Godolphin and Latymer vs JAGS

[Kofodi06]

Hi Mums, we are currently overseas and wanted to get some information regarding schooling in UK. My daughter is academically bright, not too sporty. She has got an offer from Godolphin and Latymer for secondary school (Jan'25). She will also be sitting the test for JAGS next year. We are in two minds, although the G&L seems really great, we read some reviews about girls being snobs and acting entitled which made us confused. We come from humble background and want the best for our girl. So I basically have a few questions for you:

1. How is G&L Vs JAGS? Would be great if you know anyone studying there.
2. How is Hammersmith as an area to live safety wise and cost wise
3. Are there good primary schools (Boys or co-ed) in Hammersmith for my little one? Thank you so much !

What year group is your daughter going to enter? Your son, what age? Where overseas are you from? The question of safety depends if you coming from Dubai/ Singapore or US.
JAGs, Alleyns and Dulwich in SE London and junior schools.
Hammersmith, Latymer Junior, G&L. Ravenscourt Prep.
Check out goodschoolsguide.co.uk

Thank you for your reply! Daughter will be Yr 8 in Jan 2025 and my son Yr 3 in Jan 2025. Coming from Australia.
Not able to figure out a school for my son in Hammersmith. We can always try to get admission in a state school for my son but seems it’s hard to get in in a good state school( we could be wrong). I will check the schools and website you have recommended.

Australia, would you prefer a leafy or more urban settings?
Leafy would be JAGS, Alleyn, Dulwich.
Do you want single sex or coed?
The UK London system has a lot of variables.
Hammersmith has some lovely pockets and some dodgy parts. Have you found a place to live? If this is a work transfer would they help with relocation? It is not cheap in London but would you be living walking distance to school?
You can google crime rates in London by postcode.
Also, traffic, use google maps due to smaller distance could be longer travel time. TFL website for travel time and distance.
GL, girls travel from a wide distance. Offer for Jan 2025 but your DC sitting JAGs next year for which term?

If she has a place at G&L I'd just take it rather than sitting for JAGs. You don't have to live in Hammersmith- girls will come from all around. Lots from Hammersmith, Chiswick, Fulham, Putney, North London etc.
Lots of Co-Ed Preps around and most good state schools also have spaces these days. Ravenscourt Prep is near G&L but other schools in all the areas mentioned above. In terms of Co- ed secondaries Latymer Upper is the obvious one near G&L ( lots have kids at both). It has a prep but hard to get an in year offer as popular due to automatic entry into the Upper School.

Yes its a work transfer. We haven't explored London much so initially would prefer to live close to the school or a few stations away. Seems GL is close to the train stations so that's good. Open to living in a suburb which is safe, good surrounding primary schools and easy commute to the city and Hammersmith.

That's very helpful to know, thank you! With VAT coming into picture prices have gone up so much, really need to think about our decisions. Is getting into a primary state school in the areas you mentioned (Outstanding/good) straight forward procedure or is it oversubscribed? Any idea?

Check out goodschoolsguide.co.uk and londonpreprep.com

Lots of state Primary schools in Southwark (so, JAGS area) are under subscribed. The good ones are still full, but there's so much movement in London that if you're close by, a place will come up fairly soon. Anecdotally I gather competition for places around Hammersmith is still quite fierce.

They're both excellent schools. I'd think about where you want to live and go from there.

G&L is a great school, I’d be inclined to accept that but I don’t know JAGS and its area very well. I agree with PP on what Hammersmith is like, there are other nice areas nearby that would be an easy commute to Hammersmith- Barnes, Putney, Chiswick, Fulham, Kew and Richmond, all of which have good primaries for your son.