Merchant Taylors' Northwood vs Watford Grammar

Kohaku · 2024-01-19T09:58:17+00:00

Does anybody have any opinions on whether boys turn out any different from the 2 schools? Any experiences with both? I am near both, I know MTS would have a stronger network and do extra stuff like CCF but am having difficulty deciding if the difference is enough to justify the fees... To confuse the matter now universities are favouring state schools more (lower offers etc.) but the flip side is you only get one shot at a formal education and maybe they end up with a more rounded personality at MTS... (if it is even true as I hear good things about WG too!) Has anybody had experiences with both? any info at all would be really appreciated.. thanks

Moglet4 · 19/01/2024 10:18

Hi, I can’t help with these schools specifically (though I know of their reputations) but I do have experience teaching in both types of school and am going through the same decisions with my own children. Firstly, nobody at Watford Grammar will get a lower academic offer from a university. The lower offers are for students from disadvantaged state schools, not for the types of students who will be attending grammar. However, guidelines that the university admissions have to consider do, in effect, mean that state kids are at an advantage when it comes to whether they are actually offered a place or not. Having said that, some of those requirements eg postcode are being revised this year so may not apply to your child.
Teaching is likely to be of a similar standard at both schools though there will be a much more laid back feel at the private, largely because of the difference in class sizes: a grammar will have classes of 31ish whereas a private is unlikely to have more than 24.
Facilities are likely to be quite different and the extra curricular is unlikely to be as extensive or varied at grammar.
You will also likely find that as the kids approach GCSE, the parents at the grammar will all start paying for private tuition - this is nowhere near as common in private and where it does take place, tends to target specific areas of weakness.
In my personal experience, the academic pressure is less discernible in a private school (it’s still there, but more subtle). That comes with a big price tag, though. Ultimately, you have to weigh up whether you think it will be worth it when academic outcomes are ultimately going to be similar.

roses2 · 19/01/2024 12:06

You will also likely find that as the kids approach GCSE, the parents at the grammar will all start paying for private tuition - this is nowhere near as common in private

I'd disagree with that. I know students at Merchant Taylor, City & St Pauls who were all tutored for GCSE in the subjects they wanted to go on to A level for. There is a lot of peer pressure at these schools to be the best unfortunately and and if you don't tutor at GCSE there is a risk of being left behind or not making the mark to go on to A level at these schools.

Moglet4 · 19/01/2024 12:15

roses2 · 19/01/2024 12:06

You will also likely find that as the kids approach GCSE, the parents at the grammar will all start paying for private tuition - this is nowhere near as common in private

I'd disagree with that. I know students at Merchant Taylor, City & St Pauls who were all tutored for GCSE in the subjects they wanted to go on to A level for. There is a lot of peer pressure at these schools to be the best unfortunately and and if you don't tutor at GCSE there is a risk of being left behind or not making the mark to go on to A level at these schools.

It does happen, absolutely, but tends to be in far fewer subjects (either ones they find particularly difficult or as you say, ones they’ll be taking for A-Level).

Original poster

Kohaku · 22/01/2024 13:35

Thanks for your comments and insights... what about outside the classroom like peer group, pastoral care and anything else that may result in the boy being more rounded at the end ? Any areas of concern at either school?

OP posts:

Sittykitty · 22/01/2024 13:45

I know pupils from MTs and have personal experience of the Watford Boys.

I haven't seen a huge amount of difference between the outcomes, and dcs tbh. I knew people who used MTs as a reserve because they didn't score high enough for the grammar. Others who came out of local prep schools and didn't ever consider state.

They all ended up at the same universities, on the same courses.

Watford Boys is great, loads of extra curriculum stuff, and the pastoral care is very good. I've always found them to be very kind and approachable.

littlepea13 · 22/01/2024 14:51

Moglet4 · 19/01/2024 10:18

Hi, I can’t help with these schools specifically (though I know of their reputations) but I do have experience teaching in both types of school and am going through the same decisions with my own children. Firstly, nobody at Watford Grammar will get a lower academic offer from a university. The lower offers are for students from disadvantaged state schools, not for the types of students who will be attending grammar. However, guidelines that the university admissions have to consider do, in effect, mean that state kids are at an advantage when it comes to whether they are actually offered a place or not. Having said that, some of those requirements eg postcode are being revised this year so may not apply to your child.
Teaching is likely to be of a similar standard at both schools though there will be a much more laid back feel at the private, largely because of the difference in class sizes: a grammar will have classes of 31ish whereas a private is unlikely to have more than 24.
Facilities are likely to be quite different and the extra curricular is unlikely to be as extensive or varied at grammar.
You will also likely find that as the kids approach GCSE, the parents at the grammar will all start paying for private tuition - this is nowhere near as common in private and where it does take place, tends to target specific areas of weakness.
In my personal experience, the academic pressure is less discernible in a private school (it’s still there, but more subtle). That comes with a big price tag, though. Ultimately, you have to weigh up whether you think it will be worth it when academic outcomes are ultimately going to be similar.

Students not getting a contextual offer for uni due to going to grammar school isn't true - as long as they went to a state grammar, all that matters is your postcode for location based contextual offers etc.

My DD went to our local state grammar and ended up with 3/5 contextual offers from her universities she applied to.

Moglet4 · 22/01/2024 15:07

littlepea13 · 22/01/2024 14:51

Students not getting a contextual offer for uni due to going to grammar school isn't true - as long as they went to a state grammar, all that matters is your postcode for location based contextual offers etc.

My DD went to our local state grammar and ended up with 3/5 contextual offers from her universities she applied to.

Show quote history

It is very unusual and you’re very lucky if that’s been your experience. Universities do not just look at postcodes- that is one of 3 requirements they are asked to consider and is the one that is getting scrapped this year. Also, not all universities give contextual offers and some only in certain subjects. Only a tiny proportion of students from a school like Watford Grammar will be given contextual offers and as the postcode consideration is going, it’s not really going to be a relevant area for the OP when considering which school to send their child to. The only thing they might want to consider in that area is that the OFS wants 75% of university places to be taken by state school students so they may be more likely to get an offer though it’s unlikely to be a lower one.