Page 6 | Any experience of Kings Maths School vs LAE for 6th form?

JusteanBiscuits · 2024-11-04T13:23:56+00:00

My son has applied to KCLMS for 6th form and also to LAE Stratford. He wants to study Maths at University, and truly loves the subject. His heart is set on KCLMS, but as that is entirely maths / physics, I wonder if going to LAE (his second choice) would be better for the all round experience? Meeting a wider variety of people, a much wider selection of extra curricular clubs etc. I worry the excitement at 16 of being immersed in maths might wear off, and being somewhere with a wider curriculum might be better? Any experience would be appreciated. Thanks

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 24/01/2025 22:08

Apparently while waiting he played Uno with other people waiting 🤣🤣

OP posts:

Nost · 24/01/2025 22:25

Not much feedback from mine. Ultimately they are all very talented and have worked so hard to have done so well in the admissions test. From here it'll be about best fit and weighting for widening participation so no one should take it personally or read too much into it if an offer isn't made.
Do we know when they'll notify us of the outcome?

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 27/01/2025 09:53

Yes, to get to an interview is amazing! They all need to be super proud of themselves <3

No idea when they find out! Not too long I hope

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Pinky1nky · 27/01/2025 12:38

Admissions policy just says offers are made in 'February' so not too long to wait really!

Good luck to everyone ☺️

Dangermouse999 · 01/02/2025 23:55

Needmoresleep · 30/11/2024 09:44

My understanding is that Kings Maths school was formed when top university maths departments found it difficult to widen participation on their courses, not because kids in less advantaged settings were less talented but because they did not get the right preparation in sixth form. This might have been because the school lacked strong maths teaching, or because insufficient progress in mixed ability teaching groups. Lowering entry grades does not help if students flounder when they arrive. Hence the idea of a school specifically to prepare suitable students for demanding courses.

The school is designed for kids who love maths, and are happy to be with other kids who love maths. Their priority is to recruit students who will benefit most from the education they offer. I am not surprised that they impose a level of discipline. The workloads at destination Universities which the school is preparing students for will be high and sixth form is the time to learn suitable study skills. Also the setting, though reasonably safe, is very urban. Not the place for groups of students to go wandering about at lunch time.

I don't know if knowing the percentage of kids from private schools will help. Parents with the money would probably prefer the sixth form of the nearby Westminster School. At the same time there are always kids who need to transfer to the state system at 16, and if they are super bright there is no reason why they should not be considered.

The school is not that old and is expanding. I assume that initially the priority was to recruit experience school leaders into the SLT. I assume that the current policy is to recruit the best candidates who apply, and that over time the team will become more diverse. (FWIW central London state schools often have a real problem recruiting good maths and physics teachers.) The school has been a great success and has enabled students to attend and thrive at top universities who otherwise would not have done. I would have thought that this combination of success and diversity of student body should be sufficient. In time, as a greater diversity of students graduate from top Universities, the mix should change organically.

I'm interested in anyone who has a child that attended Kings and what they thought of the 'urban' setting of the school as mentioned by Needmoresleep.

DS had an interview there last week and I noticed when looking at Google maps for directions that the school backs on to the China Walk estate. This had a notorious reputation for gangs a few years ago.

I did ask DS whilst he was waiting in between the interviews to ask current students how safe the area was but he was so engrossed in general chat that he forgot.

Any thoughts? DS has also applied to Cambridge maths school and the setting couldn't be much safer in comparison.

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 02/02/2025 09:24

Dangermouse999 · 01/02/2025 23:55

I'm interested in anyone who has a child that attended Kings and what they thought of the 'urban' setting of the school as mentioned by Needmoresleep.

DS had an interview there last week and I noticed when looking at Google maps for directions that the school backs on to the China Walk estate. This had a notorious reputation for gangs a few years ago.

I did ask DS whilst he was waiting in between the interviews to ask current students how safe the area was but he was so engrossed in general chat that he forgot.

Any thoughts? DS has also applied to Cambridge maths school and the setting couldn't be much safer in comparison.

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I'm guessing the vast majority of kids applying already live in London, so think this would be less of a worry as they're used to London maybe?

Turns out two friends of mine have good friends that are staff there. It's taking EVERYTHING in me not to ask for a hint on how son did!!

OP posts:

upat4 · 02/02/2025 09:33

JusteanBiscuits · 02/02/2025 09:24

I'm guessing the vast majority of kids applying already live in London, so think this would be less of a worry as they're used to London maybe?

Turns out two friends of mine have good friends that are staff there. It's taking EVERYTHING in me not to ask for a hint on how son did!!

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If you did ask, and assuming they even have visibility of the information, I would expect them to decline rather than breach confidentiality.

KnottyAuty · 02/02/2025 09:34

Dangermouse999 · 01/02/2025 23:55

I'm interested in anyone who has a child that attended Kings and what they thought of the 'urban' setting of the school as mentioned by Needmoresleep.

DS had an interview there last week and I noticed when looking at Google maps for directions that the school backs on to the China Walk estate. This had a notorious reputation for gangs a few years ago.

I did ask DS whilst he was waiting in between the interviews to ask current students how safe the area was but he was so engrossed in general chat that he forgot.

Any thoughts? DS has also applied to Cambridge maths school and the setting couldn't be much safer in comparison.

Show quote history

We’re not at the school but based in London. But when DS was looking I was more interested in the potential for arguments with the Oasis Academy pupils near the tube. In “office hours” when I pass through the area around the school for work they’re more visible than any gangs. If you’re applying to Cambridge then your DC might have to pass through kings X? Not so many tricky people around there these days but it’s a huge busy station and easy to get confused. I assume you’ve done a few travel runs and worked out alternative routes for disruptions? Even with a journey of only 50 mins we had 2 alternatives planned as there are fairly frequent breakdowns/signal failures etc. Not trying to put you off but do think all that through if you might be coming a long way. Good luck!

upat4 · 02/02/2025 09:37

Dangermouse999 · 01/02/2025 23:55

I'm interested in anyone who has a child that attended Kings and what they thought of the 'urban' setting of the school as mentioned by Needmoresleep.

DS had an interview there last week and I noticed when looking at Google maps for directions that the school backs on to the China Walk estate. This had a notorious reputation for gangs a few years ago.

I did ask DS whilst he was waiting in between the interviews to ask current students how safe the area was but he was so engrossed in general chat that he forgot.

Any thoughts? DS has also applied to Cambridge maths school and the setting couldn't be much safer in comparison.

Show quote history

It's 5 mins from Waterloo Station, so a very busy area. Unless your child is pre-disposed to hang around local estates looking for trouble long after the school closes, I wouldn't worry.

Digimoor · 02/02/2025 10:14

@Dangermouse999 it seems fine in daylight hours but when it's dark my DC doesn't walk to E&C alone. DC will wait for a friend or go to Waterloo which has a better lit busier route. This is similar to secondary school for us as the quickest route home was considered dodgy if alone

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 02/02/2025 13:02

Oh. I was being lighthearted. I would never put them in that position.

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Mathsc · 02/02/2025 14:33

I know DC who have been there and I've never heard of safety as an issue. Good luck!

Nost · 03/02/2025 10:56

Anyone else on edge today waiting to hear? They said beginning of February, which suggests this week!

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 03/02/2025 11:31

Nost · 03/02/2025 10:56

Anyone else on edge today waiting to hear? They said beginning of February, which suggests this week!

Yup!! And will son get email before me? Will I have to wait for him to check his email after school?!

And LAE application deadline has also passed now so waiting to hear if he has got an interview there! He has a meeting with head of sixth form at his current school this week and I think they will be pushing for him to make a decision.

OP posts:

upat4 · 03/02/2025 11:42

JusteanBiscuits · 03/02/2025 11:31

Yup!! And will son get email before me? Will I have to wait for him to check his email after school?!

And LAE application deadline has also passed now so waiting to hear if he has got an interview there! He has a meeting with head of sixth form at his current school this week and I think they will be pushing for him to make a decision.

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Assuming it's a state school, they can't push him to make a decision. He has every right to accept and hold conditional offers for as many sixth forms as he wants until after he gets his GCSE results. Only then will he need to decide which one to register for.

PacificState · 03/02/2025 18:19

Re safety of the area - South Lambeth Road is quite busy, then if you’re going to Waterloo through Westminster Bridge Road and Lower Marsh there are always lots of people around there. Most of the kids leave at the same time, so in a fairly big group. Neither of my two ever had any trouble on their route at all. They were much more annoyed by delayed trains from Waterloo!

Nost · 04/02/2025 16:45

The waiting is killing me now! Anyone from last year remember when offers were sent?

Pinky1nky · 04/02/2025 19:48

Nost · 04/02/2025 16:45

The waiting is killing me now! Anyone from last year remember when offers were sent?

My son thinks it will be this Friday. Apparently it's been two weeks after the interviews in previous years 😊

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 05/02/2025 10:55

Pinky1nky · 04/02/2025 19:48

My son thinks it will be this Friday. Apparently it's been two weeks after the interviews in previous years 😊

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So that's no work getting done on Friday for me as I refresh email all day 😂

OP posts:

Nost · 05/02/2025 11:02

This saves me from doing that refreshing every day between now and Friday though!

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 05/02/2025 14:08

Nost · 05/02/2025 11:02

This saves me from doing that refreshing every day between now and Friday though!

Though every time I get an alert someone has posted on this thread I drop everything in case someone here has heard!!

OP posts:

Pinky1nky · 05/02/2025 14:17

JusteanBiscuits · 05/02/2025 14:08

Though every time I get an alert someone has posted on this thread I drop everything in case someone here has heard!!

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Yep, me too 🤣 And I'm still jumping at every email notification even though I know it's likely Friday or after!

Nost · 05/02/2025 14:31

I keep thinking that when someone replies too!

While we're waiting, does anyone know if the open evening was recorded to watch back? Do they still do AS levels from this year? How many places will be offered? Any current parents can comment on social life? Any behaviour problems at school we need to be aware of?

Original poster

JusteanBiscuits · 07/02/2025 09:52

Nost · 05/02/2025 14:31

I keep thinking that when someone replies too!

While we're waiting, does anyone know if the open evening was recorded to watch back? Do they still do AS levels from this year? How many places will be offered? Any current parents can comment on social life? Any behaviour problems at school we need to be aware of?

How often are you refreshing email today?!

They did say it was recorded. Between 100 - 120 pupils this year (though reading planning permission I'm not sure they have managed to expand yet or not). They said no AS levels. But do you 4 in lower sixth and 3 in upper - so I'm confused whether you get an AS level for that 4th one in lower sixth. Philosophy being added as an option.

OP posts:

Nost · 07/02/2025 10:00

Thanks @JusteanBiscuits

I've even turned my phone off silent today!

Do you know where we could find the recording?

Good luck to all 🍀