Newstead vs JAGs

[teaandyarn]

My daughter has just been offered a place at JAGS and is awaiting the outcome of a Newstead place but it looks hopeful according to past results. There is a chance she could go onto the waiting list.

We can afford JAGS (household income currently £200k plus) but it will mean some sacrifices. Older son is in super selective grammar but we feel he didn’t get as much of a push as he would have in an independent school. Younger son is a good candidate for the same grammar school (bright and more motivated).

We were very disappointed by the run down Newstead facilities although girls I know seem to be happy and thriving there. Is it worth sending DD to JAGS for this reason? There also seemed to be fewer girls from minority backgrounds at JAGS, is it an inclusive environment which is tolerant of people’s religious practices?

Any advice would be appreciated.

That is true. On the first day, Newstead told us every girl is the top academic from their primary school. But they may find it is just ordinary in Newstead now. They have to prepare for hard work and challenges for the next 7 years. So far no one uses any outside tutors as school homework is a lot! But I heard Jags do suggest some students leave. I found more and more families started to prepare kids for grammar school much earlier like year 3 and year 4. I feel the majority of grammar students are from minority backgrounds. The competition is very high year by year. Plus this VAT thing will be crazy to see in a few years. Some family choose to send in 4 years or 7 years with a better guarantee the places in top private schools.

Newstead is a selective school; the expectations are high, and will be for the next seven years. Parents generally tend to forget that it is not just passing the exam and getting into the school that matters, but being able to keep up the academic pace for the rest of their school life. I went to a similar school in my time, and two of my cohort dropped out early and some of the remaining girls found it hard to cope. In my son's time at St Olave's, one boy was withdrawn after a couple of terms - he had apparently been heavily tutored to get in. Some children do better in a less pressured environment.

If it’s of any help, we’re in a similar situation. But there was no doubt in our mind.

We’ve accepted JAGs.

We are a family of colour and the diversity at JAGs is not a concern/question for us.

Jags test is not hard, computer-based. It's much easier than grammar school tests and Alleyn's school tests. It has group activities and interviews. I guess because of girls' schools only, there is less competition than in mixed schools. If your kid can pass grammar school and has no problem speaking in the interview. It should not be a problem to get the offer. I know many families got their offer and grammar schools. Top mixed school is a bit harder. Good Luck!

@Lingar I respectfully disagree in this case. Newsteadwood test’s only verbal and non-verbal. JAGs tests verbal, non verbal, English and maths. You also have an interview, group exercises and a creative writing test. It’s viewed as extremely competitive to get in, as any basic desk research will tell you. JAGs also also has competition from children across london and internationally, Newsteadwood has to be within a 8 mile radius. Gender is not a factor, or should not be, for competition. If we look at pure performance JAGs significantly beats Newstead, the latter demonstrating 68% of pupils gained 9-8 at GCSE and the former demonstrating approx 76% with 52% gaining all 9s and NSTW with 39%. There’s a reason why it’s one of the best independent schools in the country (8th based on results only Allyen’s was top 2O I think https://www.best-schools.co.uk/uk-school-league-tables/list-of-league-tables/top-100-schools-by-a-level) and viewed as the best in London by the Sunday times. Newsteadwood is an excellent school but heavily focussed on Academics, JAGs is more holistic, they can afford to be I might add, so we feel the overall experience would/should be more enriching to DD. Just my 2 cents….

I commented based on our experiences. My girl took Bexley, kent and Newstead wood exams. She also took Alleyn school, Eltham, Jags.. She ranked hard to easy- Alleyn> Bexley> Kent > Eltham > Newstead > Jags > BH Maybe her Jags test is not hard they consider age although she has group activities and interviews. Many private school has the similar test process. She got all offers except mixed gender school although she went to scholarship interviews with one mixed school (a bit strange).

I have compared both school academically in the past a few years. During Covid test method is different. Can not 100% reply on. But they have similar GCSE archivevment. Jags have better A level results. Newstead girls move to another boys school. Nowdays Grammar school is not only study, they have many activities and clubs(read school Newsletter is the best way to learn school weekly) . My girl got music scholarship offer in private schools. She performances on professional stages. But she is only ordinary in terms of instruments and music skills in the Newstead. I believe the family who cares academic also cares other skills. Both schools are best girls school in South East London.

Thanks @Lingar it’s all good. No hate. Our experience is based off literally this year and the stats are based off 2023 achievements rather 2020.

COVID was a disruptive time for all so not really reflective of what’s happening now.

NWSTD is a great school, but when factoring several attributes, it wasn’t for her. We didn’t feel the application process was as robust as the private schools as I have detailed earlier and we know some people who have sent their DDs there and they moved for 6th form. Moving is a sign in itself but not course if the child is thriving there; that’s great!

Our DD only applied to JAGs and Bromley high, offers from both with an Academic scholarship from the former. She has the grades for NWSTD.

Like your DD, she found the JAGs exams actually straight fwd, but that was down to preparation. However they are quite thorough with the interview process and more so the sports and academic scholarships, if invited. JAGs sometimes has up to 1400 applications for 80 external places; that’s Almost a 1 in 20 success rate, NWSTD is 1 in 8 ’according to them . I’d also argue an online test is far harder than written; you can’t show working out, to gain marks, and can’t go backwards to check answers and correct.

DD really wasn’t impressed with NWSTD’s examination process and professionalism, she initially wanted to go there but was put off by how they ran the application process, it was sloppy in her view. They of course have extra curricular activities, like all a schools, it’s not a sweat shop for grades but she found the structure and opportunities in JAGs were fantastic which is why it was her number choice. NWSTD looked tired and is likely so for a reason. It certainly leverages its reputation to the Max, but DD was not convinced.

I’ve heard Bexley is very good but we missed the boat on that one so did not apply. The girls, we know, that applied to both passed Bexley but not NWSTD but not sure what to make of that.

Ultimately you have to do what’s best for your children and it’s a gamble either way, our DD may hate JAGs when she starts in Sept; it’ll be very different from the small comprehensive she’s from right now but we’ll find out and adjust as needed.

If that’s the case then the teaching and added value at JAGS must be even better than I had realised

Hi, if you got Academic scholarship from Jags and BH. Jags is better option assume travel is ok. Jags has more applications because no distance requirement and many people apply 4-5 private schools. NSTW has 9 mile distance mainly SE girls apply. Both Jags and NSTW have only one round test. Super competitive school normally has two. But Jags also consider interviews and group activity. The reason NSTW only test VR and non VR, they prefer naturally intelligent girls that they can teach English and math. They gave very strong language prepayment and math is good. Jags has better facilities like most private school but the site and system are bit outdated. Some parents messaged me privately about this. But it is the school has long history and style. I like their current headteacher, seems nice. Our first choice was Eltham(we went to 3 schoorship interviews , but they did not give offer. Very strange! I heard some internal things not sure if it was true) . If my girl did not get offer from NSTW and Jags has direct bus. I will send her to Jags. Just do not feel worth to pay full fee for not huge differences of both schools. (Jags offer many family bursary to attract top girls, but we do not qualify support)…

Jags used to be hothouse and have a lot of pressure before current headteacher. They advised some student leave if can not catch up with others. They also offer many bursaries to attract smart girls. I expect better results if you pay/purchase the education. I am not sure how many Jags girl stays from primary to secondary. Some may go to Allyen or City or Grammar. I kind remember 1/3 remaining from state primary. Allyen test is very hard and 2-3 rounds. If results are similar to Jags. (Allyen has very strong music department). Then Jags added value is good!

My comment was partly tongue-in-cheek.

I would expect better results if you are highly selective, not necessarily just fee paying.
The hothouse reputation went, not with the current head teacher, but the one before.

I am not sure what you meant by a 1/3 remaining from state primary.

Both Alleyn’s and JAGS have a written exams, group tasks and interview.
Junior school pupils have a guranteed place in the senior schools.

It's not relevant how hard kids found any 11+ exam as that's just perception surely. And anyway if the exam is 'easy' then perhaps they're only interviewing kids who get 100%.

JAGs is a great school - we didn't choose it because we felt all girls was too pressurised for dd. Plus JAGs gets smaller at sixth form as so many leave to go coed elsewhere - that didn't seem like a great thing.

@Lingar your daughter did amazing if she got offer from Jags and other selective schools. Your daughter probably didnt get a offer from Eltham college because Eltham College offered a place to 6 girls for each classroom. My niece is in Eltham there are 5 girls and 12 boys in her classroom. And all girls we know got scholarship. Well done to your daughter

Hi, Thanks :) Yes, you are right. We are very close to Eltham. It was our first choice. But very hard for girls to get in. Most of my friends’ kids went there get 1-2 scholarships. They also got all selective private schools and Grammar schools offers. We were on the waiting list (she went to 3 scholarships interviews but many talented kids especially art and music. She was very close to get in) . Luckily she got in Newstead and she is happy there now. Jags is slightly further than Newstead and no direct bus/coaches for us and she was not impressed by school. Hopefully from 2024 fully coed Eltham will be more balance. We will try again for younger one.