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?

Yes, one at G&L and one at LU. Both had good state options, but I felt secondary private would suit them better. I wanted them with a more academic crowd and to be challenged. They went to a very good state primary and enjoyed it very much, but it did not challenge them enough. I don't know about WLFS so hopefully someone comes along who can better advise.

@Marie44, if you have a bursary offer, of course you must take this opportunity for your dd - the school want her. The bursary won’t be reallocated this year, if you don’t take it.

@Marie44 we had a similar dilemma with the other options including a grammar school. If affordability wasn't an issue I would take G&L at a heartbeat. We chose the independent school and haven't looked back.

G&L all the way. In my own personal experience (having had sons and a daughter at WLFS primary and secondary), I would absolutely have chosen a school like G&L if I had that opportunity in front of me. WLFS secondary is not nearly as good a school as it used to be (I've had kids attending the secondary since its inception with my youngest starting this past September and leaving by November- I've known that school and its staff for a long time).

The WLFS Sixth Form is a different story- excellent sixth form! In a class by itself, really. It's a sixth form I would chose over a private one all day long.

@DorisTheFinkasaurus Thank you so much for sharing all of this. I needed to hear from someone with first-hand experience and offering such genuine advice. I’m making this decision on my own for my daughter and feel quite lost at times, so your insight means so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to write it.

May I also ask one more thing, please? If my DD goes to G&L for secondary, does she have the same chance as kids from WLFS Secondary to apply to WLFS for sixth form? Or do students already in the WLFS secondary have priority for the sixth form places, with fewer spaces for external applicants? Or is it purely based on the results they achieve?

I would be very grateful to understand how that works if you happen to know. Thank you again for your help. x

@SWLmama So good to know, thank you very much. x

@poppybuttons Thank you so much. I have no experience with independent schools, and I am making this decision on my own for my daughter. So, I'm so grateful for all your advice. x

Hi OP, yes of course she'll definitely have the same chance of getting a placement at the sixth form as those who are already attending the secondary. In my own experience, I have found the sixth form to be fairly evenly split down the middle. About half of the sixth form pupils come from other schools and it's a great sixth form for those who have been in private education. The teaching standards at the sixth form are high, but it's a very nurturing environment. Mr. Tamizian is an amazing, amazing teacher (I believe he's the head of the sixth form now) and Mr. Bacchi-Andreoli runs the art department and is, again, an incredible art teacher. I regrettably can't speak too highly of the secondary itself (it's got it's great and not so great aspects), but the sixth form deserves heaps of praise. It really is consistently excellent.

@Springtoday I'm so glad I posted my question on this forum - thank you so much for sharing. My daughter is always top performing in her class, very academic. WLFS secondary is a good state school, but I now don't think it would challenge her enough. Would you mind sharing what you are thinking for your children for the sixth form, please? I've heard that WLFS sixth form is very good. x

@DorisTheFinkasaurus Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to explain all of that — it sounds really reassuring to hear from people like you who have first-hand knowledge.

What you’ve shared confirms my initial feeling that G&L is the right place for my daughter, where she can be challenged, she can grow and build her confidence.

Thank you again for being so generous with your time and advice. I truly appreciate it. We have confirmed the offer and are very excited now about it :)

For now, think we will just keep them in their schools. They are happy there and no reason to move. Although maybe a chance dd would want to go coed, but doubt it as she loves G&L. DS is also very happy at his school. Of course you never know later down the line so we keep an open mind for both kids. But not sure if DS could change anyway bc LU dropping GCSEs.

@DorisTheFinkasaurus

yes of course she'll definitely have the same chance of getting a placement at the sixth form as those who are already attending the secondary.

From their sixth form admissions arrangements:

c. Minimum Entry Requirements are Grade 5 in English Language and Mathematics, and five Grade 6s overall....

d. All students in the current Year 11 at the West London Free School who meet the Minimum Entry Requirements... will be given first preference to continue into the Sixth Form if they wish to do so....

e. Any remaining places will be filled by external applicants to the Sixth Form; final numbers will vary depending on the combination of courses, availability of spaces and the number of internal Year 11 students who decide to continue at the West London Free School....

That implies to me that a student already attending the secondary with 5s in GCSE English Language and Math and five 6s overall will have priority over an external applicant with straight 9s. Is that not your experience?

That implies to me that a student already attending the secondary with 5s in GCSE English Language and Math and five 6s overall will have priority over an external applicant with straight 9s. Is that not your experience?

Nope. Not my experience. Plenty of the WLFS kids bomb GCSEs and don't go onto the sixth form, many also leave out of choice because they want a new experience outside of the WLFS one. Remember, some of those kids have been in the WLFS family since primary school and it gets a bit insular. They want a new environment that's not associated with WLFS. That's a very common reason for the kids who breeze through GCSEs, obtaining 9s, not to stay on at WLFS Sixth Form. They just want a new experience, nothing more, nothing less. So anyone from the outside should not at all be deterred from applying.
Also, the secondary can be a bit hardcore, emotionally, and many kids burn out. It's not got great pastoral care and that adds to it. The Sixth Form is a different and much better story.

For me, it’s all about the peer group—selectivity is the real deal-breaker. There’s such a massive risk with a bright DD being stuck in a non-selective set; they just end up feeling isolated or totally switching off because they aren’t being stretched. Whether the school is state or private is less of a priority. The main thing is finding that academic bubble where they can actually thrive and be happy. Of course, an academically strong girl can still do well in a non-selective school like WLFS, but it’s a much bigger gamble for her development than being in a selective environment as in G&L. @Marie44

@swdd , Many thanks for your comment. Can I ask if you have a DD at G&L or children at any of the independent schools? It's always great to have perspectives from parents with first-hand experience.

@Marie44

I have two in selective private in this area. Plenty of my DDs friends ended up in G&L after 11+. Some, who didn’t manage to get into better schools went to WLFS.
So - there is that. It is going to be a different, less academic cohort. With less opportunities.

Recently - one of good friends moved her DD from WLFS to mid-level private school. Not so much for academics, but to get better support - pastoral and otherwise.

@jsku Thank you very much for your comment. Would you mind if I private message you, please?

Of course

@Marie44 DD entered her current junior private via a selective process and the senior school is a bit less selective than G&L. I feel the 'bells and whistles' in private schools are lovely, but probably don't justify the extra fees anymore. I am looking at other options. To me, if she can get into a top grammar, even somewhere like G&L starts to look a bit less attractive.
Regarding comprehensive schools, I’ll admit I might be biased as my only impression came from a BBC documentary years ago. Even though the school was rated 'Outstanding', seeing two gifted girls looking so isolated while the maths classroom was in chaos made me very cautious of the non-selective comprehensive system.

Hi OP. My DD went through G&L and it's an absolutely lovely school. Academic standards are obviously very high, but it's seems to happen in a way that's low-key and supportive. Teachers seem to really care. I think it's a school run by women in the interests if women and, as a result, the atmosphere is calm and they just get on with it. Girls become confident without being arrogant.

WLFS I have no direct experience of. However, I did used to have a DC at LU and used to park in the side road between LU and WLFS. Twice I witnessed children (large groups of boys aged about 14) coming out of WLFS and being given drugs by some older guys coming off King St. It was all very visible. I once called the school and told them what I was witnessing and that I could identify the students if necessary, but they didn't seem surprised or concerned.

@swdd We didn't have a grammar school option, so the decision came down to G&L and WLFS (comprehensive).

@allchange5 Thank you for sharing your experience, that's really helpful to hear. Can I ask when your DD completed her education at G&L? Did she go to sixth form at G&L?
What you mentioned about WLFS is always a concern with secondaries. That's I like that G&L is a bit tucked away from the high street, which somehow makes it feel calmer and perhaps a bit safer.

It’s hard to justify favoring WLFS over G&L on academics or pastoral care or 'expected' overall happiness—the answer is quite obvious even without direct experience of either. The only real advantage of WLFS is that it’s free.

Without being too specific, she finished very recently. And yes, she stayed for 6th form and that's the best part of the school, in my opinion. The subject groups are smaller and the teachers have really lovely relationships with the girls. - respectful, but genuinely caring and fun. Many of them really go above and beyond. They have a large common room, don't have to wear uniform, and are really encouraged to take on positions of responsibility in the school. They all seem to thrive through this. They can do A-levels or IB.

In a nutshell @Marie44, at G&L about 97% of GCSEs are 9-7, year on year. I don't know what the percentages are at WLFS, but I think in an average non-selective secondary school it's more in the realms of 20% 9-7. Fine if your DD is in that 20%, but very often, children will tend to compare themselves (and consequently perform) to the 'norm' in their cohort.