[quote=batterseamum14 post_id=285658 time=1677709912 user_id=59156]@falconmum Can you please share your experience ? How was your first year at the school ? Is your boy happy at Emanuel? Does the school have a good chess team ? Quite interested as considering the school for my boy. I get the feel that it is a brilliant school. [/quote]

hi Batterseamum, I am happy to have a chat about our experiences. (easier to talk than keep typing!) 
Overall, we are really pleased with the school! There is SO much to do and so many activities to take part in that the kids have full schedules. 
Your child can choose to participate in as many or as little co-curricular stuff to participate. There are enough sports and definitely a very busy Performing Arts department. My son (not a sporty kid) has had to up his physical activity which we welcomed.
Yr6 is a [b]HUGE [/b]stretch esp if you have a state school background but the teachers are on top of it and providing support where needed. We have felt the difference in the step-up esp with regular assessments. 
There are a few niggles like no provision for Spanish in Yr7 and perhaps a lack of after-school clubs. 
I hope that helps but feel free to PM me ...

@falconmum Can you please share your experience ? How was your first year at the school ? Is your boy happy at Emanuel? Does the school have a good chess team ? Quite interested as considering the school for my boy. I get the feel that it is a brilliant school. 

Congratulations! I think a great choice and opportunity especially as your son loves drama as an extra curricular alongside his academic potential. Best wishes

Thank you for the candid insight.
We will take the place because like you mentioned this is the one shot for us at this stage.
We are off to the decider morning next week so🤞🏼

Bear in mind if your child sits the 10 plus and is offered a place and you turn it down they will not have the opportunity to try at 11 plus. If they aren't offered a place at 10 plus, they can try gain at 11. This was my understanding of the situation.

My daughter did not get an offer from Emanuel at 11 plus but did at several others higher up the league. The school is incredibly popular now and can be very choosy about who they accept. If you have a 10 plus offer, I would take it as the competition at 11 plus is enormous especially as it's a coed which still has a sibling policy provided the sibling passes. I think it's a great school.

Yes Mr Milne, the current head at Emanuel, previous deputy head at Kings College Wimbledon, has made a lot of changes throughout and the school makes it very clear they aspiring to go up the league tables (and have already gone up significantly, despite covid).
Lots of changes have been made around the depth and breath of the curriculum and the teaching provision, the devices policy, the pastoral care/reporting to parents and communication, siblings admissions aren’t as easy as they were. Lots of projects are happening too regarding the outreach, the facilities being further developed.
It’s definitely a fast moving school.

The new head and his team are also extremely hands-on and can be seen around the school, being stuck in.
Mr Turner (from Alleyn’s) was brought in as a deputy head last year.
Whilst it remains a friendly, strong community school, it has clearly changed objective academically as well as changes pace in many other aspects.

Thank you for your response. I have tried to add a bit more context to my query.

I have a DD, year 7 got in on 11+, so not quite what you are after but can comment on a general points: extremely friendly school, high expectation in behaviour and academic, excellent communication to parents, and very organised generally. The senior leadership is very dedicated, approachable, down to earth and grounded into the school. They are also bursting with plans and projects.
We have raised a couple of things and they were addressed very quickly and efficiently.
I have older DC in a school higher up the league table which I really like, but Emanuel has been been a very pleasant surprise. My DD is very engaged in sport, drama and music.

Hi, I have a girl and we are extremely happy with the school. Friendly kind children and good sports. Amazing facilities.

Hi! Would love some reviews / insights on Emanuel , esp. from boy mums. 

We are considering our options there.  ;) ;)

Edit :
So to give further context, we were considering an all boys school earlier. My son is a quiet, non sporty type. He is more keen on chess than football. He is also keen on drama (which is why Emanuel is on our list)
Views on pastoral care/support, general kids behaviors, clubs etc... Any advice or insight is welcome.

I believe the new head has made a huge difference already. But is the general impression that it's an up and coming school that aspires to move up league tables or a cozy comfortable neighbourhood indy school.

Hope that clarifies it a little bit more