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Original poster

11+ or 13+ private secondary transfer for a boy in London - can't decide!

34 replies

MGMidget · 15/10/2018 11:40

My son is in a private prep school where he can stay until 13. The school also supports departure at 11 although this has historically been mostly for the girls as there are fewer private secondary places for them at 13. We are in London and looking for a day pupil place for private secondary school not boarding. I can't decide whether it is best to focus on 11+ or 13+ and I am hoping that some mumsnetters can offer me their words of wisdom! The school head recommended waiting until 13 so DS have more time to mature (he is not the most mature of boys!). I would be happy to keep him in his current school until 13 but I am worried that it may be harder to find a good school place at 13 within an easy travelling distance. I also know our school head has previously stated he has an objective to increase the number of pupils staying until 13 so I am not sure he is giving us the best advice. Does anyone know if it is harder to get into the London day schools at 13 than at 11? And also do the boys really benefit from waiting until 13 to transfer to secondary school or are they then under greater pressure to settle in quickly in the secondary school than if they transfer at 11? I would appreciate hearing what people's experiences have been. We are in South London so our target schools are West/South West/South and central London or a short train ride South/West of London. Our son is reasonably academic but not top tier so we haven't applied to St Paul's/Westminster and think KCS may be a stretch but Dulwich schools, Trinity/Whitgift, City of London, Emmanuel, Ibstock and Hampton are on our radar. And yes, I know some of this list are more academic than others and some have more places at 13 than others! I would be grateful to hear views.

OP posts:
Seeline · 16/10/2018 08:59

My Ds started at one of those schools mentioned in the OP from state primary at Y6. It was the best thing we ever did, as the transfer was gentler than it would have been at Y7. He was really settled by the time the majority started at Y7. there were few places left for boys at 13+. I would definitely go for 11+, if not 10+.

montenuit · 16/10/2018 08:55

little0miss0mac why didn't you just go down the independent senior school route at 11+ (or even 10+ eg Emmanuel?)

little0miss0mac · 15/10/2018 22:05

Our DS has just joined a SW London prep into Yr 6 from state primary. He's staying until 13+ and will be heading to an SW London indie at that point.

I am certain the school isn't ripping us off - it's about him having a chance to settle and get up to speed, and start flexing the academic muscles that just weren't stretched previously. I also agree about the maturity point. I guess it might have been different had he been at the prep since the start, but this is our route and I'm pretty sure it will work out.

I'm not particularly worried about fewer spaces at 13+ - there are fewer applicants too, though I don't know the comparable ratios). Maybe finding out the ratios of applicants to places might help you work out your route (either to reassure, or press on with 11+!). What's your school's record in placing boys into London indies at 13+?

TJsAunt · 15/10/2018 13:55

Most of your target schools have a bigger intake at 11 than at 13. Personally I'd go with that - starting a school in year 9 when a gang of them have already been together for 2 years would be harder?

And of course your prep school will recommend staying until 13 - they want your £££!

Growingboys · 15/10/2018 13:47

You definitely want to be doing the 11+ if you're aiming at London day schools.

montenuit · 15/10/2018 13:05

its, not it's. Blush

montenuit · 15/10/2018 13:04

It depends on the school you want.
If their main intake is at 11+ (eg Hampton) I wouldn't wait for 13+.

There's been a shift towards moving at 11 in recent years. Eg the Mall in Twickenham has stopped it's years 7 & 8 with everyone going at the end of yr6.

The prep schools I know of with most boys staying to 13 are those aiming for boarding and top public schools where the main/only intake is at 13.

And of course the head of prep isn't going to recommend leaving 2 years early and losing 2 years of fees. Some preps have an agreement with the local independents to not take their boys at 11 but at 13 - to maintain favourable links, so you might need to do a bit of research.

AveEldon · 15/10/2018 12:50

If you want day schools then I would aim at 11+ as it's the main entrance point

malmontar · 15/10/2018 12:18

I don’t have any experience in this but I imagine they are telling you this so they have boys stay. Why don’t you do the 11+ for the couple of schools you really want and if he gets in great if not, stay. You’ve got the best of both worlds in that situation.
They’ll be tons of boys starting at 11 so they’ll also be 11 and immature, I don’t really see that as any argument tbh.