St Dominics Sixth form College in harrow

guys, i went to St Dominic's, so if you have any specific questions, feel free to quote me here and i'll try and help you.

Hey guys,

I am a current student at St. Doms in year 13! Feel free to ask me any questions in private or on this thread! Happy to help.

I got an offer from both St doms n watford girls. Does any1 hv any advice on what they would choose. Its a really tough decision.

My GPA was 8. Yes I want to go 2 st doms n watford, they're both good schools. Im glad u got ur first choice. Btw if they Watford said they had a place 4 you would you give up ur place 4 St. Doms and go there instead?

Guys I don't know what to do! I got in to St Doms, but none of my friends are going there, and I got in to another good school with alot of my friends going there. Both schools are good, but I'm more familiar with the other school. WHAT DO I DO? I really want to go to both..

Hey which was the other school that you got in???

Hey, I know I'm a randomer to the thread but I always nose through threads to do with places local to me and I just saw this, haha!

But hmmm, I think you really need to think about this decision but since I went to Watford Girls and I had a lot of friends who went to St Doms, I thought maybe I could help a little - but haha, what I have to say may be useless but you can decide

There are many pros to St Doms and the main one is the freedom. I was at Watford since year 7, so I was used to the style of it, but one thing a lot of the news girls said who came in for Sixth Form said that it was too restrictive. Like you can't leave during frees and there's a uniform (although I preferred that as thinking up things to wear everyday for Uni is hell) and also the teachers expect you to work. Yeah, they're a bit more lax in Sixth Form, but they still treat you less like adults than in St Doms. So if you want more responsibility with your education, Doms would be better. They also are more open to other choices at St Doms, whereas at Watford, it's kind of a given that you're going to Uni. Yeah, they talk a little about other options, but pretty much everyone leaves with a Uni place or a few take a gap year. I don't know anyone in my year who isn't at Uni or on a gap year (I just finished last year).

Watford does have pros too though - the teachers are incredibly dedicated and from what I've heard, the teaching is of a higher standard. Some girls left to go to St Doms and then complained to us who stayed that the teaching there was just not as good a quality and that the teachers weren't as keen about their subjects, whereas at Watford, teachers will happily spend hours of their time, giving you extra tuition just because they want you to do well, not for extra pay. Like my Maths teacher used to teach us Uni Maths after School if we wanted to go and it was all in his free time. Of course, this may not be true about the teaching standard at Doms, but it's just what I've heard. Watford also tends to be a better environment to study in - we all used to help each other do well and motivate each other, whereas my friends at other Sixth Forms, such as Doms, generally found that people tended to be more selfish with helping each other. All of the new girls also blended in really well, especially as we do lots of crazy events that kind of band people together with a whole day dedicated to 'Disney Day' or 'Harry Potter Day', so haha, as it's connected to the main School, there are a lot of childish but really fun events that go on all year round. The only thing is, there is a limit - like Muck Up Day was quite controlled and I'm sure that would be more fun at Doms.

So yeah, Watford has generally a better reputation and a better teaching standard but Doms trains you more for life with a more adult attitude to their students and also it's mixed, which is something that a lot of people prefer over a single-sex School. So yeah, tough choice xD But really, both are good and you should do well wherever you go if you're determined enough

I'm in a similar situation and I don't know what to do

Thank you soo much. It was sooo kind of you to dedicate so much time into writing a really long detalied response, when you dont even hv to. It was the best advice I have received from any1 and will really help me in deciding which sch 2 go to. Its really gd 2 hear that new people who moved 2 Watford fitted in and were accepted. That was one of my biggest concerns. I think Ive made my mind up now and I'm gonna go 2 Watford as the teachers seem really helpful and studying and academics are a big decision factor for me.

Thanks again,

I hope you're enjoying uni n studying a course that you really enjoy

Hello
Would you say the teaching quality is good? And how would you describe the atmosphere of the school? Are the teachers there to help you, and run after school sessions? Generally, how are the students there? Are they friendly? And is the school multicultural?

yes, it is multicultural and we had foreign exchange students from Italy as well, but as the others mentioned, you can find the college racially divided, especially the canteen. the Asian students used to sit on the left hand side, and the white ones on the right hand side, but i would say that the atmosphere was generally pleasant because none of us took 'the division' seriously. so honestly, i wouldn't worry about that.

i found the teaching quality excellent, especially in my second year, because we really got lots of help with all the UCAS stuff. the teachers are generally happy to help, and yes, we used to have after-school workshop sessions, where you could see your teachers on individual basis (sometimes you needed to make an appoitment the day before), but i think they've changed it now and the workshops happen during lunch times. the lunch is 1 hour, so you had time to eat as well. we had revision classes too and received tones of past papers when it came to exams, so really, i'd say that the teaching quality was excellent, as the teachers really DID want you to succeed and do well in your exams. god, i miss st doms. i had amazing two years there.

How well do people settle there? In particular, people who didn't come from Sacred Heart or Salvatorian.

yes, it is multicultural and we had foreign exchange students from Italy as well, but as the others mentioned, you can find the college racially divided, especially the canteen. the Asian students used to sit on the left hand side, and the white ones on the right hand side, but i would say that the atmosphere was generally pleasant because none of us took 'the division' seriously. so honestly, i wouldn't worry about that.

i found the teaching quality excellent, especially in my second year, because we really got lots of help with all the UCAS stuff. the teachers are generally happy to help, and yes, we used to have after-school workshop sessions, where you could see your teachers on individual basis (sometimes you needed to make an appoitment the day before), but i think they've changed it now and the workshops happen during lunch times. the lunch is 1 hour, so you had time to eat as well. we had revision classes too and received tones of past papers when it came to exams, so really, i'd say that the teaching quality was excellent, as the teachers really DID want you to succeed and do well in your exams. god, i miss st doms. i had amazing two years there.

Thank you so much for answering my questions that really helped,
The thing is, if i were to go to st doms, i would be the only one to go there from my school, and that's one thing that scares me because all my friends are going to different schools, do you think i'll get on well, and be able to make friends quickly?

Ahhh, no worries A lot of my friends made the wrong decision about Sixth Form and I'd hate for others to do that if I can help.

I hope you enjoy Watford and just try to embrace it A lot of new girls struggle with the fact that it's very much like School still while their friends went off to colleges where they were treated more like adults, but they do treat you like an adult at Watford if you show you deserve it and work hard Oh, and if you do Maths, you're going to love those teachers! Officially the craziest people ever xD But yeah, there are like 50 new girls for Sixth Form and they're all really welcomed!

Also if you ever want any advice, even when you start, feel free to PM me! I know a lot of hints to soften up the teachers, haha!

And thank you - I'm absolutely loving Uni

I'm doing maths and that is great 2 hear. Thanks its gr8 2 get advice from some1 who went 2 Watford Do u know if the English teachers and R.S teachers r good?
Thanks

Twyford, have you heard of it?

Thank you so much for answering my questions that really helped,
The thing is, if i were to go to st doms, i would be the only one to go there from my school, and that's one thing that scares me because all my friends are going to different schools, do you think i'll get on well, and be able to make friends quickly?