PLS educate me, what's the BUZZ about going to INDIE schools?

[worriedbub]

Hello all

Pls just go be clear ,I'm not asking for difference between state schools and indie schools. This question is really about choosing between TWO INDIE schools

This is really a genuine question as I’m finding myself in the middle of it all as well

Pls what exactly is the real motive of going to the top indie schools, even when having an option of going to two top ones. For example choosing between St. Paul’s girls and JAGS for example , they are both academically up there,

What exactly is the main reason for parents willing to relocate and even change jobs just to be near a top indie school. For example they live near a GDST school which is also a good indie school and they have an offer but then they are really pushing for ALLEYNS/st Pauls girls and are willing to relocate near these schools?

Aside from the culture of the school, isn’t it the same GCSE and A level results they are going to sit with every other secondary school?

Do unis like Oxford and Cambridge choose from top indie schools first before going to other schools?

Is having an indie school on their CV going to help them later in life ?

I’m genuinely baffled as to what the craze is behind going for a school like St Paul’s Girls Rather than Dulwich college/GDST schools for example ?

Sorry if my post isn’t clear . Hope you get the gist😊

I have no reason to change my previous post. All the friends I mentioned that opted for other schools on 11+ have also applied to WHS and got offers. For their parents the location is attractive. It is just that the school's approach and priorities do not suit these parents' expectations. No school is perfect, WHS may be ideal for your DD by your tone of it, but I think more local parents would choose it as their first option if WHS could improve in these areas.

My suggestion was in case that you felt, on second reading, that some of statements did not clearly represent your views, especially as "don't know anyone that did not apply at all" is rather different to "all the friends I mentioned that opted for other schools on 11+ have also applied to WHS and got offers". Same for "have no DD and no bias against this school personally but would love to see them joining WHS".

As said before, best of luck with fulfilling your personal preferences.

PS Not a claim that WHS is ideal for my DD, I would never claim that as I have no counterfactual nor perfect foresight. Can only comment on facts and what may drive some parents to choose it (some of them might actually be less attractive to other parents... hence always best to avoid generic statements)

This discussion is going in lots of different directions- but can I take it briefly back to contextual offers. Can I beg people not to (as some I know in RL have) try to "game" the system? Contextual offers are there in an attempt to level the playing field for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, not to disadvantage privileged children. Also, the system isn't as easy to game as some people seem to think. As you were....

@QuiteAJourney I was responding to @witscreek comments on Not sure why the poster seems to single out WHS on the basis of 10 of her friends not sending their daughters there. Presumably they didn't apply there and don't have other children there so they don't have any first hand experience anyway.

You clearly have your personal preference for WHS and I understand that you can misinterpret my statement. Also, my statement is not generic at all, it is specific to the sample of the local parents I know.

@fieldsearl of course up to you to decide if those statements are a clear way of expressing your views.
Rest assured that I am not misinterpreting your statement(s) on the back of personal preferences.
Best wishes.

I agree. Contextualisation isn’t done by computer algorithm. It’s done by smart (VERY smart) lecturers and professors who want the most promising students in their university. They can spot the sort of kids they want, whether they went to private or state school.

I remember that a few months back there were some "negative" postings on a school (LEH?) about its recent year A level result decline and some repeative comments on one should consider other higher "academic" schools than LEH. This happened at the time of applications deadline as well as the first round exams of the school.

Not sure how those "negative" comments had any different tactical effects compared to the comments we see in this thread. Really I would be equally wary about any positive comments or personal experiences on any schools in the MN - it is Internet and any offer holders should be able to tell what is opinions, what is fact in these discussions - meeting the parents, visiting the schools, sourcing information from real life is probably way more reliable.

Some people go for the "brand".

We went for the ethos. But chose the best brand in that ethos.

@witscreek "No different to parents in Putney not sending their daughters to PHS or parents in Hammersmith not choosing SPGS /G&L/LU or not choosing KCS for a boy if living in Wimbledon."

While it is possible to happen in either way,
I would imagine the likelihood on parents in Putney who receive other Schools offers not sending their DD to PHS would be way higher than parents in Hammersmith, if receive any Hammersmith schools offers, choosing schools in away from the Hammersmith area instead. So essentially I suspect there is a selection preference or pecking order from many parents pov.

I yet to hear any parents who live in Hammersmith, got offers from these schools, but chose to go to schools in other area instead.

@PreplexJ Totally agree that the only place to source reliable information about 11+ / schools is IRL. There's so much misinformation on here and opinion masquerading as fact. The only reliable thing to do really is to visit schools and draw your own conclusions - nothing beats your own gut instinct.

Contextualisation as part of the official admission intake procedure is only formally introduced recent time. It is individuallized by University. It is still an evolving process and it is by no means fair and square not subject to schools or parents "gaming" the system.