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?

@Twinklestoes198 did you decide!? We finally did - Latymer!

@SamPoodle123 congrats with the decision! Yay! Time to celebrate! You must feel sooo relieved and happy that it is done. We have been discussing it till now. DS is super keen on DC but we feel Alleyn’s is better fit. Alleyn’s I feel has won and will accept tomorrow morning

Thanks, and yes, we plan to celebrate this weekend!! It was such a hard decision and stressful the last few days. I feel relief now. I think my ds preferred Dulwich too, but he understood the reasons why Latymer so agreed on it. Good luck and let me know what you accept in the end (it sounds like Alleyn's!).

Congratulations!

Congratulations! See you in September 🤩

@11plusinLondon see you in September!

Do you know if there is an equal split with boys and girls in the year? Wonder how they monitor this with acceptance?

Perhaps if too many boys or girls accept they offer to the other as they need.

I don’t know how it’s done, I’m afraid, but guess it’s as @SamPoodle123 says - a boys’ WL and a girls’ WL.

Really hope there is an equal balance and not a girl heave or boy heavy year. My Ds was in a girl heavy year 6 class as many boys left at year 4 so keen to have equal balance

I am not an Alleyns parent but my understanding from talking to some (we live locally and are at a different private school) is that Alleyns tend to have slightly more girls than boys each year but it’s not too heavily weighted, maybe 55% girls.

I am sure it won't be an issue in secondary. Even if there are slightly more girls, there are many dc and he will find friends.

Really hoping for an even balance! How is the split at LU @SamPoodle123 ?

I’m sure I read/heard during the process that they are at pains to keep it 50:50.

I’m not sure, but I’m sure roughly 50/50. Will ask if I get a chance.

The exact balance will shift as September approaches because some people will drop out due to unexpected moves etc. Late in the day, schools often don’t use WL but might have a last minute enquiry from a family relocating to the area, test them and if satisfactory give an offer. In the very last stages, gender won’t matter so much as the balance will never be exactly 50-50. So any figures they give you now can’t be the final ones ….but will give you a good idea.