St Pauls Boys vs Latymer Upper vs Merchant Taylor with scholarship

[WittyMintStork]

Hi
My DS has got offers from SPB, LU and MTS. I am confused which would be the right choice for him as we dont want him to be in a pressure cooker situation, always stressed about keeping up with the others.

Seems to me Latymer Upper is a better balance.

We have a decent acad scholarship at MTS - despite it not being in the league tables, does having the additional attention one would get as acad scholar + a more easy going environment outweigh the prestige of SPB

please help.

Where do you live - ie commute, what sports is he interested in (ie rowing) & what are your views on very few GCSEs at LU (ie little of option of moving at 6th form, possible difficulty with future uni entrance)? These questions should help you make a decision.

thanks that cleared the wool for me with regards to LU
child is into tennis. He's surely a smart one but wouldn't categorise him as a genius and hence wonder if SPB is the right choice for him

The schools are miles apart (if you discount LU), which has the shortest journey? Is he going to get the tube and walk over H bridge to St Paul’s? How are you going to get him to school if the tubes aren’t running?

Are you moving house depending which school you pick? These schools are miles apart!

I have a very happy child at LU, and have been impressed with the school so far. My advice is to listen to them talk about the move away from GCSEs. It’s easy to get caught up in the fear of change, rather than looking at the potential to improve a child’s education.

If you like LU I wouldn’t worry too much about the GCSEs- who knows what changes other schools may make in the next few years. In reality very few leave LU at sixth form anyway- there was a handful this year. Many more join. There will be processes in place I’m sure for any that do want to leave and the most academic schools rely on their own entrance papers anyway.
I’d at least go to the offer holder meetings and see what they all say.

Hi twilight
yes, we are going to move close to the school so logistics is not going to be a determining factor but unable to determine is a boy who is isn’t too academically gifted, and I would perhaps describe as mid level on the scale, and happier playing, would thrive at St Paul’s

we plan to move houses, so logistics wouldn’t be a determining factor.

But your ds is academically gifted to have a place at St Paul’s. I would go on where you want to live most and cost of housing. Your ds will almost certainly gain the same A level grades and go to the same university from either school - the U.K. education system is more broad than parents imagine when choosing a school so priorities like family housing should be at the forefront of decision making.

Hello my son is at St Paul (joined at 7+) and he loves it, he is far from being a genius though. He will be in year 7 in September as well (L3). The cohort of boys already there is lovely and he has made great friends. There is a very good balance between academics and sports (2 afternoon of games per week) with excellent sports provisions on site. I have no direct experience of LU but I am sure it is a wonderful school. Main differences i see are coed versus boy only and the GCSE point. Sports ground are further away as well I think for LU.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions

Have you made any decisions? Which school will your son go to?Doesn't the fact that LU leaves GCSEs behind except for math and English worry you?