Godolphin and Latymer or West London Free School Secondary

[Marie44]

Hi parents, desperate to know what other parents think about choosing between an independent Godolphin and Latymer school for girls or the state West London Free School? My DD got an offer from G&L, and she'll definitely get one from WLFS next week. Really don't know what to do and wonder what other parents are thinking. Of course, we are aware of the differences (fees against state, girls' against co-ed, etc.), but we would love to know what everyone else's view is. Also, is anyone here in the same situation?

My family have a similar situation with GDS! It is hard to know for best isn’t it?

@marmaladegranny thank you for responding. Yes, we’re literally 50/50 for both but started leaning more towards Godolphin and Latymer I think. Not sure why but just feels better I think.
Which school is your family leaning more towards, please?

I would love to hear from other parents who are in similar situation and are deciding between G&L or WLFS. What are the main pros and challenges?
Particularly in terms of academic support, pastoral care, workload, and overall happiness at both schools in other parents’ opinions or from what other parents have heard?

@Marie44,this won’t help but you are comparing a non selective mixed state school v a selective girls school that will cost you £250k + over 7 years. Next week plenty of dd will get a grammar offer from Tiffin / HBS which are single sex and very selective so easier to make a positive decision and reject G&L, but to compare the support / workload of a wealthy selective private school (particularly 1 with wealthy international students and immense levels of tutoring) against an almost non selective state school with 30 in a class and funding of around £7k per student per year is a difficult comparison. If money is not an issue then of course the experience at G&L will be better.

@poppybuttons Thank you so much for your comment — I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Money isn’t the only factor for us. We’re not wealthy, but we could make G&L work if we decided it was the right fit. What I’m really trying to understand is where girls/ kids tend to thrive more — in terms of academic stretch, pastoral care, pressure levels, and overall happiness.

I completely understand that they are very different schools — selective independent girls’ school versus non-selective co-ed state — and that makes comparison difficult. I’m less focused on facilities and more on day-to-day experience: how supported girls/ kids feel, how manageable the workload is, whether the culture feels collaborative or competitive, and whether children genuinely enjoy going in each day.

Most of my DD’s current friends are likely to go to WLFS, but she felt comfortable at G&L and has already met someone she liked at the Offer Holders’ Event. I suppose I’m just trying to get a sense from those with direct experience — are girls generally happy at G&L? And is WLFS as strict and high-pressure as some suggest, or is that overstated?

Check the school GCSEs curriculum and if there are different subjects or languages offer. Please note a friendly face at Offer day does mean much as they could choose another school and also it depends on year group and form group in Year7.

Your daughter is obviously very bright so will do well at either school. Decision is really what the social demographics peers wise you’re looking for - representative of the community socially, race, religion, economically etc, or mainly rich and mega mega rich

Don’t underestimate the advantage/disadvantage of having state school versus private school on your DC’s CV for work experience/uni experience days/internships/jobs. The discrimination is real. You can go to state school and spend ££££ on top up tuition and come from a very privileged background but not be penalised in the way you are from private school. No school is perfect. WLFS will provide a very solid foundation. (Not to take anything away from the academics and experience and quality of G&L.)

We haven't had our state school offers yet (tomorrow am), but my daughter has chosen GL. She is at an outstanding state school and worked hard for the 11+, but it is purely a primary school. She enjoyed the Offers event too. She was offered an academic scholarship at Francis Holland, which is within walking distance of home, but still chose GL. If your daughter decides GL, could we ould get the girls to meet prior? Offered City and South Hampstead too.She still

sorry chooses GL.

@HawaiiWake , thank you for responding. Yes, we are aware that a friendly face at the Offer Holders' Event does not mean they will be together. The school, in fact, did say that they put the girls in groups so that they don't know each other so that all are in the same position, which I like.

@Unexpectedlysinglemum thank you. I agree, and we are not that crazy privileged family. However, I believe that due to generous bursary awards at G&L, there is a balanced mix of girls from different backgrounds, which I like, as the girls can learn a lot from each other. In my opinion, at least.

My DD went to WLFS primary and I couldn’t wait to take her out. Lovely kids and families but fundamentally under resourced and massive classes - can’t imagine the secondary will be fundamentally different. At GL your DD will be able to study whatever she likes, do whatever instrument without there being a question mark around there being enough spaces or access. The families at GL are however often very wealthy with tiger mums, combined with being all girls that creates its own dynamic. Friend mentioned how the yr 9 mums were discussing making their kids read War and Peace and what else could they push them towards (presumably Stalingrad by Antony Beevor for a little more light bedtime reading)

@Sal210873 , thank you for responding. Congratulations to your daughter on all her offers. My daughter was also offered a place at Francis Holland in Sloane Square with an Academic Scholarship, but we are very local to G&L, plus it feels G&L is a better fit for my daughter. She's also worked so hard to pass 11+ and certainly deserves a medal now :). They all do as it's a very tough process! Yes, state school offers come tomorrow, and we will almost certainly have an offer from WLFS, but we are almost 100% decided we will accept the offer from G&L. I will confirm it with you and it would be lovely to get the girls together. How can we connect outside of this forum?

Oh, well done to your dd as well. That's brilliant. Yes, I feel the same. GL feels right for my dd, instinctively. I really liked Dr Ramsey, too. We are about 16 mins on the tube there, and it feels odd allowing her to tube it herself, but they grow. I will travel with her to start with until she finds someone to travel with. We can private message when you know. Good luck with the decision.

@curious79, thank you so much for sharing. Can I ask at which school your daughter is now, please? Is it G&L?

Yes, the facilities and opportunities, including pastoral care, are all outstanding, to the best of my knowledge. I was hoping there would be some mix of families, too, due to the generous bursary system. It is a bit of a concern to me, as we are not that rich or anywhere near I would say. So, a bit worried whether my daughter would be included in the social circle, etc. We are not poor and have lovely holidays, etc., but we are definitely not rich.

@Sal210873 Thank you! I also thought that Dr Ramsey was lovely. That's great, I will be in touch here on the forum in the next few days to confirm whether we went with G&L, and hopefully we can meet up with the girls :).

Yes, that would be great. Hopefully, see you in the future.

We’re no longer in London and loving the pressure cooker release ;). DD’s BF from london days is at GL and probably a bit on the outside of groups. The mum puts it down to the difference in wealth but honestly this girl has always been slightly socially awkward and horribly competitive with others so I suspect that’s more the cause of things. Loves the school and all the opportunities there though. There are some things in life you can’t control- and wether your child will be happy for certain is not one of them, however having had a child in both state and independent I would plump for independent every time!

@NormanandNorma thank you for sharing your perspectives - it's really helpful to hear different experiences and opinions. For me, the decision isn't about prestige but about the right environment and fit for my DD, including the opportunities and pastoral care, which is also a big factor. Equally, it's important to me that my DD would feel comfortable, grounded and accepted. Such a big decision to make.

@curious79 not being in London sounds lovely haha - I can imagine the "pressure cooker" release must feel refreshing!
I do hope your daughters' BF is doing ok and has found some good friends. It's reassuring to hear she's loving the school and all the opportunities. My DD is generally quite an easy going and very friendly character, so I'd hope she would settle in and find her place too, but never experienced being around wealthy families. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It's really helpful! Wishing you and your DD all the very best x

G&L is a lovely school, and not as completive or pressured as, say, SPGS.
As to where your daughter would be happier - it's impossible to say, as no one has a crystal ball. And in any school, no matter how supportive, etc - there will be happy and unhappy kids.

Facilities, sports and other opportunities do make a huge difference on kids day-to-day school experience, and hence, their happiness there.
And, even though GCSEs, A-levels and uni admissions seem far away for you - the time will fly really fast, and it'll be here before you know it.

School with better funding will give your kid the best preparation for her future life. Period.

Also - being with other smart kids would also help her develop in a different way than being in a mixed ability school with a lot less resources.

That said - you can also save money and go state, and then move at GSCEs, or even A-levels.

@Sashya Thank you very much for your perspective. Really helpful! Everyone I speak to about G&L says the same thing, and that it's the best school for girls.

If anything, I would do the opposite. G&L prepares them very well for the GCSE's and I doubt state schools would do the same....so going to G&L prior to state would ensure higher GCSE scores instead of state and swapping.

@Springtoday Can I ask if you have a child in G&L, please, or any other independent? Just trying to see what other parents did/ will do if they have offers from both G&L or any other top independent, and let's say WLFS Secondary (great secondary). Of course, if the cost is not an issue for one or another reason (we're a bursary family) and can pay the remaining balance.