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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

St James’ Senior Girls (Olympia) vs St Catherine’s (Twickenham)

27 replies

ItsMeHi48 · 18/02/2024 14:51

Looking for some points of view please. My DD has offers from St James’ Senior Girls and St Catherine’s, as well as WL for FHSS (which would be our first choice). Trying to decide between the two she has offers for, in case WL doesn’t convert to an offer. Both easy for us travel wise. St C has better facilities, St J has marginally stronger academics and I think is more academically selective. St C slightly bigger than St J but still relatively small. There’s probably not much to choose between them but I’m interested to hear what others might do in our position and if any current parents of either schools have perspectives to share. My DD is bright and capable but more average academically right now, I think she needs a bit of time to mature and blossom. She’s sociable and confident, will want somewhere she can pursue interests in art, science, and also to get involved in sports. Also pondering whether London location vs more suburban is better and if there’s some benefit to the St J connection and opportunities with the boys school in Ashford also. I do have some concerns re the meditation and vegetarianism at St J and wonder how that feels for students day to day. Any thoughts gratefully received!

OP posts:
incognito119 · 21/03/2025 15:58

Hampton court house is a mixed bag and you either love it or hate it. Its part of the same group as Radnor (Dukes Education) but is a lot quirkier and teaches half of their maths lessons in French language in prep school.
I have experience of Newland House and St Cats so feel free to DM me. If you want them both to go to the same school together and dont want to do the 11+, then your best option is Radnor . Its a good school and kids are mainly local to SW west London. Lots still sit the 11+ at Radnor and move for secondary but knowing you have a through school us very comforting

HanGN · 22/03/2025 13:18

Thanks so much have you heard anything about Orleans? I worry there’s a lot of pressure on girls to grow up quick there.

with Radner’s new grounds I worry that it’s aiming to become a massive school, loosing the small charm. What do you think? Also, with it being co-ed what are the girls experiences there, is there pressure to wear make up etc?

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