Greycoats Hospital school

[Sheteaches]

Hi guys
Would like opinions on Greycoats hospital school. The ones I’ve seen aren’t that recent so if you have a child currently there or who has recently left how are they finding it/found it?
Thank you in advance

I’ve the exact same question, wondering if you have received private messages as sadly no answers so far? Thanks in advance!

No answers but it would be so helpful for some insight

I have a dd there going into year 9. It is a strict school, she had quite a shock when she first started as she is a good girl, but it does
get less so as they go along. She started not knowing anyone but quickly gained a group of
friends and she is very happy.

the teaching is good, they are encouraged to do well and as she was worried about dropping sets in year 9 when there are a lot more she worked hard!

she went on the ski trip at Easter which she loved so they do do a few extra things there. There is an active parent geoup
arrangint fundraising e which helps
with extra funds

Thanks so much! Very helpful. Did you consider other schools? If so, what made you go for GCH? Assume you are happy and do not regret the choice? If you don’t mind me asking also, do you travel from far? A lot of my doubts are around logistics and if it’s worth travelling to central London for a school versus another more local to us. Thanks so much!

I have heard about the fact that it is a strict school and you've mentioned it was a shock for her. Did this ever affect her negatively?

Additionally, has there been any issues around bullying?

Yes, we applied to St Marylebone (which is much closer) and a private school. I had put GCH as first choice as I always liked the feel of the school having also visited it for older sister who didn’t get in. With second dd we also got a tour with a small group as missed the open days (I can’t remember why) so felt we could ask questions and get more info. We live up the jubilee line, it takes about 25 mins door to door so very easy. DD doesn’t like to be late (detention!) so always early and meets her friends at Westminster for a chat.

So far we are very happy with the choice and no regrets. My main gripe was on induction day, so July time, they really laid down the law once the girls got to see their form rooms which scared the daylights out of dd! She came from a small prep so big shock. I had spent time bigging up the school prior as no one she knew was going there and by the time we met on the lawn after she was in tears. So summer holidays spent stressing over going there and me thinking had made a bad decision. But! I can say it does improve. They crack down on any potential naughtiness early so everyone knows where they stand.

No issues around bullying that my dd has seen. They really do deal with bad behaviour and I think very little gets past them. They do have rules around uniform etc of course, but as far as I can see they don’t get detention for silly things like having shirt partly untucked etc like its seems some strict schools do going by some of the threads i see.

Lovely. I’m glad she is enjoying her time there. Thank you for sharing your views.

My DD started yesterday. They do seems to lay down the rules and for those not used to the strict approach will likely be a shock, but overall a good experience thus far. Let see how day 2 goes.

Does anyone have any information about the language aptitude test this year. The school's website just says more information will be published in September

The information is in their website now

On their language aptitude test, do you know if you have to register for it? I can't see any info on that.

No I think you just turn up at the allocated time depending on your surname. Weird but there you are

Yeah came back here to say that -- a neighbour said the same.

My DD is in year 10 and we think the school is great. It is strict but not unfairly so and means behaviour is very good which suits quieter DD. Expectations are high and they have a lot more homework than DS who goes to our local secondary. We think this is a good thing! I think there is a general atmosphere of aspiration and empowerment for all the girls. DD went on the train when younger (10 mins into central London) and now mainly gets the bus. It’s helpful if they have more than one way of getting there in case of strikes etc. DDs friends are scattered around south London so she doesn’t meet them much outside school. This is mainly because she prefers to stay closer to home but might not suit everyone. She has always had good friends at school, a diverse group and no bullying.

I can’t help on the specifics of tests but I go past it every day at kicking out time, and the pupils are always well-mannered and there isn’t any bad bevaviour I’ve ever seen.

Which is exactly what I’d expect as it is pretty selective m, and parents have to be very motivated and switched on, to get their kids in there.

It has complicated over subscription criteria using faith, banding, language aptitude, among other things.

On the plus side, secondary numbers in London have already peaked and places might be easier to come by in the coming years

Could I please ask what sort of place your daughter got eg church place, language place, open place? Thanks!

@Pomer0l Would you mind sharing more info on the extra-curricular things offered at GCH - trips etc? I know about the Y7 France/Germany trip and the Y10 Japanese exchange, but any more info on other stuff offered would be great!

Jules2025
it was a church place

My daughter is currently in Year 7 and we have been very impressed with the extra curricular offering. There are lots of sports on offer: football, handball, netball, cricket, gymnastics, dance and more. My daughter has been to some athletics and netball competitions and on a trip to Lords.

She has also been on trips to Winter Wonderland and amazingly the Royal Opera Ballet to see Giselle. Soon the whole year group are going to the Royal Festival Hall to see an orchestral concert and they put on several concerts a year for the children to perform in. Some selected children also perform at the Royal Opera Ballet and with other schools in big concerts. I’ve also heard about trips to Oxford, Model United Nations, debating and more trips abroad.

There are also loads of clubs on offer: debating, book, natural history, coding, cloth, and film to name but a few.

@5daysleft Thank you - amazing that those trips are all in Y7! I'm guessing a lot of them are based on which form they're in?

Some of them were reward trips for good effort in academic subjects and some were for everyone. The sports, debating and Model UN etc are for those involved with those activities. There really is a lot to get involved with!

The different forms also compete with each other in other activities like swimming, netball dance etc. There are also fun extra in school opportunities in other subjects like Maths, author visits, Geography etc.