NLCS or SPGS

[Aptonia]

My DD has an offer from SPGS and NLCS. Travelling is no issue for us. Please may I have some advice about about similarities and differences between both schools?

Thanks in advance

[Daogroupie]

They are a long way apart.

Surely you must be closer to one or are you going to move?

St Pauls is very dominated by some prep schools.

Wonder how many Bute House will be sending this year?

Both very academic schools but I feel you would meet a wider range of girls at NLCS.

It would be interesting to compare the state school intake. DG

[Rhinoo]

My DD has an offer from SPGS and NLCS. Travelling is no issue for us. Please may I have some advice about about similarities and differences between both schools?

Thanks in advance

Both are great schools but travelling is never "no issue" and the schools are 11 miles apart!

[Aptonia]

Travelling is not a concern- I would like to know how both schools are different and where girls are happier- would appreciate feedback on that aspect

[Daogroupie]

You will find that members will be a lot more receptive if you simply say you are prepared to move closer to the school that you accept a place at.

There is nowhere you can currently live that would enable your dd to get to both schools easily.

To say that it is not a concern when we know exactly where both schools are and how long it takes to get from one to the other is not helping your chances of getting answers.

It is also fairly obvious that neither school is one where girls are happier than the other.

Tell us about what type of person your dd is and what she is interested in and that is more likely to get a response.

DG

[Moon unit]

Firstly really well done to your daughter.
They are both great schools.
The thing about travelling is that at the age of 11 it’s a totally different thing than it is for a teenager.
School coaches can be great as can being driven to school and collected.
Those will be really acceptable options for eleven year olds.
Fast forward to 14 or so and the vast majority want to be independent.
To wander after school for a hot chocolate with friends and then being able to hop on a bus home becomes really important to most teenagers.
I’d evaluate a journey by public transport first to both schools and then think of other pros and cons.
My daughter is in year 10 and is very lucky to live less than two miles from her school.
Her classmates with two bus and a train type journeys are so fed up with it.
These journeys become much more onerous as homework and socialising ramp up.

[PerpetualStudent]

Congrats OP, what a wonderful choice!

We considered both schools a couple of years back but have no direct experience, however there are a few clear albeit superficial differences.

We loved the open space at NLCS, all that green appealed. SPGS felt much more enclosed. NLCS has a school uniform, At SPGS girls have much more freedom about what to wear. NLCS offers IB as well as A Levels though of course 6th form is a whole new ball game.

I note that over previous years there have been threads discussing how high stress SPGS is but that may not be the case any more. I remember a few years ago their website had a very grey and clinical feel but is now lively and colourful. A very superficial impression I know but it suggests a change of emphasis somewhere.

Given that the academics and extra curricular opportunities are great, check into the pastoral support side and consider what each school does when things aren't going well.

Finally, an aside re travel. Having considered travel options ourselves, there are parts of London especially central London, where both these schools are easily reached by tube. NLCS may be slightly longer but it's a very straightforward journey. Taking the tube offers flexibility to do after school activities and meet up with friends. Both journeys would be counter commutes.

HTH
PS

[cyclingbeard]

We have the same choice plus Band A at HBS. I believe that nlcs is lot more diverse, socially, ethnically and academically, a bit more like a grammar school whereby SPGS is more uniform (despite a claim of catering for real oddballs) and in a way more elite school. Good choice to have. I guess it depends on what you want.

[Aptonia]

Thank you every one for your replies- they are of great help!

[hampsteadmum]

A few years ago we had the same choice. In fact our daughter was in the junior school of NLCS so we already had some insider info/experience. We (and I appreciate this is a very subjective view) had no hesitation in choosing SPGS over NLCS. SPGS has more of a university feel, it is quite liberal, strong academics, the girls are a little more intellectual and is perhaps a more recognisable brand. Both schools are viewed as high pressured. We don't see that. I was apprehensive at first about the non uniform issue but actually it is a non issue. Half the week the girls go to school in their sports gear in any event and the rest of the week in whatever feels more comfortable. Interestingly the NLCS girls (and our daughter socialises with many of her former classmates) are a little more fashion and brand obsessed. SPGS is a far sportier school (despite the fact that NLCS has the rolling fields). Academically I would say that perhaps at NLCS there is a wider range of ability than at SPGS. This is also confirmed by mums who have daughters at both schools. Both are great schools but for our daughter SPGS was the right choice. (And as for the distance we too are equidistant from both schools. Both schools serve our area by coach and are accessible by tube or overground). Good luck!