London grammar and private senior school entry 2025 part 2

[CruCru]

Here is the new thread for when part 1 is full.

Got to be honest - I am not familiar with any school that isn’t mentioned on Everyone’sInvited. My south coast comprehensive was, so was the rival school down the Road, so was the most well known private school in my town / city (was a town, now a city), as was the “desirable” comprehensive on the other side of town. I don’t think the issues raised are specific to any one type of school.

We have picked our school. G&L, 30 minutes door to door. Will decline all other offers over this week.

Can I ask why? And if you can say which ones you discounted? We have narrowed it down to g&l and Putney.

We are going to let go of WHS, PHS, LU, FHS, QC and City. I just like the vibe of G&L. And so does DD. We also really liked LU but the no gcse thing is putting me off. It’s a good idea in theory but hard to execute in isolation. PHS would have too sporty for my very non sporty child. Pardon the stereotype, of course. It was never one of our top choices for various reasons. I would have chosen WHS over PHS if it came to that.

Crumbs, your daughter did well Rocktheboatbaby - she got seven offers!

Yes she did well. I feel incredibly fortunate. We did get rejected at SPGS but I always knew it wasn’t for us. My DD is academic enough but wouldn’t have done well in an environment where being super bright all of the time is the norm. She likes to slack off sometimes :)

Yes - great achievement. Makes you realise why the schools have to over-offer so significantly and how difficult it is for them to fill their places without ending up with too many or too few kids.
These next couple of weeks and especially state school offer day are an anxious time for schools as they wait to see the impact of VAT on acceptances. It helps if those who know they can release some offers do so sooner.

@Rocktheboatbaby will you ask for an offer holders tour of G&L? We got an offer but DD hasn’t seen the school beyond the assessment dates. So keen for her to have a feel to decide.

Yes I will ask for an offer holders tour. Strange that they haven’t already organised one. My DD did see the school but I fear all the schools have blurred into one in her head at this stage! The only one she distinctly remembers everything about is City, probably because of the architecture and the cookies they gave out at assessment!

@Rocktheboatbaby ha ha sounds like something my DD would do. We are in between 3 schools and still indecisive at the moment, very lucky though. A great position to be in, cannot complain :)

Ooo I’m interested why you are releasing FHRP over QC. Can you explain your thoughts @luludzing Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who responded about the Hammersmith schools. I really appreciate the thoughts and observations you all shared. Still feeling confused after the weekend so will wait for offer holder days. We will release FHSS and City tomorrow morning.

What do you mean not all of them had cookies ? My dd was solely rating the schools on their strong cookies offerings! We only did 4, didn't get SPGS but frankly had realised that the commute was horrendous and will release WHS and Jags next week to chose Alleyn's! Any feedback for Alleyn's most welcome 🙏🏻

I am also feeling the struggle on which school to select. We wanted to remain neutral the entire time until offers came in. I think the offer events will help for sure.

The Alleyn’s cookies were very good apparently! 🍪

See you in September @Hermionegranger2014

We also have QC we will decline tomorrow- hope that helps x

Current parent at WHS (DD in Y8) - very happy with the school and crucially, so is DD. Academic but not a hot house - the environment is one where learning is encouraged and actually seen a cool and diversity (including of interests) is embraced. The school is strong on the pastoral and the teachers really know the girls. My DD has found easy to make friends and the integration between girls from the junior and those arriving in Y7 is total - a nice and truly diverse cohort and the girls are very supportive of each other.

We do not have direct experience of PHS (we are very local and visited but decided not to apply) but know lots of parents with girls there - they are happy with their choice and it seems that teachers are on top of any unkindness that might arise.

We had an offer from Emanuel and considered it - not least as it is also rather local (as you say, for some in the area it is their top choice but we never felt the same way ... although I think it is a great school and I think our DD would have been fine there) - eventually rejected it but we have several friends with DC there and they are happy. I think it suits best confident children that enjoy a busy environment.

Hope that helps - of course, feel free to pm me.

Exactly, it's "quite a good idea." However, the alternative plan and its execution have raised concerns among many people. Based on the information I have received, I am not convinced.

One school attempting to manage this for numerous subjects simultaneously, with a limited number of teachers for each subject. The alternative plan is writing and marking their own exams. The resources diverted to this reform project...

I hope this initiative succeeds without compromising the education or opportunities of the initial cohorts. I hope their A-level results and university placements improve as a result. I hope LUS will show other schools around the country how things should be done, and all others follow. However, personally, I don't feel like putting my own child through it.

Our prep head shares this sentiment. They have observed that LUS admissions have become easier since the announcement of the GCSE changes. While children are still applying, many more families are now using it as their backup.

@Berrywithheart - we're all entitled to our opinion! I just wish my DC in Y7 and not Y11 and they could take advantage of it!

@Dallasdays I'm a mum of a DD at LUS - we went through 11+ 2 years ago. We had a few offers and it was her favourite all along. I was also worried about the Everyones Invited thing and I spoke to the school at length about it. I was really happy with the way they dealt with it and also discussed it with me.
DD is absolutely thriving there and the pastoral care is excellent, Its a really kind school. With the GCSE change - don't forget that most of them will stay at the school to do A Levels and that is what will get them into Uni.
For anyone struggling to choose I would say don't underestimate the journey time - when they start having fixtures/plays/clubs etc you really don't want them having a big journey at the end of a busy day.
For anyone with no choice and just one waitlist - that was us years ago with DS - I rang the admissions regularly, reiterated that we were ready to go with a deposit cheque etc but we still had to wait till the state offers went out early March to get offered a place. It hadn't even been my first choice school. DS is now doing his GCSE's there - he's had the absolute best time, made the most incredible friendships, progressed so well academically and he'll definitely stay at the school to do his A Levels. I thank my lucky stars all the time that he went there.
So honestly don't despair it will all work out.

Just thinking about the journey time as well and you mention the sports fixtures.....I notice w some schools their sports fields are different locations. We are looking at LU...are their sports fixtures played mostly at the Wood lane location? For my eldest, who is at G&L, home fixtures are played on site, but of course sometimes they coach to away matches.

@SamPoodle123 were you happy with G&L for your eldest? We have brought down the options to G&L and another school. Really struggling to make the final call 😅

@SamPoodle123 - most of the sport is now moving to Chiswick. They have a big new site there. I think Wood Lane is being phased out.

Same here. Which one is your other school?

Yes, she is happy there. What is your other school you are considering?