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Secondary education

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Original poster

Grey Coat vs Lady Margaret vs St Marylebone

9 replies

NicoleSkidman · 10/09/2024 13:50

I have a daughter currently in year 5 living in SW1 and we are considering these 3x schools for secondary. We should be able to apply for a church place. I would love to know the pros and cons of each from people who currently have daughters attending.

In terms of academics, there seems to be little separating them. Last month’s GCSE and A Level results were fantastic for all 3. I did note, however, they a fairly low percentage of girls stay on at St Marylebone for 6th form and wondered why this was.

Also, what other schools should we consider based on our location? My preference is for single sex.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
NicoleSkidman · 11/09/2024 19:44

Anyone?

OP posts:
north51 · 11/09/2024 22:32

I only know Marylebone. Things to consider:

  • it is a very constrained site
  • its intake in year 7 is very wide academically and so they do use setting and swift movement between sets to manage this
  • its co-Ed in 6th form so some may leave because of that (I don’t know the other 2 schools you mention and whether that is the same)
  • girls also have to leave if they don’t make the grades to stay in 6th form - given the comprehensive intake at 11 it’s inevitable that there will be some girls who have to leave
  • very academic girls may also choose to leave to go to Camden School for Girls which is more highly regarded or Henrietta Barnet or one of the very academic 6th forms emerging like Harris Westminster or Imperial’s new 6th form. (A lot of children generally do change at 6th form these days so it isn’t necessarily a reason to rule out a school at year 7.)
  • the school population is falling in parts of central London and Marylebone may be affected by this.
Original poster
NicoleSkidman · 12/09/2024 10:12

north51 · 11/09/2024 22:32

I only know Marylebone. Things to consider:

  • it is a very constrained site
  • its intake in year 7 is very wide academically and so they do use setting and swift movement between sets to manage this
  • its co-Ed in 6th form so some may leave because of that (I don’t know the other 2 schools you mention and whether that is the same)
  • girls also have to leave if they don’t make the grades to stay in 6th form - given the comprehensive intake at 11 it’s inevitable that there will be some girls who have to leave
  • very academic girls may also choose to leave to go to Camden School for Girls which is more highly regarded or Henrietta Barnet or one of the very academic 6th forms emerging like Harris Westminster or Imperial’s new 6th form. (A lot of children generally do change at 6th form these days so it isn’t necessarily a reason to rule out a school at year 7.)
  • the school population is falling in parts of central London and Marylebone may be affected by this.

Thanks, this is really helpful. I suspect falling numbers in Westminster primaries will have a knock on effect on all three of these schools. As long as they are over subscribed they are effectively selective schools, hence the fantastic exam results.

OP posts:
BananaDaiquiri · 12/09/2024 13:31

Where did you get the info about percentage staying to sixth form? From the school? My impression is that many do stay for A levels, but i haven't seen any data on this. Anyway, I would be selecting a school for years 7-11, as many kids in London move schools for sixth form/ go to colleges for a variety of reasons.
I would also consider travel and religious ethos, which is light touch at some faith schools more than others.
Yes, I think all inner London schools have expanding catchments due to falling numbers, Marylebone is near the Camden border and primary school numbers have been plummeting there as well.

Original poster
NicoleSkidman · 12/09/2024 15:02

BananaDaiquiri · 12/09/2024 13:31

Where did you get the info about percentage staying to sixth form? From the school? My impression is that many do stay for A levels, but i haven't seen any data on this. Anyway, I would be selecting a school for years 7-11, as many kids in London move schools for sixth form/ go to colleges for a variety of reasons.
I would also consider travel and religious ethos, which is light touch at some faith schools more than others.
Yes, I think all inner London schools have expanding catchments due to falling numbers, Marylebone is near the Camden border and primary school numbers have been plummeting there as well.

It was mentioned in an article that they published about this years GCSE results. I can’t seem to find it now.

But, I think you’re right about kids in London regularly moving for sixth form so I don’t think it’s a concern.

OP posts:
KikiandCo · 30/12/2024 07:30

They’re all great schools - we applied for all three and in terms of priority order based the ranking on our daughter’s preference rather than distance. She was lucky enough to get her first choice. Personally I would visit them in person with your daughter and in addition to academic results ask questions about extra curricular clubs / activities that align with her personal interests.

sharkss · 06/01/2025 18:56

DD now 14 got into greycoat - she has a friend at her school (not greycoat) who left greycoat after Y7 because it was too strict. DD had the same problem with going there. Although, it all depends, because DD’s friend’s two older sisters are both enjoying it.

Summerdew · 10/01/2025 17:45

Both DDs are at Marylebone and love it. We’re really happy with it. There seem to be a few incidences of stealing but I’d expect these in most schools and DDs are thriving and becoming really independent. They don’t have ridiculous amounts of homework and there is loads of extra curricular to be involved in. Mine are not super academic, they are in the lower sets but have come on so much since being there. We also looked at GCH and the girls, whilst lovely and polite, seemed much less confident than Marylebone girls. Mine would not have enjoyed the more academic and strict side of GCH, but I think it is a great school if that’s what works for your DD. I suspect mine would be much worse off there.

AvidLemonPoet · 22/03/2025 19:12

Are you CofE?

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