King's College Wimbledon?

[GreyMoose123]

DD got a spot at KCW, not sure whether to accept or not as fees are quite high, and she did not receive a scholarship. DD currently attends a grammar school, so we're not sure whether going private is actually worth it or not? Would be grateful to hear current/past KCW parents' thoughts x

Are the A levels options the same in both school? Would she be doing EPA? Any activities such as rowing etc she wants to take up? Grammar school, is it all girls and she is going coed? Did you have talk that this option is based on scholarships? Bursaries, have you check this option some school would give those earning up to £100K.

Mine went to grammar and refused to switch to private for A levels. Our choices were KCS and WHS. The teaching at her grammar was exceptional at A levels. However her school were conservative in their predicted grades. I find that private schools are more optimistic - which opens up the option to apply for more ‘aspirational’ choices rather than just ‘safe’ choices.
A couple of girls from the grammar who switched to other top private schools ended up going to top brand universities - while in my opinion the girls at grammar were slightly held back due to the conservative grading at predicted.

Having said the above, my DD hugely benefitted from strong long-running friendships at A levels as most of the girls continued at the school for A levels and she had a wonderful time. She wouldn’t want to change that even if she had a choice.

Don't underestimate how stressful it can be changing for 6th form. If she is happy and doing well where she is, I would stay put.

Unless you can afford it fairly easily I would definitely keep her there. If you can afford it easily I would probably still keep her there! It’s quite tough socially to join as a girl. Does she know any others going? Lots already know each other. The teaching is good but probably will be at her Grammar ( and both will have kids being tutored on top). If she’s happy where or is not sure what to do I’d keep her there. If she’s desperate to move it’s trickier! Which grammar school is she at?

Currently at Nonsuch, she's currently in two minds about whether to leave or not, she's keen to experience the challenging King's environment, but also knows she will miss her friends, so it's a bit of a tough situation!

DD is not very sporty (enjoys it but isn't part of any teams), and does music. Both schools offer the A Levels she wants, so to be honest I don't think she minds too much. Do you think she'd fit in?

Honestly, I wouldn’t overthink it. Yes, moving schools for sixth form comes with a bit of uncertainty, but most 16-year-olds manage absolutely fine. And the idea that “lots already know each other” doesn’t really apply at KCS — girls only join from 16, so they’re all starting fresh together.
If money isn’t an issue (two years of fees are doable for many), it’s a no-brainer for me. I’d pick KCS over grammars like Nonsuch or even Tiffin Girls. Caveat: my DD isn’t in a grammar yet, but that’s the plan.

Had your DD been to the offer holder day yet? I know that helped in the decision making for several girls I know. I agree that there is a lot of change at 16 and most cope fine but there are a lot of girls joining from 2 or 3 schools and that can affect dynamics- not everyone is able to ‘start afresh’.
if you can afford it easily I’d just go with DDs gut feel.

Yes agree with this post, lots of dd joining Kings are coming from a small number of girls private schools - LEH, Putney, etc so they do know each other.
Also the 6th form goes really quickly, it’s 5 terms of teaching and I’m not sure it’s worth the cost moving from state to private, especially when the money could go towards uni. Have you asked Kings if they charge for A levels on the summer term fees too (it adds a few £100).

Also unis are definitely being tougher on admissions of students from private schools. I would definitely think twice about this move.

At the risk of stating the obvious it'd be a wildly different demographic at King's. Being co-ed & majority white British might, I suppose, offer more opportunities for socialising, albeit in what might seem a very different (in terms of privilege) environment. It all really turns on what sort of character OP's daughter is, how easy she'd find it to get on with a new set of very different people.

I’m not a huge fan of the “boys school with girls in the 6th form” model, at least for the girls. I think putting a group of new girls in with a group of boys who mostly already know each other, and who are not used to coed, creates a tricky dynamic. That would put me off moving in this case.

(I know Kings is going fully co ed eventually but it’s not really going to kick in for some time)

I don't believe King's is mainly white British btw. Lots of very able Asian and Chinese pupils.

I have had 2 DSs at KCS so can offer some perspective on the school and what it's like in 6th form. It's got lots of parents from Europe/North America/Asia so it definitely has a very international feel to it, and while some are hugely wealthy, most are pretty ordinary and make sacrifices to pay the fees. The extracurricular offering is amazing and so much better than that experienced by my DD at her all girls school (which literally dwindles to nothing in 6th form apart from first team sport). On the whole, the school is very kind and caring and the pastoral support is excellent - this was a marked contrast to my DDS school where girls would routinely disappear with mental health issues and the school would pretend it wasn't happening. When the girls arrive in 6th form they definitely rule the roost - the boys just want to make a good impression and everyone wants to have a few girls in their friend group. Yes, there are a few girls schools over represented but there are plenty that come by themselves and everyone is up for making new friends. Yes, there is a party scene, but I would rate it as pretty "average" ...nowhere near as wild as schools like Westminster/Epsom/Eton/Wellington but a bit more organised than the local grammar schools. You will be required to drive and pick your child up from southwest London on a Saturday night as most girls tend to be invited to all the parties....however, the kids are very disciplined about "locking in" when it matters, hence the spectacular results. If she gets in (when she applies next year) my DD will be going!

OP- have you made your mind up yet? I’m sure she’ll be happy whenever she goes

No - she's still deciding, even though the deadline is tomorrow... she doesn't know whether she'd fit in, and although we can afford the fees, we're not sure whether it's actually worth it, especially once you factor in the travel costs, lunches, etc.

Yes, apparently they do need to pay for the A levels separately, and the fact that a lot of them will know each other is a small concern for DD at the moment.

@GreyMoose123 good luck with the decision. Of course your dd will benefit from a mixed environment with loads of extra curricular but she is also already at a really good aspirational school. If she is aiming for RG unis she will almost certainly get the same offers regardless of where she is studying and the cost of the fees for 2 years at kings is the same as fully funding her for 3 years at uni enabling her to leave with no debt.

I think she’s decided not to go - I think we factored in the costs, and also we considered that the Oxbridge (which she is aiming for) support in Nonsuch isn’t actually that bad, so DD has decided not to go. It was definitely a tough decision! Thanks all x

Hi, how have you managed with the appallingly early finish of 3:30pm? Are there any after school providers nearby (for junior school)? My DS is going, but a bit miffed at the comparison to St Paul's Boys (cheaper fees, longer school hours, better A-level results than King's...and a brand new junior school building too!). Both of us are working parents, don't have the £m's to afford nanny or one of us being out of work