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Original poster

Alleyn's 11+ 2019

160 replies

Vargas · 12/01/2019 17:07

I have seen threads for Whitgift/Trinity, Dulwich College and others but I haven't seen much about Alleyn's.

My dd sat the exam last Tuesday. She found it "not too bad" but definitely got one of the later Maths questions wrong.

Just wondering if anyone else on MN waiting to hear about interviews?

OP posts:
MrsPatmore · 15/02/2019 10:49

Best of luck to you all today!

Original poster
Vargas · 12/02/2019 09:54

Thanks Oscar, good luck everyone, 3 more days (not that I'm counting Wink).

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DarlingOscar · 11/02/2019 08:36

Well done to mini Vargas!

The 13+ was only ever a small entry but yes dropped v suddenly. Good news is that the scholarships reserved for 13+ will now be awarded at 11+ - which must mean this year's Y7 will not only be bigger but will have a higher proportion of scholars.

Good luck all.

MTRT · 09/02/2019 20:31

Congratulations Vargas! I'm very happy for you, must have been big relief.
We are still waiting, fingers crossed, 7 more days to go.

Original poster
Vargas · 09/02/2019 17:32

Good news for us yesterday - dd offered place at JAGS but no scholarship. She's pleased but even more keen on Alleyn's than ever...cross fingers. Time is passing SO slowly.

I'm really surprised that Alleyn's dropped 13+ so suddenly. We know a child who was planning to sit it the year after next rather than 11+ this year. Oops.

JAGs do quite a cool thing where you can take 11+ and then defer entry until 13+. Not suitable for us but will be great idea for some.

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MTRT · 06/02/2019 23:13

it seems such a long wait for the results!

DarlingOscar · 06/02/2019 08:41

Alleyns have advised that (due to the high uptake of 11+ offers for Sept 2018) they are stopping the 13+ process.

So interviewing fewer this year does make sense as there's no point interviewing 150 if you only need to make 100 offers (say) to fill your 75 places.

Original poster
Vargas · 05/02/2019 19:14

Just checked JAGS key dates, letters go out on the 7th for 11+. Maybe they are aligning with other girls' schools?

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DarlingOscar · 05/02/2019 14:56

I reckon they give offers/waitlist to the vast majority of the interview candidates. That could be one reason for interviewing fewer this year - as they took few (if any?) girls from the waiting list last year.

The only 2 kids I know who didn't get even a waitlist after an interview were cases where the Prep school head had intervened on their behalf after they were initially not shortlisted.

Strange Jags is sending offers a week early this year? Thought the Dulwich Foundation schools were all aligned on dates?

Original poster
Vargas · 05/02/2019 14:15

Thanks MumofLL. My dd was in an earlier group and I wasn't sure how late the interviews went on the day. I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are having their meetings about who they give offers to!

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MumOfLL · 05/02/2019 09:18

Morning Vargas, I was told on the day that there were 200 children being interviewed on that day. My DS was in group 5 at 1pm and I counted roughly about 25 DC in the group. So, guess they were divided into 8 groups during whole day.

Another 50 DC perhaps had an academic scholarship interview on separated day, I believe.

Original poster
Vargas · 05/02/2019 08:54

Thread is very quiet! 10 days to go...

Latest gossip in the playground is that Alleyn's interviewed fewer children than previous years. I could be wrong but sounds to me they are going down the route of only interviewing children they plan to offer to or waitlist? Anyone know any more?

I am sure in previous years they have had more than one interview day (for non-scholarships).

Good luck to all waiting, at least the girls' schools (SCHS and JAGS) offers come out this Friday, breaks it up a bit.

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MTRT · 28/01/2019 20:08

Thank you Vargas and GreenPeas for feedback! This helps me relax, not that we have time to prep, with full time job and school!
Good to those who have interviews this week.

GreenPeas · 28/01/2019 15:00

I’m in agreement with Vargas - I don’t believe there’s much to do by way of preparation other than to ensure my child knows the format of the interviews, is not too daunted by the process and can try to enjoy (!) themselves. (I may also have emphasised there will be nice biscuits afterwards)

Original poster
Vargas · 28/01/2019 09:12

MTRT - sorry no idea how to prepare for scholarship interview! I have a feeling you aren't meant to prepare for them, but probably worth chatting to your dc about recent books read, what they like about the school etc... usual stuff.

Anyone get any feedback from dc's about interviews on Saturday? dd said it was 'fine', she was in a group with one other girl she knew which was nice. Her interviewer didn't have a badge on, she thinks he might have been a history teacher.

One of her best friends didn't get offered an interview and it is causing a little friction at school in her friendship group. This is why I hate this process, I think it can be really divisive. Hopefully it will all settle down once all the offers are out and the children can get excited about what schools they are going to.

Good luck to those doing scholarship interviews this week!

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MTRT · 27/01/2019 00:15

How best to prepare for Alleyn's academic scholarship interview? we have recently moved from another country and happen to receive AS interview invitation.

89fomveg · 26/01/2019 19:17

How did the interviews go today?

notaworrierxxx · 26/01/2019 09:12

I have to say, it seems crazy to me that you would spend all that cash on a prep school and STILL use a tutor too - is that normal? What on earth are you paying the prep school for then if you still need top up? I think I'd feel very resentful about it or did you feel competition was so great and everyone else was doing it so you felt you had to?

I think it is possible for state kids to compete but I had no idea of the competitiveness or madness that went on with it until I was actually dropping my daughter at the exams.

She was at a state primary, decided on a whim in the July to put her in for a couple of Grammar school exams before the Jan exams for independents (as bursary applicants) and was completely shocked at the numbers. We saw frightened looking kids still being drilled on on practice papers in the car sat next to us at 7.30am in the morning, parents still drilling kids as waited in the queue.

I sent her into one which was just VR and NVR and she'd only done a few papers a couple of weeks before. I felt so bloody guilty but I didn't realise the madness that surrounds it - I heard stories of hot-housing at Sat schools, tutors since Yr 2 for x hours per week. It was horrible.

The independent exams didn't seem quite as crazy but again was shocked to hear that a lot of the girls, even from the prep school of the senior school still had tutors even though they'd been effectively prepping for that exam since they were 3 years old!

I might be wrong but I think if you get into one of these 'top' selective schools from a state school and have had no, or minimal tutoring then you must be v clever.

WildViking · 26/01/2019 08:21

Many thanks Vargas

Original poster
Vargas · 25/01/2019 22:05

Wildviking - they did regular reasoning tests, practice exam papers in maths and English, and were encouraged to read regularly and widely. Nothing out of the ordinary, but much better done at school than at home from my point of view!

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WildViking · 25/01/2019 14:46

Vargas what kind of prep did they do please? Ours is independent too and they say the boys are fully prepared for 13+ but I am now not sure if that is enough. Our destination schools are Eaton, Harrow, St Paul's, King's, Westminster, Radley so all boys are fairly bright.

Original poster
Vargas · 25/01/2019 13:18

My dd has never been tutored, but she does go to an independent school and they do 11+ preparation from summer term of Y5 onwards.

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HappyMamma · 25/01/2019 12:54

Wow... I think I am still rather naive about this process MrsPatmore. I honestly never realised how much tutoring people do to get offers in these schools !

We didn't tutor at all - admittedly I am an actuary so I have the Maths covered.

Makes me realise we didn't stand a chance at Alleyn's ! And DC has very high CAT scores (2nd highest in his year) so I think with 900 applicants it is predominantly down to the exam and not CAT scores

Evangelinemore · 25/01/2019 12:29

Thanks Mrs patmore for your posts. They give a very good insight. I would also say that rather than “weeding out”tutored children, the schools embrace it. That way their job is done!

WildViking · 25/01/2019 12:07

MrsPatmore really helpful, thank you so much.

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