Is it harder to get into a selective state school or selective independent school?

86 replies

FiveHoursSleep · 28/02/2014 12:08

I'm guessing it depends on the area and schools?
In our area, Middlesex, the kids who went private are the ones who didn't manage to get a place in the selective state schools in the Sout West Consortium , QE boys and Henrietta Barnett.
The girls who went private ended up in schools like Goldophin and North London Collegiate but when reading posts on here it looks like the independant exams are much more complicated than the state ones.
Is there just more competition for State places as you don't have to pay?

OP posts:

Beastofburden · 28/02/2014 13:17

Private schools may call themselves "selective" but some of them are not all that selective. So it absolutely depends.

TheBeautifulVisit · 28/02/2014 13:15

I know someone who got Eleanor Holles but not Tiffin, this was last year and she was nowhere near the Tiffin cut.

donnie · 28/02/2014 13:13

oh dear sorry about that double posting there

donnie · 28/02/2014 13:12

The state super selectives are a lot more difficult - loads more applicants which drives the results way, way up. Places round my way in the grammars are like gold dust (Norf Laahndan).

alwaysneedaholiday · 28/02/2014 13:10

Our local comp has a few places for out-of-catchment children - chosen based on an exam.

I know of one boy who achieved 97% in the exam, but didn't get a place as there were enough at 100% to fill them

I guess it's simply that you can get an excellent education for free, loads of children apply, so the school can pick and choose. Money isn't a factor.

donnie · 28/02/2014 13:08

The state super selectives are a lot more difficult - loads more applicants which drives the results way, way up. Places round my way in the grammars are like gold dust (Norf Laahndan).

ClaraMaugham · 28/02/2014 13:08

In parts of London where there are virtually no grammar schools, I'd say state is harder hands down. I know of people getting St Pauls but not Tiffin. Just down to numbers applying I guess.

TheBeautifulVisit · 28/02/2014 13:05

I know boys who were offered places at Merchant Taylors, Habs and St Albans but failed to get a place at QE Barnet. I don't know of anyone who was offered QE Barnet (who also applied to one of the selective independents) who didn't get offered a place at the indies.

Nocomet · 28/02/2014 12:44

State here as we have nothing like enough grammar school places for the top 25% who might pass the 11+. Lots of private schools to the point where some have merged.

ATrueBeliever · 28/02/2014 12:35

There is usually much more competition for a state selective school as it is free, whereas the independents are hugely expensive. But the state schools can only take a test result into account, whereas the indies can look for other skills, and how you come across at interview is v important. Also there can be a large amount of tutoring to a v narrow test (eg esp for Tiffins where "average ability" pupils become whizz's at VR/NVR). But in an area with both, usually the minimum standard for entry is higher in the state.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 28/02/2014 12:23

It depends on how selective each school is.

Is it easier to get into Tiffin (or similar super selective) than a boarding school that requires 55% on the Common Entrance - No, my guess would be Tiffin is probably harder.

Is it easier to get into Tiffin than St Pauls or Westminster - probably because StP and W can interview the pupils as well as requiring high exam results etc.

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