Is it too early to start a 2016 girls 11+ W/SW London thread?

Yes letter came in the post this morning.

Thanks for the advice, the numbers are still pretty bonkers but it's nice to have got this far.

I don't know about Latymer but my dd has had a few interviews now and they all seemed very low key.

Hi Shirleycantbe. Congrats to your DD. Did you get a letter today?

Great Shirley. See above my post. Ease the pressure to zero. Imo the worst is a child gripped with fear to say the wrong thing. A child that is enjoying the chat is a child who will be a pleasure to teach. Format changes from year to year I believe. Combination of casual talk and thinking questions. Good luck.

Latymer interview for DD - any advice from those who've been through it and survived? I hear it's "different"...

Thanks in advance

Sure I agree and we are used to it! Luckily for us, the pros outweigh the cons. Just saying that this kind of thing can be quite different at other secondaries - even large ones like LU. For instance, I visited a school recently who have a very clear and active policy that ANY instances of online bullying/ inappropriate texting - even those occurring outside school hours- will be treated as an in-school issue and dealt with accordingly. I thought this was quite refreshing, given the prominence of phones etc in DCs lives. It's so easy for most schools to just shrug it off as outside their remit as it took place off school premises, when of course, a negative online culture is insidious and filters into the classroom.

At LU the students are supposed to check their school email at least once a day. And yes, they won't necessarily tell you where your child is. If there is a rehearsal till 9 pm the children have been told and they are supposed to let you know. If it's running late and their phone is flat, they can borrow their friend's phone like DS has done a couple of times. I have a strict rule of letting me know if he stays overtime at the library etc and to text me when he leaves for home.
It's secondary school! You get used to it!

maybe they use twitter or some other means for communication like that?

Dds phone!

I have 2 further up the school and tbh I am never quite sure if the "hands off approach" is a policy of encouraging independence or just laziness on the part of the school. For instance, no communication from school when Year 7 pupils expected to stay until after 9pm for rehearsals on three consecutive nights? They rely on the fact that dc have phones - but what if they've gone flat? Wouldn't take much for a courtesy "clarion call" if coaches are going to be hours late back from hockey matches either. The hours I've been parked outside the school with whining younger kids in the back of the car, because dads phone is flat.
On the plus side, the curriculum is fantastic and the homework relevant and creative, rather than the "homework for the sake of homework" I have see in other schools.

Hi Tumfy, not in my experience either (based on what I hear from friends with DC at other indies) - some don't allow phone use at all during the school day and if you're caught, the phone is confiscated until hometime. I do think prompt communication with staff applies across all indies.
redlemons, my DD is Y7 at LU as well! I wonder if she knows your DS?

No Tumfy not in my experience - I have another DS elsewhere and it is a very different for him but can only go on this and what I hear from friends with DCs in different SW London schools.

To the LU parents & others with DC already at secondary independent schools: Isn't that the case at all such schools? I remember being quite amazed that responses came swiftly from form tutors etc when we joined from state primary, though I expected homework to be marked very promptly. But chatting with other friends, both speed & ease of communication for parents & DC plus the use of mobiles only during breaks & lunch seemed to be the case in all the local indys.

I am another happy LU parent! Both posts above spot on. I have been amazed and so impressed by the way the teachers interact with the students. DS in in Y7 and emails his teachers regularly - always a speedy response and all the exchanges are very polite and professional. It is a nurturing school on one level but definitely suited to a more independent self starter IMO.

Another one at LU here as well! Happy to answer any questions for those who get interviews. choselatymer is absolutely right about not holding their hands and that is very much the style of the school - staff are there to help and are very happy to do so but they do expect children who join the school to take responsibility for themselves eg making sure they have the right books with them each day, emailing teachers themselves if they have any queries about homework etc. I was quite surprised that their mobile phone policy is pretty relaxed - students allowed to use them at break and lunchtime - but this is all part of the same approach and actually I think it's the right one - they need to learn to manage devices/social media etc

Another one at LU.
re interviews, don't panic. It was well organised and the staff were friendly and helpful (in the Latymer style, which means no need to hold your hand, which I really like).
Please note that DS got three questions asked of a general nature and got one wrong (a kind of riddle). So they don't expect perfect answers! I think his reaction was the right one though. He immediately realised what had gone wrong in his thinking, bounced happily back (didn't sink or get teary eyes) and laughed the whole thing off.

Thank you houseofmuppets. If we get good news next week l'll have lots of questions.

NowIknow

I have 2 at LU (not music scholarships though). Happy to impart any info!

They make the children feel really comfortable and at ease, but in a young adult way. This is the same as the interview day too...probing but really enjoyable was our feedback from DD, who loved it.

Have pm'd you NowIknow

Thank you ealingwestmun - there is hope yet then. Did you have any more observations on Latymer re music or generally? How was the audition?

Everyone remembers to inform schools of a change of address, but we got caught out last year when we had to change our telephone number (changed supplier, couldn't keep the old number) just before Xmas and didn't think to inform the schools. Luckily they got hold of us by email.

Once the offers are out, waiting list and arrangements for scholarship interviews will often be made over the phone, so make sure all your contact details are up to date for all the schools.

sorry for poor english, not reading through properly

NowIknow - I'm going on more the more the days last year - someone had heard today, that they hadn't got a music audition, but was getting an interview letter later the following week. We (my DD) was devastated to not have news on either, based on this and assumed the worst. Then at 6pm on Monday we got an audition email for the Thurs of that week, and on weds we got the interview letter for the saturday of that weekend (30th for those of you with LU on list).

I know it may not help, but, I did end up ringing on Monday with a 'I guess no news on music is now bad news' but please can you put me out my misery where I was given a really cheery response of not at all, and that notification was due out next 24 hours for music.

I know you have to 'hold' days, 3 in your case but keep doing so until you hear definitively, as there is no option to move the audition time if you get one...I really hope you do!

Shirley
The numbers are misleading. What is happening is that parents are perceiving intense competition and applying for more schools. I know i did- DD1 registered for 4, now with DD2 registered for 5. All the schools have to over offer. But CLSG was caught out last year so have a bulge class in the current y7.
Some children will get multiple offers-but they can only take one school.
We were told by CLSG in the open day to apply for either Godolphin or City but not both - sensible advice.

The numbers I'm hearing are insane 1200/1300 for Latymer, 900 for Godolphin, 500+ for Putney. Feels like buying lottery tickets.