Alleyn’s and Dulwich offers

[Twinklestoes198]

We are in the lucky position to have offers from both Alleyn’s and Dulwich. My Ds has been a coed school his whole primary. He will chose swimming over football but does enjoy rugby and cricket. It’s not a deal breaker that Alleyn’s doesn’t do rugby. He isn’t musical but does enjoy performing in plays. He gets along well with girls his age but doesn’t have close girl friends as his close friends are all boys. That said, I'm worried how the change to all boys environment might be and the larger year groups.

Is anyone choosing between the same schools and which one are you leaning towards? Any current parents offer some advise please?

Have heard great things about both schools. Friends have boys in both schools and all happy. I guess you can't go wrong with either school and depends on co-ed choice or single sex. Have heard Dulwich does have some events with Jags.

If you like both the same, have you thought about letting your ds decide? Perhaps after the holder events if you are still not sure, maybe your ds might know which one he prefers.

@SamPoodle123 really hoping to have more clarity after offer holder days his week.
We all have done a pro and cons list. DS is definitely leaning towards one so will see if it changes after this week.
Hope you have more clarity after offer holding days too!

We had to make this decision - it’s tricky. Both great but different vibes. We went for Alleyn’s in the end, as we felt that it’s important for boys to learn to work with and be around a girls on a platonic level (this was even before everyone is invited). Obviously this alone does not rid the world of misogyny, as most men were educated in a mixed environment but on an individual level we wanted him growing up and working with girls as equals.
Possibly massively overthinking it but struggled to make a decision otherwise.

what would the commute to both schools be like for your son?

@hadtonamechangeobviously thank you! Also feel it is super important to have coed education for the reasons you stated above. But also feel maybe it’s good for a change to try something new? There is a larger pool to find his tribe.

hoping after the offer days this week we will have a clear winner!

DD really enjoyed the Alleyn’s ‘At Home’ today. Very relaxed and nothing new but it cemented our decision.

The larger pool is exactly what we were wondering about, too but it has worked out well at Alleyn’s for our son.
Good luck - I am sure whichever one you all choose it will work out well!

@11plusinLondon brilliant news to hear your dd enjoyed the offer days. What kind of lesson did they have? How many kids more or less are there in a group? Ds is only on Friday. I didn’t know there was more than one day as was hoping to see the cohort but makes sense that there will be more than one day as other schools do!

@hadtonamechangeobviously thank you. Is your Ds sporty or more art or drama or just a mix? Is it heavily football centred for the boys?

do you know if a lot do the boys do swimming and swimming waterpolo? It is a gorgeous school and feel super lucky to have the choice.

He enjoys sport but is not sporty - main sports are football, hockey and cricket but tennis, fives, basketball, swimming and water polo feature and you can do extra clubs in all these.
My son doesn’t do swimming or water polo outside PE lessons - not sure if a lot of boys do or not, he certainly hasn’t intimated that he is in the minority by not participating.
Plenty to do if you are not into sport - music, drama etc. They encourage you to try a variety of clubs and find what you enjoy.

@hadtonamechangeobviously thank you! Super helpful info!

is all the clubs included in the fees or is that extra? Can’t remember if the clubs are at lunchtime or after school

Before school, lunchtime, after school - there is a timetable/app that the pupils sign up. Some are restricted depending on ability so are invite only.
Same for music clubs.

All clubs are free.
Only things that are charged are LAMDA (work towards grades, much like instrument tuition) but there are free drama clubs.

Importantly, fixtures are on a Saturday morning!

@Twinklestoes198 There was around 40 children there today. There’s also a session on Thursday, as well as the one you are attending. There weren’t any children from Alleyn’s Junior School there so maybe 120-150 offers made?

I think DC is a fantastic school and my DSs have had a fantastic education there. One is rugby obsessed. However it’s not coed and I can 100% why people would prefer Alleyn’s. I know a number of kids there (and parents) and they are all v happy. Good luck with the decision and congrats to your child on the offers.

We too are in the position to decide between Alleyn's and Dulwich College for our son. What are all your thoughts on the Alleyn's school partnerships/expansion news?

We chose DC for our non sporty son and he thrived there. He did have to do some rugby in Y7 and Y8 but I don't recognise the "rugby obsessed" tag. It was a big school with lots of options at every stage so each boy finds his own route.

There is no "bad" choice there - you just choose the culture you think will suit your son.

I don't think the Alleyns news has any bearing on the decision in hand here personally. The new schools won't affect what's happening in the original school

@Hellolondonfriends which one are you leaning towards? Went to the Dulwich offer holding day today and DS really liked all
the activities on offer. @Charlotte120221 thisnis exactly what I saw today, there is something for everyone to like. It’s a big school but looks like there is something for everyone.

Will make a decision this weekend after Alleyn’s offer day.

is Alleyn’s opening two new campuses ie will be like Thomas with different sites?

@Twinklestoes198 no the new schools are a partnership with Cognita to re-brand the current North Bridge House schools.

@Twinklestoes198 leaning Alleyn's but hoping the expansion doesn't change things too much. Wish I could PM you! 😂

@Hellolondonfriends , I wouldn't worry about the venture with Cognita. I'm sure the parents at Brighton College didn't notice when Cognita did the same to create Brighton College Prep Kensington in SW7.

@Hellolondonfriends have you had the taster day yet? We are going tomorrow so hopefully will know by the end of tomorrow. What is making you clean more towards Alleyn’s? Such a hard choice as they both a brilliant and think Ds will be happy at either.

had anyone asked at the taster day about the new venture?

@Twinklestoes198 Still leaning Alleyn's for it being co-ed, but haven't finalised yet.

@Hellolondonfriends good luck with the decision. The coed factor is a massive decision factor which is pulling me to.

quick one, we still haven’t received the postal
offer from Alleyn’s and only the email.
is there any different information that was sent compared to the email offers?

thanks!

I don’t think Alleyn’s sent anything by post. We got the letter with the offer (inc scholarship info) and the acceptance form by email, so just the two documents.

@11plusinLondon brilliant thank you. Yes this is what I received on email
aswell but was wondering if there was anything extra that was sent via post. Great to know they didn’t send anything by post.