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Original poster

4 rejections from senior schools - options?

56 replies

john249 · 19/01/2019 05:54

Our daughter is at primary school in Kew. We have applied to 5 senior schools (Kingston Grammar, LEH, Latymer Upper, Tiffin and Putney High) but, with 4 rejections, are now very worried - Putney High result is the last..
Christs in Richmond is our first choice secondary but we are unsure about chances there (not religious family).
Any help really appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
john249 · 19/01/2019 09:22

Many thanks for your advice. It's enormously helpful. Our daughter is in the state primary. Extremely bright, bilingual, musical, not interested in screentime...but all parents are proud!
Our daughter has had tutoring for two years with a local tutor whose advice we have followed on selection. KGS was the back-up.
We will certainly look a prep schools. My impression is that the prep schools in our wider area (Richmond and around) do not admit girls at 11 (as all their girls leave at 11) but the boarding prep schools further away (Surrey and Berkshire) do (as their girls often stay to 13 to move to another boarding school).
We have never used Mumsnet but it is suddenly a lifeline!

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 19/01/2019 08:43

You could look at a prep until 13. My DDs old prep (not London) had the majority of girls stay until 13. It buys a bit of time. What about the Harrodian? I know two girls who have gone there. What about further afield and weekly boarding? This would open up more possibilities.

WoodlandOaks · 19/01/2019 08:25

Sorry should have said meeting with head not interview

WoodlandOaks · 19/01/2019 08:24

Is your daughter in the private sector now? If yes, I’d be urgently onto head for interview as they will often assist.

I had a friend in a similar situation a couple of years ago (daughter state primary). Didn’t get any of the day schools or state school option. They ended up sending their daughter to a prep school (up to 13). They get lots of girls leaving at 11 so had plenty of places. They then were they good at advising about schools and she went to a day school at 13+. Would mean 2 changes, but they were seriously thinking of moving as the school they got was so dire.

jeanne16 · 19/01/2019 08:19

I suppose you know you applied for 5 very tough and popular schools. Most people would have included a banker on the list. What advice did you get from her primary school?

Anyway what’s done is done. If you don’t get Putney High, I would phone schools such as Radnor House, Kew House, St Catherine’s and More House. You have missed their assessments but they might still be able to make an offer or put you on a waiting list.

Poppyred25 · 19/01/2019 08:17

OP, sorry to hear your news. It's a very difficult process especially without the guidance from your school head. The rejection at first stage Tiffin should have been an indication to apply to a school that would have been more certain of offering a place like St Catherine's in Twickenham. The other schools you have mentioned are very competitive and reject a large proportion of applicants at the first stage. Fingers crossed for Putney High and your state school allocation. Come mid March if you are not happy with your state school allocation then you can ring round St Catherine's, Kew House, Radnor House and see if they are taking any late applications. For boys St James's in Ashford to do this. If you would consider moving house you could speak to Ewell Castle and Claremont Fan in Esher. 11plus is a brutal process made harder by the volume of dc regarded as bright sitting the exams. Support your dd and say she has been unlucky in a lottery but she is going to end up at the right school for her.