Chestnut Grove vs Graveney

[vapourtrail50]

My daughter has got a language place at Chestnut Grove for this Sept 27 and we just found out that she got well above the historic cut off scores from Graveney in Wandsworth test (she got 261). I believe Graveney is the more academic of the two but it slightly harder for us to get to as we are well out of catchment for both (but not keen on local schools). I would love to hear from current or past parents or those more local on the pros and cons of each.

First of all, congratulations! It's an excellent outcome. Many nappyvalley families would love to be in your position!

I have a child at Chestnut. First impressions are good but it's too early for us to tell for sure.

The families who like Chestnut tend to do so because they find it a reasonable balance between rigour and reasonableness: many would find schools like Ashcroft too strict, schools like St Cecilia not academic enough, but find Chestnut a reasonable balance.

Many families who don't like Chestnut prefer stricter environments (Ashcroft) and/or schools which have higher GCSE results (Ashcroft, Graveney, Harris Wimbledon, Hurlingham in Fulham) and/or schools which apply streams or apply sets in more subjects (same list as before).

Graveney is a very big school: some find it overwhelming, some prefer it as it's easier to find your crowd in a big school.
Something on which opinions are divided is whether Graveney is two schools in one: some say the selective / grammar / whatever it's called stream is mostly rich white overtutored kids, whereas those who get in by distance are a different demographic. Other people disagree, point to all the stats that white kids tend to be less represented in selective schools (on the basis that familiar values count more than wealth itself), and suggest that Graveney's very good results overall could not be reached if it were really two schools in one.

I am not sure about the details, so double check yourself, but I think that:

• Chestnut uses sets for maths only
• Hurlingham and Graveney use streams
• Graveney's top stream is a combination of the kids who got in with the test + the top kids who got in by distance

What schools do about sets is maybe one of the least clear points from their websites, so, if you feel strongly on this, do look into it.

I have tried to present what I understand are the more common views on those schools, without taking sides - it's up to you to do your due diligence.

How much harder would it be to get to Graveney vs Chestnut?

Thank you so much for such a thoughtful, balanced response. I really appreciate it. We live in Kennington/Elephant and Castle so the journey to Chestnut is somewhat shorter/more straightforward mainly because of how close it is to the tube vs the ~20mins walk or bus from the Tooting tubes to Graveney. There are direct buses to both but also a direct overground to Tooting so an additional option for Graveney if the Northern line goes down. As my daughter is pretty academic and I'm quite focused on results, Graveney feels like it may be a better fit but I've heard some of those rumours so it also feels like more of a risk. Thank you again for taking the time to respond so thoroughly!

No worries. Bear in mind that these things are very subjective, my kid can hate a school yours loves, and viceversa. In fact, if you have only heard positive feedback about a school, you probably haven't done enough due diligence!

I think two factors are at play:

• there is a category of parents, over-represented on mumsnet, who want to convince themselves that their bundle of joy is a little genius and that their school is maximising their potential
• selection bias: those who hate a certain type of school either never applied in the first place, or left. The families who remain in a school like Ashcroft tend to agree with its methods. This doesn't mean the school would work for everyone

@vapourtrail50congratulations!

all other things being equal, I’d consider which school offers sets and how soon; or streams. These are very different ways of operating and you should consider this carefully if you have an academic child. IME Sets tend to be a sound way as children have different strengths and they can learn each subject in their right ability group.