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Original poster

Prep school Y7 and 8

38 replies

MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 15:49

Anyone got any experience of this:
I want to talk to prep schools about a place for DS should he not get an offer at 11+ (looking increasingly dodgy - performance just not matching up to expectations, which I had based on all the advice from his teachers. Slightly feel like I can't trust their assessments, which is very destabilising, but that's not the point of this post).
Left to my own devices, I'd probably completely alienate the prep schools by picking up the phone and trying but failing to conceal that it's a back up strategy - constantly sticking my foot in it because I am a useless liar and tend to rely on telling the truth, but I can see that that may not be a good strategy here - but I'm a bit concerned that if I don't call them soon, I might be ringing them in March and finding I've left it too late.
Does anyone have any experience of going this route, and when you need to call preps to try to sort out a Year 7 place if the 11+ goes tits up?
The two preps I had in mind were Newton Prep and Hill House, though that's really only because I don't know anything about any of the others.

OP posts:
happygardening · 28/11/2013 16:35

I'm a crap liar so always go for honesty usually it pays off. It seems to me that your problem is where will he go at 13+? I understand from friends in London that places are fought over and sadly the brightest selected of course many are in the process selecting/pre testing for 13+ entry.
You haven't let him down the system is. It favours those who do well and appear bright in test/exams. There are lots of bright and capable children being failed because in exams situations they are not ticking the right boxes. There are also less and less schools who are prepared to consider either these children or those who frankly may not be academically bright bring lots of other qualities to the party.

Original poster
MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 16:26

appreciate the input anyway, happygardening! And I love a vote in favour of honesty. I do deception REALLY badly. xx

LIZS
I think I might feel better if I went and talked to a prep. Can't be the first time they've had a miserable mum come in not knowing what to do for the best.

OP posts:
happygardening · 28/11/2013 16:24

Sorry OP x posted.

LIZS · 28/11/2013 16:23

Many preps teach Spanish in the two years so that may be an easier option for him for CE. Maybe being in a culture of all working towards CE would help motivate him ?

happygardening · 28/11/2013 16:23

Have you considered/can you afford a boarding prep? They often have more vacancies as they struggle to fill them and a broader intake lots of different abilities so this might help his confidence. Other qualities are also highly valued in boarding preps because it's not all about lessons.
I would be truthful from the beginning rather than digging yourself into a hole which you might have to extricate yourself from. Head are not stupid they will probably know what your up to, so you might as well be totally up front with them.

Original poster
MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 16:21

LIZS, thanks. I think that's the issue - I don't know if he'll work his socks off. It's been really difficult to get him to work for the 11+ exams, because his school is SO undemanding that he feels as though we're really unreasonable - and he's too immature to be able to connect the extra work to getting into one of the independent schools.

I don't know, maybe he is just dumb as a tack - what puzzles me is that his teachers have all consistently said he's easily higher ability, and with hard work could be very high ability. I feel like I'm really fucking messing up the whole process and letting him down by not knowing what to do for the best. And like I've already left it too late to do the bes tthing anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 16:18

I believe he is slower to mature, yes, Workingitout. The issue is primarily with his English, although he can be very careless with his maths - his tutor believes him easily capable of 85% on practice papers, but he keeps cocking it up with careless mistakes.
One of the reasons I'm concerned about sending him to a prep to do 13+ is the fact that his primary doesn't teach a modern foreign languaeg, and the Latin's been very basic.
And without a crystal ball, it's very hard to see whether he'd be able to do either the sustained work or the new skills required to get through CE.
Workingitout, I understand what you say about brand names, but one of the things I feel rather at sea about is what the alternatives are: where do you get info about schools that are not selective? It seems to me that they're all selective. We do not have more than the fees (and a prudent hedge against inflation) to spare, so it can't be somewhere for rich kids. And we definitely can't do boarding.

OP posts:
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 28/11/2013 16:11

Issue is if you go to prep school you also need a 13+ strategy in place and much of that entry process is already underway. And has your DS got the basics for common entrance in place eg has he been studying French and Latin?

You need to understand why the divergence now? Is he maybe just slower to mature? This would be a good argument to support a move to a prep school as your first choice. But you may not manage a brand name like the ones you listed as they are likely to be selective.

LIZS · 28/11/2013 16:11

Most preps would bite your arm off, especially if he has other strengths or simply "needs extra nurturing" to achieve a place at a good secondary. Are you happy for him to have to work his socks off to get a good CE result ? Most 11+ offers appear around Feb half term - early March so if you can get at least a call in beforehand that might be worthwhile. 11+ Leavers won't have to give notice until Easter so you may have some time to play with then.

Original poster
MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 16:05

If it helps, we've got registrations at Dulwich, Trinity, Emanuel and St Benedict's in Ealing. His English tutor has warned us not to be optimistic even of St Benedict's, which would normally be the safest option as it has a nicely inclusive approach to selection, although it clearly gets some extremely able pupils.

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Original poster
MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 16:03

*I should have said "didn't pass" the grammar school exams, rather than "didn't get in". I'm aware that there are plenty of kids around who failed grammars but still got places at indies - but I'm still uneasy, looking at the random (and mostly mediocre) standard of his practice papers.

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Original poster
MrsSteptoe · 28/11/2013 16:01

Indy5 I'm so sorry, I didn't make it clear. He's already tried for the grammar schools and didn't get in. I think the knock to his confidence is partly why his performance in the practice papers is now so lamentable. In your opinion, Indy5, would the way to go be to apply in apparent good faith for a place at a prep and turn it down if he passes the 11+ for the schools he's applied to? Surely they'll ask if he's got an application in to take the January exams for the indies?

OP posts:
Indy5 · 28/11/2013 15:59

Instead of prep schools at year 7/8 why would you not be looking at indy senior schools that start at 11 (there are several of those)?

I am sure there are plenty in your boat that have a grammar as a first option and an indy as a back up. There's no commitment involved in going to see a school and registering ...once you accept though you may have to pay heft deposits but I imagine by the time of the acceptance deadlines arrive for the indy you would have heard about the 11+ grammar place.

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