JAGS vs Alleyn's for Sixth form?

[imalwayscoldd]

Hi, my daughter received offers from both JAGS and Alleyn's - was wondering if anyone on here had any experience with or thoughts on either schools to share? We're stumped on which to choose as they are incredibly similar. She is quite academic and musical, not so sporty, and wants to do medicine.

Thanks!

From the outside, the most important difference is that JAGS is single-sex while Alleyns is mixed-sex. If she has a preference one way or the other then that is probably the most important difference. I think there are some activities and perhaps even some classes that include JAGS girls with Dulwich Collige boys in order to have both sexes, but I do not know the details.

A second consideration might be that Alleyns has a long tradition with drama, dance and music and has a lovely auditorium for performances. I don’t know one way or the other for JAGS.

Academically, I don’t know whether one school is consistently rated higher than the other or whether they are considered equal. I have read in a few places that girls do better on average in STEM subjects if they are in single sex classes, but I do not know how well backed that is with data, and I would expect that it’s possible and even likely for a bright and hardworking girl to do well at either school.

I don’t quite understand how wanting to do medicine should be relevent here ?
both of these are academic schools where a child who does well can be encouraged to apply for university.
Or is this code for some sort of academic merit?
Do you need information about the number of children who recoeve medicine offers from each? If so I’d suggest checking the “leavers destinationsl sections of the schools’ websites.

@Aethelfleda Medicine is relevant as schools will have ways of supporting students with applications, some stronger than others. Alleyn's does not post university destinations.

Which school has she been at so far?

I went to Alleyn's. It's highly academic with lots of A-star standard students, lots of who go off to do medicine. JAGS is quite similar. I think your choice is more around all girls vs co-ed

ah, fair enough. Maybe a poster with children there will be able to comment.

it’s the strength of the student’s aptitude and ability that should get them a medical school offer, not purely the prepping ability of the school they come from. If your child is high performing enough to have both those offers they should be capable enough of getting good enough UcAT scores and predicted grades to get med school interviews.

Thank you! Yes, I think the major difference is co-ed vs girls only.
She's coming from a girls-only state sch, so I think girls only is more in her comfort zone, but mixed for sixth form makes more sense ?

@Aethelfleda i see! - forgot to mention, we are applying for 16+ . is this the wrong place to post then? whoops!

no, my error! For some reason I misunderstood you and thought your child were entering the school age 11….

Good luck to her. I switched to LEH for sixth form as wanted to do Medicine and my previous school was far less academic. Moving to a girls-only was definitely the right move for me
as it felt calmer than co-ed but I know it’s very individual. Does she have any preference?

okay! She has the same motive; her current school is not the best. I think she would be more comfortable with jags since she's in an all girls secondary right now. There should be more focus I am guessing ? Co-ed and girls-only will present very different environments. There's no real preference though I think.

Does the sixth forms pupils with a strong medical interest have a teacher assisting with application process and studies? Some schools do have a specific teacher for those interested in medical fields as mentors so worth contacting them to see what support they give?
Also, check which A levels and how many pupils studied and grades achieved such as if there is only 4 in chemistry versus 20. Does give an idea about STEM beyond the marketing material.