11+ London no place

My experience, both direct and through friends, of 11+ is that there is no behind the scenes contact between primaries and secondaries and often little help sorting out these sorts of issues. Hopefully not the case for you

I have known this to happen to three children who went instead to prep schools for two years (Newton and Thomas's) and thence to boarding school or Dulwich, one of them on an academic scholarship having failed 7 schools at 12+. Oh, just remembered another who went to the Halcyon.

If the result was genuinely surprising the school should be able and willing to do some lobbying, but, as others have said, you will probably have to be flexible about destinations. And the preps will want some sort of entrance test sat

I am so sorry you are in this situation and good luck

There will always be a School for your child, and all the schools are great in the area, so don’t panic if it wasn’t your first choice. Make the best of what you have at the time available.

The school will often know well in advance, we managed to get some children interviews at some schools who were going to reject based on exam performance - the parents had no idea they had additional help to get to that stage.

Can be hard keeping track of what the child/parent knows and what only we know so you don’t out your foot in it.

Some schools though are useless at involving/informing the schools.

Foamshrimp I can only imagine how horrible it has been for you. We know a few who had the same last year who were totally shocked. All have stayed on at prep and now applied to very expensive boarding schools with no entrance exams.
I feel that the current school may have let you down, it is always wise to have an aspirational school, a should get in and a fall back school. It now leaves you in a tough position. Your school should also be giving you lots of help and at the very least talking to you. Have others in your school also got the same issue-maybe there has been a problem with the year group? There are quite a few schools around Surrey that don't get full and don't have entry requirements that are lovely schools. I hope you find something that suits your DS.

Your head should be on this regardless of half term. This is exactly why we send out the results to the heads of schools prior to the parents knowing, so they can 'scoop up' the parents who are usually in shock when they realise they have no offers. The head should have a clear plan to support the parents and pupils.

Failing this, contact all the school and try and get feedback on why not offered/waitlisted so you can think through your own options - prep to 13, lowered expectation schools, or simply asking them to reconsider and wait list if only just missing out.

Not wanting to be too nosey, did you not have a discussion with your current head about next schools prior to the entrance exams to ensure you were entering appropriately and not be in this position.

I don't think there is much if any discussion between interviews and offers

However the prep school heads usually know the results on the day the envelopes are sent (so they know the results before the parents)
This is the point at which I would expect the prep head to be on the case thinking of a plan of action for any children who are without a place

A good head can make the difference between a boy being outright rejected and instead being offered an interview. Likewise being moved from an outright no to a wait list or see again at 12 option. But anything else we just can’t achieve, sadly the schools are so over subscribed they will offer to the best of the best only, and why shouldn’t they! Can you imagine a fee paying selective School saying, oh, let’s not offer to the top 20% to give candidates lower down the list a chance! We offer to the brightest at 7+, knowing full well that many also sat SPS and KCS and won’t come to us, but we still offer to the best!

And I speak as a Deputy Head in a school where pupils do the whole round of pre-tests.

Actually I think the preps have far less influence on places in the secondary independent schools than people believe. Those paying prep school fees would like to think they are getting this help, and those not in prep school think there is a conspiracy keeping others out.

My DS attended a well regarded independent London Prep and actually we got very little help.

Thought of another couple, Ewell Castle and another new untested pricey school Kensington Park.
Another thing to think about is schools just outside London on a train line

What area of London?
Preps for 2 years, Newton Prep, Durston House, Newland House, Hill House. There will be lots more.
Senior schools, Portland Place, Thames Christian College, North Bridge House,
International schools Dwight, Halcyon
New untested schools, Eaton Sq Upper School, Fulham Prep now has a senior school.

My friend was in a similar situation last year, she had her heart set on the two schools you mentioned but her dc despite interviews wasn't waitlisted. She hit the phones and begged for months but no joy. They were full. So I wouldn't waste your time there. They actually did have one offer but at a school they weren't wild about partly because it was single sex, after much dithering they took it and her dc is very happy there. In your case, I'd look at preps that go up to 13, also schools like Radnor House, Portland Place, Northbridge House and senior schools of Fulham Prep and Wetherby. Good luck!

I don’t want to be doom and gloom, but you have chosen two of the most competitive schools in West London with regard to applications per place in your original post. I very much doubt that you will get a place at Emanuel or Harrodian if you are not even on the waitlist so I would definitely come up with a plan B. There are coed secondaries slightly further out of central London which will have places come up either before the summer or nearer September. Or, go for a School until 13 and try again then. As previous posters have said, get your head of your prep school on the phone and see what can be done and what your options are.

Established coed independents in London are very popular and competitive - it is hard to find safe back-ups other than for very academic kids.

Here are two ideas for coed secondary schools which may be worth a late application - if the commute works: Northbridge House Hampstead and Kew House.

Both will be awaiting 11+ responses now, so will probably not know yet if the have a space, but worth registering your interest.if you are keen. Many of their offers will be turned down over the next three weeks.

I would also consider a state application if you don't have that in place alteady.

The prep to 13 route is obviously also an option, as suggested by several posters.

Good luck! It will probably work out sometime in March, especially as you have a prep (eventually) fighting for you.

Kings House Richmond is another option. They are not overly subscribed.
Wetherby is expanding and literally giving Admissons for everyone.
Make a list and give to your head and call these.

Your prep school head should already be on the case
This is what you are paying for!

I would expect your head to be both checking and replying to emails over half term so get in touch if you haven't already

Some lists will move once the state school offers come out

That is shocking that the head hasn't proactively contacted you. If he's new you need to see the deputy asap, the whole point of a prep school is how good they are in this sort of situation. If you listened to them when you chose the schools to apply for, they should be helping you now.