4 rejections from senior schools - options?

The OP started a new thread yesterday about Radnor House.

Bump

Putney high results are out today. Hope you have good news!

OP, those schools are all really hard! Please do tell your tutor not to mention KGS as a back-up to any other family! I know bright children who didn’t pass the exam stage, but got into others.

Try Surbiton High for the sheer number of girls only places. St Catherine’s in Twickenham is also a good option, albeit less girls. Lovely school, Ibstock may have movement, but maybe not straight away. Good luck for Putney. As it’s girls, your DD may have a good chance versus the others you sat, but you will find somewhere if not. Let us know how you get on.

Ok thanks. The whole process is crazy.

There were far more children in this year group. 2007/2008 was a bumper year for babies being born, so loads of primary schools in the area are running with bulge year groups. I’m guessing that proportionally that means a lot more applications for private school places!

Hi I’m afraid it’s always that high 4 years ago 1200 were sitting for many schools. But it all shakes out in the end it’s the same people sitting many of the exams and they can only accept one place

Do we know why demand is high this year? If I had known some of the schools we were applying for had 800 or 900 applicants I would not have put dc through this

Not terribly convenient from Kew,, but The Hall in Wimbledon worth a try too I would think. Your poor dd, it is a horrible process and there seem to be few 'banker' options left these days. Everything crossed for PHS

Kensington Park is a great suggestion - I don’t know the school but the head is an ex SPGS deputy and absolutely fantastic. There is a rumour a number of other great teachers were creamed off from top West London schools but I don’t know if it’s true!

You might want to also try the Fulham School. They are co-ed, the 'old Fulham Prep' but now go up to 18. They have an activity day coming up. As they have lots of students that leave at 11, they are bound to have places.
Another option is Kensington Park, they are holding exams in March. They are based in Bayswater - so district line straight. A new school small but nice.

Yes, not sure how well my nerves are holding up........... Luckily my other two don't have to go through quite the same process!

@GU24Mum it's a horrendous process isn't it. My child is in 6th form at St John's now, university selection for us next .

That many for St John's - that's depressing! I'd done a rough calculation of how many I thought were there the day we were multiplied by the number of days but I must have under counted! Horrible process.....

St John's in Leatherhead had over 500 applicants at 11+ for about 125 places. Demand is very high this year.

You have been utterly failed by the outdated advice your tutor gave you. KGS is nobody’s banker!

Claremont is getting much harder to get into now.

Hold your nerve!

I wonder if the 4 schools that have rejected your DC will give feedback on test scores - it would be useful to know if her English was much stronger than her Maths, if her scores were similar but below the cut off, if she didn't have much to say at interview etc - knowledge is power. Try not to be too disappointed - my small school makes hundreds of offers for places because parents will seek offers from multiple schools. I am sure there will be places once the dust has settled. Hold tour nerve!

Please don't despair. Despite what people like to tell you, there are spaces out there. Once all the accepting and rejecting is over there will be places. Not only am I a parent who has been through this 3 times, I am also a teacher and a tutor so I do know what I'm talking about.

I know DC who have in recent years sat exams after 11+ and got into places like Surbiton, Ibstock and St Catherine's. Ring the admission department and speak to them. You will find most schools are extremely sympathetic and helpful.

Depending on where you live you might want to consider a few state schools. Waldegrave for example is exceptional.

It’s a horrid situation in 11+ london, sadly all the schools you applied for are ultra competitive from my understanding There aren’t many london back up schools anymore but I think Kew green, Radnor, st James and st Catherine’s might be a good bet. I stick is competitive to get in and massively oversubscribed Have you considered Claremont fan court ?I know a friend who was struggling for a place found schools slightly outside london a bit easier to get into and commute if you’re SW london not too bad. I think a local prep school might also be a good idea there’s lots in london. And you can always keep on schools mid year from yr7 for random places that come up. Good luck

This fills me with fear! I have a DD in yr 5 in a state school in W London. She is bright and pretty much at the top of her class so these are among the schools I would like her to go to. But it’s rather concerning that your DD didn’t get through as she sounds a perfect candidate! Hopefully PHS will be a positive as I think that is slightly easier to get into than the others and is probably a good fit for her - but I could be completely wrong! The schools you have had rejections from are notoriously hard to get into. I do wonder what hope there is for the bright state school kids who haven’t had the support and advice of a prep school. There seems such an increase in applications this year (and no doubt next year with the continuing high birth rate) that only the most highly tutored or naturally exceptional seem to stand a chance in W London. As a catholic, I know a lot of girls who go to St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing and who are very happy there. I would have thought they would be delighted to welcome a bright girl like your daughter even after offers are made.

Newland House in Twickenham, Newton Prep and Thomases in Battersea. However you will find your DC may be one of 3 or 4 girls in y7 as most of the girls will have left.

You could also look at Fulham Prep which has just opened a secondary school but I don’t believe it’s full yet.

Surbiton High, Radnor, Coloma (perhaps a no if you’re not catholic)