both sexes and subject numbers. The subjects your DS wants to take at A level are the most popular combination choices and you should be aware that some of the pupils in the school coming up are already very (off the scale level) bright - as an example during Oxbridge examinations, some current students scored maximum levels in the respective entrance examinations in STEM subjects. Your DS would need to be able to compete at that level. You cannot ‘game’ the system by applying for non-STEM subjects and then switch to STEM as your DS would have to sit examinations in those subjects before a place could be confirmed and he would have to score on a par with other offers and only then if placed were available in those subject classes. There are 4 Kings scholar places open to girls only and success means you board at day pupil rates (not sure about @PettsWoodParadise comment about affordability unless they are referring to bursaries on top of a scholar place, success in attaining a KS place means it is the same cost as a day pupil) but you should be aware that the scholar place cost advantage is being reduced over the coming years. You need to specify upon application which place you would want (boarding or non boarding) but be aware boarding places for y13 are like hens teeth. They take the most able students, not necessarily just girls for 6th form. It is great your DS plays the cello, there are plenty of orchestral opportunities but be aware that the standard of strings in the senior orchestras is incredibly high and the majority attend an external saturday music school. You need references for everything for applications and the school will contact the current school before your DS is offered a place - so think about that aspect also.

Things I would add - my DC has absolutely thrived at the school. Pastoral care is excellent but it is a very full-on school (a lot of the day students have Breakfast, lunch and dinner at school) and with such talent, it can feel highly pressured. All students have to sit 4 A levels and dropping to 3 is for exceptional circumstances only. Your DC really needs to be resilient to thrive there. In case it is of interest, the school also has a good mix of ND students and it is very diverse in terms of ethnicity. Pupils in y12/13 come from a vast array of previous schools including very academically selective ones.

Bottom line, a very rigorous highly academic school but an entrance process to match.

If you not into boarding only, check out Kings Maths School, free sixth form on those A levels. Their results and grades is top notch and beats all those schools maybe due to narrow focus. The school website have their Maths questions etc for entry.
A newer version from Imperial college is called Imperial College London Mathematics school in North London.
I think your son needs to go to all the open days to get a feel whether single sex or coed, boarding or not.

@Tedlassosjumper, I have to say a very big thank you to you for taking the time to clearly explain the process. You understood my concerns and question and addressed it so clearly and directly and objectively, for this I am very appreciative.

I will share your comments with my DS and see if he is still interested in applying. If he is, I will reach out to admissions as now I can ask the right questions.

@HawaiiWake thank you, day schools is out of it for us, we want boarding but I do know 2 gentlemen who attended Kings Maths school and they are at Oxbridge now. It is Good school for math enthusiasts.