SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2025

[Wlondon14]

Hi! I know there are a few threads like this out there, but they seem to focus on grammar schools outside of London. I found this group really helpful a few years ago when my daughter was going through this process.

Where are you applying, how did you find the open days? Are you using Atom learning? What is your prep plan for the next month?

I have a son applying to - St Paul's, Kings, Latymer Upper, Emanuel, Ibstock, Hampton, Harrodian

PHS offers are out!! She got an offer 🤩

Well done. Same here. Delighted!

Same. My son has his heart set on one of the schools and I know he'll be upset if he doesn't get it.. So many boys going for so few places it seems!

Congrats on the putney offers! You must be thrilled! 🥳

Great news for the PHS girls! Congratulations

Congrats on the Putney offers! It's a lovely school!

Congrats to Putney High offers! So nice to have some good news ahead of Friday.

WHS offers are out. DD got lucky.

DD got WHS too. We'll decline asap in preference of Putney or some other schools we're waiting for tomorrow. hopefully it helps reach those waitlisted.

Congrats! We are thinking of doing the same. But still not sure!
What makes you prefer PHS to WHS? Please help us decide!!!

Same here. I always had a preference for Putney but cannot explain why. To me they both look the same… whs marginally bigger. We got a scholarship for Putney so that is certainly swaying it.

Funny enough. I have always had a slight preference for Wimbledon over Putney. Not sure why. Maybe the traffic on Putney Bridge put me off 😄

@SummerDCs we have friends in both, it's just gut feel of how I picture DD in the school. Also DD prefers Putney, for reasons I don't understand. It is just higher on our list and we have a few more schools we're waiting for, so I'm consciously trying to shortlist them, as we can't attend all offer holder events.. If nothing comes through tomorrow, maybe we'll attend the WHS events too 😂

To be honest Putney is not our top preference, maybe second or third. I do want to see the cohort. Agree with the horrible traffic towards the high street. But wimbledon traffic isn't great either lol

I've got a DD at WHS- we both always preferred WHS over PHS but not sure why! Just gut feel from the beginning of the process! Can't go wrong with either!

As a local, traffic is probably as bad for WHS and PHS but not sure how relevant as DC tend to use public transport (and schools actively encourage that).

We have a DD at WHS (which was our top choice and ended up being our DD's one) and are very happy there. WHS and PHS, despite proximity and GDST membership, are different and it is only natural that some people prefer one and other people favour the other.

Agree with the public transport issue.

DD would actually have been able to walk to PHS but has to get tube or bus to WHS. This means she's confident on public transport, getting around etc. I think if she'd be able to walk to school her world would be much smaller. Although she is sometimes jealous of her friends at WHS that can walk to school. Also useful when they have something in the evening and can pop home between school and the event.

Plenty of girls living in Putney that go to WHS and vice versa!

She can cycle to both or public transport to both. For those with a child at one or the other, how are friendship groups? Wealthy stick together or sporty stick together? We are coming from state so no large house or holiday home abroad. We both work full time. I got the vibe that is more WHS than PHS. But I could be wrong.

Can't speak for PHS but know girls there and suspect quite similar...

Some with huge Wimbledon Village houses but not really the norm. Lots of families with 2 working parents. Certainly don't think the rich ones hang out together particularly. My DD isn't remotely sporty but some of her friends are- real mixture.
PHS may possibly have more girls from more Central areas- possibly more wealth?

You won't really know re friendships etc to be honest. Sometimes you have a tricky year group! There is one at the moment according to DD but a friend at PHS said the same about another year group- and also a friend at g&L - girls can be tricky! But I would say the head at WHS ( in my experience) comes down hard on that sort of stuff.

And when I say a tricky year group it's usually a small minority of girls at all these schools - most are lovely!

Could I ask what you think is different? I don’t see much difference myself. Else than Putney is reputedly sportier.

I think the PHS sporty being sportier is probably out of date now. PHS play Lacrosse, WHS Hockey. PHS probably better at gymnastics. WHS boathouse is miles away near Hampton if that might be important although someone told me they are using the GDST/ Putney boathouse a bit more these days.
When we were looking a few years ago WHS seemed a bit more 'fun' but that was just at the open day so who knows. Some families have daughters at both. Some prefer WHS and some PHS!

We are at WHS (did not apply to PHS) and are local to both of them (basically equidistant) so know quite a few families in both of them. They do have a different feeling and it is not uncommon to have families that like one but not the other (or clearly preferred one over the other). Both really good options to have and very much a question of what works for your DD and your family.

in case useful, our experience of WHS has been really positive. On the friendship front, the groups seems quite mixed and definitely not driven by wealth or only by sport interests. Parent cohort is mostly working parents - there are some Uber wealthy (which don't stand out until your DD has a sleepover and the address makes it evident!) but that will me the case everywhere, especially as you move towards more Central London areas. The vibe is chilled and down-to-earth, which was a key factor in our choice and the school is very inclusive on all fronts (from their SEN provision to the catering to range of interests / sports prowess / etc).

@ACavalierDream when we chose (2 years ago) there were quite a few differences, which may matter more or less depending on the individual: structure of the curriculum, including choices as you progress - eg number and constraints for GCSEs, non-examined subjects), modern languages, different sports (eg lacrosse vs hockey, swimming pool at WHS), etc. On sports, PHS used to be stronger, I would say they are on a par but with different focus (on rowing, the boat club is in Hampton so 20 minutes away from the school and the school arranges travel apart from for the weekend session but there are good transport links and plenty of car sharers ...and a lovely community.

In addition, as others have mentioned, the vibe was quite different when we visited / spoke with parents. Not an issue of better or worse, just where we thought our DD would be happier (and interestingly, what she thought herself).

if you have offers from both my advice would be to visit with your DD and follow your instinct. Two really good options to have.

Does anyone know how many scholarships Putney offers? Or does anyone have a daughter currently a scholar at Putney? If so, how many are there in year 7?