Forest vs Queens

[MollFlounders]

Hi - DD is dyslexic and the 11 plus has been a challenge. She's worked very hard off her own bat and, slightly against all expectations, has ended up with offers at Forest and Queens.

Recognise they're very different schools, co-ed vs all girls, commute out vs easy trip in central London (we're in zone 1 London and while the Forest coach stops near us it's a very early start), small townhouse environment vs big campus with sporting fields etc.

I'm really not sure what to do. She's not sure either. While they are very different places, they do each have their own appeal and we're torn.

I think it comes down to where she'll get the best ongoing support and the quality of the SEN support. They both talk a good game and seem to have strong SEN teams but I've got a friend with a Year 10 child at Forest who is also SEN and now feels or is under a lot of pressure re GCSE expectations and then maybe being weeded out pre A Levels. Maybe this happens everywhere?

I'd be really grateful for any thoughts / experiences

Thank you!

Don’t have direct experience with either school. But I know lots of families with kids at either school.

I think Queens is going to be a better choice for you simply because of the location.

Is your daughter sporty? Forest has fixtures on Saturdays and you’ll have to drive her out to Essex. Same for social life. That’s at least what my Islington friends with kids at forest tell me.

School bus is fab in theory…but do many kids actually use it post YR 9 when they want to be more independent? Something I’d look into if you haven’t yet. The public transport from Zone1 to Forest is madness.

Queen's if you live in zone 1.

Thanks so much- the logistics do worry me

Queen's no doubt. We were so unimpressed with Forest's SEN team we didn't even apply. They basically said they didn't want to promise us anything about SEN support. They said they give SEN advice to teachers but couldn't guarantee the teachers would follow it! This was without knowing much about our child's needs at all. Our child is going to a more selective school that seemed vastly more supportive of SEN.

Separately, the headmaster seemed proud that girls were getting closer to equal opportunities in sports, when this should just always have been the case!

Queen's is quite bit higher ranked at GCSE anyway. I cannot see why you would travel further to get to Forest when Queen's is closer and better and more supportive of SEN and neurodiversity in particular.

Thanks a lot LimeSqueezer - that's really helpful. I also totally get what you're saying on sport; we picked up a similar message at the open day and had the same reaction. I think I know where my mind is, now need to get DD over the line. We had just not expected to have this option so have gee'd her up about Forest

Hi there. We live in NW3. Accepting queens over 2 other girls schools higher ranked as DD loves it so much. Not sure this is helpful but thought I would share.

Thanks LaughingLemon. And thanks Mrsseven and Soma, who I didn't thank properly yesterday when my head was still spinning. I've woken up this morning think we must be mad not to grab Queen's with both hands. It's what we always wanted, it's just that as we thought DD wouldn't get in we worked hard on an alternative narrative for her so she didn't feel she'd "failed". I just hope we haven't been too successful on that and can now move her mindset back before the cut off date!

My vote would be Queen's too. I don't have DC at either school, but most parents I know (we are in zone 1 too) choose Queen's over Forest.

@MollFlounders we knew several PP who lived more centrally who pulled their DD's out of Forest because they were missing so much of the extra curricular stuff - either the coach didn't arrive on time (morning), or left too early (afternoon) to take part.

Thanks @Soma and @JoeDoe. @Soma the point about the school bus concerns me too. There's the independence point that's been mentioned plus the idea of being completely beholden to its schedule and actual running time

We went for Queens. Just wanted to say thanks again for the advice - it helped clarify things. Thank you!