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

Yes my DD is very anxious and I feel for all of us

Interviews starting next week. Any tips? Are they meant to wear their
school uniforms? Not feeling great as dd tearful and exhausted.

Hi how did it go at HABS. Anyone take that paper yesterday my DD said English was easy but Math became difficult in section B

DD didn't mention anything about the WHS paper but we didn't do JAGS (or any specific tutoring) so it was all fairly unfamiliar to her.

DD did say (of WHS) that when she opened the VR she thought it was the same as the JAGS one, but soon realised it wasn't. Didn't quiz her much further to be honest.

Same here shirleycantbe. Didn't have time for all of the comprehension questions. I've given up asking too much.

Did hear one dad quizzing his daughter on way out, how many did you get right in the maths? poor kid!

Similar feedback on Putney here....Maths ok long English.
Also, what do you make of the Wimbledon email about some girls (not) seeing the test before?

Any feedback from Putney? DD said the maths was fine but the English very long and she nowhere near finished it. She has major issues with time so it wasn't that much of a surprise but a bit disappointing.

Did anyone get any news on the applications for St Catherine's at Bramley

Anyone know any more specific details about the court case at Queens Gate (girl expelled because of a rumour spread by her mum). I am looking at the school, but already had some reservations due to slightly disorganised approach to the admin of open days and exam/interview. Would be interested in any other views

and over 500 at Putney this morning too! Good luck to all the lions, seals, robins, giraffes.......

Dropping of DD at HABS this am. Good luck to everybody doing it, there seems to be about 700 girls here.

Pleasemakeitstop - if I remember rightly, KGS interview all the girls before the boys so can be about 2 weeks before boys are called to interview.

On Latymer I just got a "it was hard".

Has anyone heard about KGS interviews yet?

Any feedback on Latymer today? DD said the maths was ok but the comprehension was really hard.

I think the schools must make a profit. The registration fee times 600, 800 or even 1000. That adds up.

Emanuel have always had a cap on registration numbers, because they interview every candidate and say they attach importance to that.

For 11+, it's set at 600, and until the last two admissions rounds, that number wasn't reached (either at all, or not until about Oct/Nov when the registration deadlines are anyhow). But the last two were in July 14 (for Sept 15 entry) and in April 15 (for this entry).

This obviously favours the organised parent!

But you could see it as just introducing another variable into a process that is stressful enough anyhow.

I'm not sure that schools make that much profit anyhow on registration fees, once you take out the costs of the admissions process and the staff who run them.

It is a really stressful time and the waiting is hideous however as someone else said everyone will find their right place and waiting lists generally do move a bit. I couldn't believe last year how awful the whole process is but people now apply for 6 or more schools and they can't go to them all so everyone will find s spot. Try to relax about it (wine helps) and when you get an offer it will all be worth it. Getting them to work hard and appreciate the opportunities they've got once they're there is the next hurdle! Good luck everyone

that's a tricky one, because what if you decide late on/get an unexpected windfall/move house and want to apply? I know that Emmanuel set a limit on applications but that might mean they miss out on good candidates.
I'd be gutted if I applied and was told that a school had reached its limit 6 months previously or whatever. It's particularly true for schools near the grammars where you get some indication in October of whether or not your child's score is high enough to get a place. If you discovered your child wasn't likely to get a place, you might then do private school applications.

It does seem that the number of applicants has rocketed though, although I think a lot of it is due to multiple applications (have heard of several children sitting double figures!)

Does anyone think it is wrong that some of these schools have no cap on the numbers they will allow to sit the exams? I just keep thinking of all those registration fees. I know everyone should have a chance but a thousand applicants for Latymer......kerrrchinggggg!!!!

People were still arriving at nearly 9am so I reckon they didn't start till 9.30 or so. My dd said there was a long break after the first paper and a short break between the NVR paper and the creative paper.
Crowds of the world today so I think you are right about the chances. The dad in the queue behind me at drop off was talking at the top of his voice about the St Paul's exam, not sure if he was deliberately trying to put everyone off

Ditto DrF & Shirley - same feedback from my DD at WHS today.

Seems to have been a lot of hanging around. 3.5 hours to do 2hours-ish worth of papers?
Couple of weeks and we'll know, although with big transfer from junior school chances are slim.

best of luck!

Thanks Shirley, glad to know dd wasn't the only one. Just shows you can never prepare for the tests. Dd left a few out, which I was disappointed to hear but if it was "different" then that's understandable

DrFizzio - DD said the same about WHS today. She said the verbal reasoning was "different"