St Marylebone vs. Godolphin & Latymer – How Would You Rate the Schools?

MUMLOVEYAN · 2025-03-27T13:59:44+00:00

Hi everyone, My DD will be starting Year 7 in September, and I’m choosing between St Marylebone School and Godolphin & Latymer. I’d love to hear from parents with daughters at either school. If your DD has attended one of these schools, please could you rate it out of 5 based on your overall experience? If you’re happy to share more, I’d also love to hear any general thoughts on what you liked (or didn’t like) about the school. Thanks in advance for your help! 😊

BeProudPlumPoet · 27/03/2025 14:52

Following as my DD will also be starting at St Marylebone this September

Rimini · 27/04/2025 21:29

As a parent of a daughter currently attending G&L, I feel a duty to offer a candid perspective, especially for those considering the school.
The culture among the current Years 10–12, regrettably, is deeply toxic. A climate of insidious and at times overtly vicious bullying pervades the student body. Girls are openly and regularly nasty to each other within the school and weaponise social media to deride and exclude their peers. In response, a large number of girls self-harm, suffer from eating disorders, and isolate themselves in bathrooms at lunchtime to avoid the ritualised social humiliation practised by a powerful ‘mean girl’ hierarchy.
The pastoral care team, in theory designed to provide support, has in our experience proved either ineffectual or willfully negligent. Reports of bullying are often met with skepticism towards the target rather than urgent inquiry into the behaviour itself. Unless a specific perpetrator is named — a dangerous prospect for many girls who fear escalation — no meaningful action is taken. The result is a culture where cruelty goes unchallenged and vulnerability is punished.
No school is perfect, and adolescence is never easy. But it is impossible to overstate the damage that an environment of indifference to bullying can inflict, not only on individual well-being but on the broader moral character of a community. For us, G&L has tragically failed to live up to its duty of care.
I share this not to sensationalise, but to offer the clear-eyed account I wish I had encountered before enrolling my daughter.

Original poster

MUMLOVEYAN · 28/04/2025 18:52

Rimini · 27/04/2025 21:29

As a parent of a daughter currently attending G&L, I feel a duty to offer a candid perspective, especially for those considering the school.
The culture among the current Years 10–12, regrettably, is deeply toxic. A climate of insidious and at times overtly vicious bullying pervades the student body. Girls are openly and regularly nasty to each other within the school and weaponise social media to deride and exclude their peers. In response, a large number of girls self-harm, suffer from eating disorders, and isolate themselves in bathrooms at lunchtime to avoid the ritualised social humiliation practised by a powerful ‘mean girl’ hierarchy.
The pastoral care team, in theory designed to provide support, has in our experience proved either ineffectual or willfully negligent. Reports of bullying are often met with skepticism towards the target rather than urgent inquiry into the behaviour itself. Unless a specific perpetrator is named — a dangerous prospect for many girls who fear escalation — no meaningful action is taken. The result is a culture where cruelty goes unchallenged and vulnerability is punished.
No school is perfect, and adolescence is never easy. But it is impossible to overstate the damage that an environment of indifference to bullying can inflict, not only on individual well-being but on the broader moral character of a community. For us, G&L has tragically failed to live up to its duty of care.
I share this not to sensationalise, but to offer the clear-eyed account I wish I had encountered before enrolling my daughter.

Thank you for sharing this candidly.

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter's experience. It's very upsetting to learn about the extent of the challenges and the lack of effective pastoral support you describe.

I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to share this perspective — it’s important for parents to have as much insight as possible when making decisions.

I sincerely hope the school takes these concerns seriously and makes meaningful changes.

OP posts:

WhiskyandWater · 29/04/2025 18:39

I have DDs in Y7 and 8 at Marylebone. From our perspective (girls too) it’s a 5, we couldn’t be happier. Yes there can be bitchy behaviour, and if you are a stickler for uniform rules being followed then this isn’t the school for you but I’m not over bothered about a rolled up skirt. The teachers are brilliant, kind and interested and poor behaviour isn’t tolerated. The girls are taught to be independent and to think for themselves. Mine are not top set so I can’t comment for the very academic ones but there are several sets and these are fluid. Extra curricular is encouraged and there is a wide variety. SENCO is just outstanding and support extends to anyone struggling (we’ve had some friendship issues). What you won’t get is all the expensive extras you would at private. Abroad trips happen but it’s a lottery for places and there is disgruntlement that there isn’t availability for everyone. Budgets are tight, but this doesn’t show in the quality of teaching. It’s a diverse school. Take a look at the recent ofsted report, just published.

BeProudPlumPoet · 29/04/2025 19:08

WhiskyandWater · 29/04/2025 18:39

I have DDs in Y7 and 8 at Marylebone. From our perspective (girls too) it’s a 5, we couldn’t be happier. Yes there can be bitchy behaviour, and if you are a stickler for uniform rules being followed then this isn’t the school for you but I’m not over bothered about a rolled up skirt. The teachers are brilliant, kind and interested and poor behaviour isn’t tolerated. The girls are taught to be independent and to think for themselves. Mine are not top set so I can’t comment for the very academic ones but there are several sets and these are fluid. Extra curricular is encouraged and there is a wide variety. SENCO is just outstanding and support extends to anyone struggling (we’ve had some friendship issues). What you won’t get is all the expensive extras you would at private. Abroad trips happen but it’s a lottery for places and there is disgruntlement that there isn’t availability for everyone. Budgets are tight, but this doesn’t show in the quality of teaching. It’s a diverse school. Take a look at the recent ofsted report, just published.

Thanks for sharing. My daughter will be starting year 7 in September. I can I ask about sets? Are the girls places in sets for English and maths only or also other subjects? Quite disappointing about the abroad trips not being available to everyone - lottery meaning first comes first serves or the school picks? We are not local so hopefully there are girls coming from various parts of London. Thank you!

WhiskyandWater · 29/04/2025 21:57

Sets are English and Maths as far as I know. The trip lottery is you put your name down and it seems to be a genuine lottery, it’s not a reward and a certain number are ring fenced for disadvantaged pupils. A lot of trips are offered but each one doesn’t have places for everyone, I think you can find the list of trips and number of places for each one on the website. All Y7 are encouraged to go to bushcraft for a week so everyone does get a trip just not necessarily the ski trip or the Italy one (for example). There are a few girls from over London, as you’d expect the majority are quite local, but there will be someone in the same direction at least.

Londonmamagal · 29/04/2025 21:59

Also keen to get thoughts on Lady Margaret and Greycoat Hospital !

WhiskyandWater · 30/04/2025 08:13

Just to add, at St M whilst you get a newsletter every week and staff are very responsive you reach out the expectation is the girls will tell you things such as non uniform days or the wear one red thing for comic relief. It really teaches them to be “grown up” and to take responsibility, which was one of the things we first noticed at the open evenings and so are delighted we can see it in action.

BeProudPlumPoet · 30/04/2025 12:10

WhiskyandWater · 30/04/2025 08:13

Just to add, at St M whilst you get a newsletter every week and staff are very responsive you reach out the expectation is the girls will tell you things such as non uniform days or the wear one red thing for comic relief. It really teaches them to be “grown up” and to take responsibility, which was one of the things we first noticed at the open evenings and so are delighted we can see it in action.

This is brilliant. I’m very happy that my daughter got a place. She managed to get a music scholarship place as we are way out of catchment and not CoE. I’ve been reading the newsletter and it all sounds great. The last push for year 6 sats then we will just impatiently wait to start :)

CrispyCrunchyPretzel · 04/05/2025 10:12

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Gloparent · 11/05/2025 22:02

I’m sorry to hear of the experience of the poster about G&L.
I have a DD in one of those years and haven’t heard or experienced anything like that described. My DD has a wonderful group of friends and has never had any issues with others. Just to provide a different perspective.