Kingston Grammar School or Putney High

[NSLdn]

Hello, we are really keen to hear from people with experience with these two secondary schools. We like them both, their locations are good for us, our daughter is happy with co-ed (coming from such environment) or girls only, she is outgoing, sporty, and she likes to learn and participate in the classroom, a keen student with preference in year 6 for English, languages, History, science. We are trying to find the other major differences between these schools that could help us to choose the right one from year 7. For instance, we heard that PH might feel more competitive between the girls. Thanks for your help.

My daughter is in the first year at KGS. So far, she loves it and we have been delighted. The children are challenged academically and there is so much going on, but there seems to be a really kind, supportive atmosphere. She has enjoyed House Drama and Dance, the TSBA book awards, some lovely opportunities to complete personalised projects. There's a huge array of clubs too. Games is very hockey focused but there are netball and football clubs too, with tennis and cricket coming up.

Thanks for your message, this is great to hear about your experience.
Looking forward to receiving more inputs from other parents. Thanks.

DD is at KGS and she has a couple of friends at Putney High in the same year group. She's loving KGS so far and has made friends very easily. Lots of opportunities for all and I feel like there is room for many different characters and interests. Some children do 3-4 sports clubs after school and are really involved in that and others are into music or science, while she also has some friends who go home at 3.45pm every day and engage in extracurriculars outside of school. Can highly recommend it. They had plenty of time to settle in and the transition into Y7 felt quite gentle.

Her friends at PHS are happy too but did seem to take a bit longer to build friendships - perhaps because of the junior school. They also complain a bit about the amount of homework they have now. I doubt they have more homework than the girls at KGS long term, but perhaps the transition is a bit less gentle.

What sports does your DD like? There's no hockey at Putney, but then there is lacrosse and gymnastics which PHS offers and KGS doesn't. Both do rowing to quite a high level. Netball is better at PHS. Football / cricket fairly similar at both I believe. Might be slightly easier to get on the top teams at KGS as there are less girls competing for the A/B teams. Hope that helps!

This is very helpful, thank you!
Anyone with experience at PHS?
Thanks.

We also noticed that KGS seems to have better A level results but worse GCSE results than PHS for the last couple of years. What does that mean, are the less academic children not allowed to stay in sixth form at KGS, or they leave the school for another one? Thanks.

Some of the co-eds are able to attract high-calibre girls that want to move from single-sex schools for sixth form... especially girls that have been in all-girls since reception.
More generally, there is quite a lot of movement for sixth form.
i don't think that people are "being exited" but there are minimum GCSE requirements for the subjects you might want to pursue at A level.

Looking at 2024 A levels, KGS has 31% AStar whereas PHS has 40.5% ....

For GCSE, PHS has higher grades overall as you said.

Obviously grades are not the be all & end all, and both schools will give your daughter amazing opportunities.

We're a PHS family. Things I particularly like:

• girls are really encouraged to plot their own journey through school so they pursue the extra and super-curriculars which excite them;

• masses of language choices as girls go through - languages are well-taught and well-resourced;

• the new Athena centre is a gorgeous environment to learn Science and it's expanded everyone's enjoyment;

• girls are busy - sport team for everyone who wants to play plus extra coaching whatever your level, lots of drama, music, art, book-binding, enterprise/business, textiles, DT, endless things to get involved in; staff are really flexible so if your netball match clashes with orchestra you can miss that week etc, no pressure;

• academic scholarship and study is open to everyone and not just scholars and it's really encouraged; lots of extra talks, projects etc for anyone interested;

• there's a huge range of subjects within the curriculum through the years (eg debating, PPE, Design Thinking) as well as the more usual ones;

• there's a lot of encouragement from teachers but not a lot of pressure; lots of care of teen mental health.

Both my very different daughters have been happy there.

Yes agree with @QuiteAJourney that there is far more movement at 6th form eps for girls than you currently imagine when having been through the 11plus. Some of the local girls schools like SHS and LEH have girls who joined at 4 or 7 and they move for 6th form with KGS being a good attraction.

@tennissquare do you see this as a negative for KGS?

Thanks @TRL , this is very interesting.
I was looking at A - B for A level results, which for me is more representative of the overall teaching performance on a school than just A.

@NSLdn , no I was explaining why A level results in mixed school 6th forms often out perform single sex girls schools esp when the girls schools has a linked prep school with many pupils who have been there since a young age.

I live near KGS and my ds had an offer years ago but went for an all boys school.

I would focus on the difference in sports, some dd miss having no option for dance or gymnastics at KGS. KGS is very hockey focussed. Also the location of the sports field/rowing.

Thank you all, this is a difficult choice.

There is a Putney thread with some not so great feedback, worth DM or asking there.
Check GCSEs choices and how they are selected.

@HawaiiWake thank you for your message, I can't DM you, looks like it is disabled. If anyone know where to find this thread or send it to me, please let me know.
With regards to GCSE, could you explain a bit more what you mean by choices and selection and where I can find this information (online or we need to ask the schools), I did not go through English education myself. Thanks.

Thread on Putney is Putney Senior High School 2024. Not sure how to link it here.
GCSEs, depends some schools will have the curriculum on the website, otherwise ask on Open Day.

DM the MN on Putney High Senior school thread they will have more info.

I found it, thank you. Again I can't DM. This is a terrible story but I guess it is rare and can happen in many schools. I am more concerned about one of the comments which says PH is known for eating disorder and bullying. That might also be due to be an all girl school.
The one thing I had heard is that there was a higher competitive pressure that the girls have between themselves.

that thread, it's really sad, hopefully rare.
Eating disorders like bullying is probably prevalent in all schools, the hope is that the pastoral support is strong

My DD started at PHS last September - we were making a decision between FHSS and PHS. It has been an entirely positive experience for her so far with a kind and like-minded peer group. There was initially a divide between the girls coming up from the Junior school and new entrants but that seems to have improved now - the girls are in forms according to postcode/location which has helped with social life and birthdays etc. My DD is a non-competitive type and heavily into drama/music instead of sports but has got caught up in the sports ethos of the school and has joined netball and lacrosse teams now having never played before so I like that they cater to all abilities with A-G teams for netball for example.

I saw the other thread and am surprised by the comment about eating disorders being rife. That has not been our experience so far and perhaps the Y7’s are shielded but haven’t had an experience of bullying as well. Sorry to hear it but unfortunately hear such awful stories from other schools as well.

I have also posted on the other thread as i do think some of the comments are unfair and unjustified. Two girls at PHS - one has been there since Y7 and has stayed for 6th Form. Second one moved to PH a little later on. Very different girls but both having a happy experience so far. I think the sports department is a huge strength - my non sporty DD encouraged to play in sports team all the way up the school. I have a DS at an allegedly very sporty school and because he is not in the 1st team he has had very few opportunities. Not the case at PH where the 3rd team trains as much as the 1st and can join the sports trip.

No school is perfect for everyone but so far my girls have had a pretty happy experience and i have very few complaints.

My advice for what its worth ! Go for a tour and go for your gut feel and if you are happy with both let your daughter make the final decision ! She is the one that will have to attend and you have two great choices. Don't underestimate travel time and commute - if one is easier than the other, then take this into account. And lastly - try not to focus too much on advice on Mumsnet because the reality is that you will hear good and bad stories about all schools... and people love giving their opinion just from hearsay.

@NSLdn , congratulations on both offers! May I please ask what have you decided and why? We might be in a similar position - I had a call from PHS that the waiting list is likely to move but we will need to accept by Wednesday afternoon. So very little time to decide between KGS and PHS

@SunnyDay33 May I ask which one did you go for at the end? We were in the same situation... thanks!

@moeyland , congratulations on your offers! We decided to go with the KGS. The commute is longer, but it was mainly, because DD already preferred KGS: it was an offer from the start (with a nice personalized letter), an offer holder day, etc. When I told her after a school day that there was a place at Putney if we wanted to go for it she wasn’t very keen anymore.

@SunnyDay33 great decision! DD2 is at KGS and has been loving it from the first day. Wishing your DD all the best.

@ncsurrey22 , thank you! And that’s so great to hear that your DD has settled in nicely! Wishing all the best as well