Sir William Perkins

[incognito119]

hey everyone, DD has been given a WL place for SWPS. Any current parents share their opinion of it please? very interested to hear thoughts on the new head mistress?

My daughter is at this school.

New headteacher seems ok, we’ve not really had much to do with her yet. But nothing drastic seems to have happened in terms of school direction with the change of leadership.

We are really happy with our choice, my daughter enjoys school. Lots of trips, good level of sport and drama available etc

@thestringcheesemassacre thank you so much for replying. How much after school sport do they do in the evenings? Do most girls stay and do extra curricular in the evenings

Bump!

Yes most stay on and do prep or sport. Coaches leave at 445 after this finishes. We live quite local so our daughter gets the train.

typically they have training- netball/hockey / other once a week and then probably a match once a week
,

My daughter is at the school and is thriving there. I would thoroughly recommend the school. She has a nice group of friends and has settled in well. She enjoys sports and has a sports club every day of the week, she likes the fact that she is taught hockey from a GB hockey coach and welsh hockey goalkeeper, and they have Surrey Storms netball coaches amongst their PE staff. The new head seems very nice and is about the individual and bringing out the best and finding what each person is passionate about. Hope this helps.

@DreamBig1979 thank you for your feedback. We have accepted the offer and are looking forward to the welcome event later in the year. Can I ask what year your daughter is in and how you find friendship groups etc ? Slightly worried about the all girl aspect. I appreciate it’s the same at any all girls school but I know some schools have more problems than others

Hiya! I know this may seem a bit weird but I’m actually at the school right now! Joined in 2019 and am currently in yr11 sitting my GCSES and planning to stay on to sixth form. Personally I think the school is amazing: the teachers are v. friendly and the environment is generally nurturing, supportive and encouraging. I’d be happy to answer any more questions as i’m currently procrastinating revision!!

@user735273629369 thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Glad to hear you have enjoyed your time at them school - it’s always good to get a perspective from a current pupil.
good luck in your exams

Views on School going co-ed?

We are still happy to be going. Anyone starting before 2026 won’t be in a mixed year group until 6th form and i suspect a lot of children move schools at this point anyway.

Clearly a move to stem falling numbers and bolster revenue.

if it was just sixth form going mixed that would make sense, as some girls do leave single sex for mixed sixth forms...

Fundametally, I would be more worried about why they feel they have to go co-ed, than the whole concept of co-ed itself.

That would be my question at open mornings when considering a place.

Remembering of course that not all transitions to co-ed go well or indeed work.... and if theirs doesnt, what then, is the school In trouble?

Again, ask at open events.

I don't think it's a good idea, seems sad if the school is struggling though.

Their statement is confusing 'we believe that girls and boys are best prepared for life when learning alongside each other'.

Seems like a complete change as I thought they used to promote single sex education as best, but maybe I'm wrong.

Mmm. An interesting development. Have been looking at the school for my DD but don't think the announcement will change that. Have had a look at the accounts (easily accessible via Charity Commission) and they look very strong so there is something else behind the move. Maybe just going the way of the world, as they say. Lots of single sex schools in the area, so gives us different options now.

I also googled their accounts before we accepted and found them to be healthy. I know they have been buying up additional land for a while so I don’t think this is an out of the blue/knee jerk reaction but has been in the pipeline for a while.

I know a few parents with girls there, and the general consensus is anger! Over the decision and the way it was handled. They have been struggling for numbers in Year 7 for last few years. They are fairly full but applications are not high, and falling. So they are hoping to keep numbers up, and finances healthy

Finances have built up over time, mainly because the previous head spent no money at all on the school. We looked round it before making our choice, but felt (despite its decent results) the facilities looked tired and I couldn't see where my fee would go, apart from on some OK results at the end, and fill8ng up their bank account in the interim period. I guess it wanted my DD to enjoy the other side of independent education, the bricks and mortar side.

So yes there is money in the bank. Like other have said, its appears year 7 numbers are struggling and applications are low due to the competition outperforming their current offering. They also don't have a prep school, so no younger girls feeding year 7, which means they have to find a whole year group from scratch each year.

By allowing boys there's a whole new pool to recruit from - one damger being that the girls currently pick it, on the whole, because it's girls only. Will be interesting to see how that plays out.

I suspect like many independent schools in the area (and maybe elsewhere, I only know local) they have concerns about numbers.
Numbers don't appear to have fallen but with the cost of living crisis and potential for VAT if not now, at some point in the mid future, I think schools are considering how to safeguard against future drops.

Schools that want to survive have to pre-empt falling numbers. It's no good trying to react once things have happened as so much infrastructure adjustments need to be made.
There are some schools in dire straits and I suspect this more is to safeguard against this.

Out of interest how do you know application numbers? As you say, they are full. They haven't had any drop in year 7 intake so how do you know what application/interest levels are?

@Cyclingisfun year 7 is not smaller. How do you know what application numbers are. Are they published somewhere??

I too thought it was full, so what is all this about falling numbers?
Parents are not impressed with how the recent decision was relayed though.

Surely application numbers are irrelevant, as many parents apply for several schools as a back-up but don't take the place if they are also offered their preferred school?

Not sure whether schools publish how many pupils are in a year group vs how many they've tried to recruit.

I was referring to what @starlilly88 said in a PP. That if that was the case that could be a reason.

BUT we must not kid ourselves really- there is usually no other reason though, to be honest for a move like this... Going co-ed is always a decision to react to a current or perceived future issue with regards to 'numbers' or the school as a going concern in the immediate or future sense.

I very much doubt there has been an entire philosophy change for no reason - SWPS has always, very proudly, championed and been loudly outspoken about the benefits of girls only education (and they'd be right, it has massive benefits) I went to an open morning and heard that myself - plus still loosely follow their socials.

So either the governors see a threat on the horizon and have recruited the new Head with this change in mind, or the new Head has come in and seen the writing on the wall - we'll never know - but I doubt it's just been a penny dropping moment of: "oh, actually, after all these years we had it totally wrong, co-ed is better!"

It is quite hard to tell how many have applied, I'm sure that's a closely guarded secret of any school! The only data you can see is inspection reports, which although (health warning) are quite high level, but do, none the less show a drop in numbers between these inspections:

2024 - 569
2020 - 587
2017 - 622

It doesn't look scary, but with VAT etc., maybe their future perception or projections indicate something needs to be done soon, as these massive changes do take time. It could be in the short term the numbers go down further, as those seeking a girls only offering switch schools, before recovering as boys join.

@Oblomov24 , how did they let you know? Was it totally out of the blue - a suprise?

I wonder if people will leave, or start looking, or just accept it and move on? It will be interesting to see. It does, however remove another girls school from the area, which was probably overdue! Will certainly help the remaining ones.