As the Tiffin results day looms, a second 2019 SW London grammars and indies thread

My DD is an introvert, very reserved and told me she was pretty quiet on the WHS assessment day (but felt she did well on the parts that didn’t require her to speak!). I still maintain the offers are mainly based on the test results and the assessment day was to mainly rule out (or in) anomalies. I can’t see why local girls wouldn’t apply based on confusion over what they were looking for. Why wouldn’t you still have a punt if that was your local school?

DD tells me the WHS do sit the same tests but they already know at that point if they've got a place- same as PHS. I'm not sure if they do the 'carousel' morning.
Rest assured there are definitely quieter, more introverted girls at WHS. There's a real mix.
We live very near PHS but didn't apply as we just didn't feel it was the right fit and I know lots of Putney girls who didn't apply. I think you get a feel for a place and it all works out in the end.
Well done all! I lurk and name change a bit so have been following you all.

I didn't mean to cast shade on WHS – and I too LOVED the head - I thought she was among the most inspiring we saw. I'm also an ex GDST girl, and its our closest school - I really wanted it to be the one for us. I've no axe to grind, in other words...

I just meant that lots of girls, who are local and so might be expected to apply, didn't – simply because they couldn't get their heads around the entry requirements, and that seems a shame.

For us I felt we'd spend time and energy entering into a process that we didn't understand, with seemingly arbitrary assessment processes that could be affected by a number of elements beyond our control, and with no clear idea of what they were looking for from it.

And so what started as my top choice we ended up not even applying for, because it just felt like a risk not worth taking. It felt like we'd be likely to be setting DD up for a fall.

The no interview things was what really nailed it - as it happens my DD is quite extrovert, but as an introvert myself I did feel that the quieter girls, and those who didn't enjoy group work, would be disadvantaged, and I really didn't like that. I think it's good to have a mix of personalities - even if you're part of any dominant trait. And ugh - the tyranny of group work - everything is about blasted group work these days.

Why would you not interview girls before offering a place, talk to them properly, really find out what makes them tick?

It just seemed really bizarre... I guess there must be method in their madness - but they maybe need to communicate it better... Talk about what they're looking for in a WHS girl, so people had an idea of whether it would be right for them.

That said, I'm sure they're not short of candidates...

Surbiton didn't interview either - just asked the girls to write a personal statement. I find that just SO odd...

DD has been adamant since the open day that she wanted G&L and now today has a place with 4 of her best friends. I think it will be a good fit for her - not too pushy, kind atmosphere, but still 98% A-A* at GCSE so they must be going something right! Plus she can walk there. This DD is one that knows her own mind. She’s my youngest and if Izvestia learned anything with the older ones, it’s that the most important thing for teens these days is good friends and good mental health. So looks like we’ll be releasing PHS and SPGS which she wasn’t so keen on for whatever reason, plus two others not mentioned on here. Anyway, getting on a plane and the hell out of here now! Well done to everyone, sounds like they’ve all done brilliantly. Don’t worry too much about the differences between this school and that - go with your gut feelings. They are all amazing schools. Happy half term!

I think they do get a guaranteed place yes (unless they are politely asked to leave at some point in the juniors) but this is only hearsay so I may be wrong. I have no idea if they are ‘reassessed’ or how honestly.

Great news @Bool - but crumbs your post was late!!!! indeed!!

WHS seems to thrown up lots of funnies this year!

Now for the revisits for offer holders.

Will be so glad when this is all over.

Good luck and wishing you lots of patience to those waiting for March 1st!

Bool- do the WHS junior girls get a guaranteed place anyway? My friend has a dd there & was pretty certain a few months back she would be in. Do the junior girls still take part in round 2? Seems a bit odd if they do as they know each other so an advantage. Narrows down the amount of places on offer to other candidates too.

Bool DD isn't an extrovert but is a bit quirky and quite comfortable with being like this. She says she spoke to someone in the break about what she was reading but she may have initiated this conversation herself, she can do things like that. Honestly, I still have no idea what they were looking for. Best of luck with making your decision xxx

Ps we got an offer for WHS so is not a grumble. Am genuinely just in analysis mode to decide what to do.

KingscoteStaff sorry for giving you twins 😂. Congrats to all your pupils, as Jimjam said there's somewhere good for everyone.

@sweetnhappy1 I think the confusion and mystery was around what they were looking for in a group dynamic and the potential subjectivity of that especially when there was not a 1-1 interview situation. I think you said earlier that your DD had to talk about what she liked in a break with someone - but I know my DD didn’t - isn’t that a bit ‘random’. The head also talks about looking for things that are relevant in the world of work - but they are 10 years old. I can’t help wondering whether it has turned into a personality test and maybe skewed them towards extrovert out there girls (which is what the head is like). I love the head by the way and am also a gdst alumna. Am just trying to analyse the differences as now need to make choices - that’s all.

Do most of schools hold offer open days? LEH don’t seem to have one but we would quite like another look around before deciding....

Great news Bool! I’m sure if WHS were at all concerned their entry process wasn’t securing the right level of candidates they would change it back again. But I agree it’s throwing up the most inconsistencies. There seems to be enough bright kids to go around though and everyone here (I think) has landed at least one decent offer and in a lot of cases a choice of offers. So future 11+ parents take note. I look forward to reading next years thread and fondly (?) remembering the past few weeks of angst. Have a great weekend all.

sweet - they’re mine in that they’re in my class! I was waiting for emails for 9 of ‘my’ children yesterday - and then spent all of today desperately trying not to show I knew!

Sweetnhappy- couldn't have put it better myself!
They've done VR and NVR for a few years now- just the timings that changed.
There always funny results- I know at least 2 girls who got SPGS today and a flat rejection from Surbiton.

Congratulations 1ndig0, Bool and Kingscotestaff (I can't begin to imagine this process with twins!)

I did feel WHS was the most tutor proof in that it was the one I felt my DD was least prepared for. The second stage couldn't be prepared for so I didn't feel at too much disadvantage coming from a state school. I can't see what was confusing about it.

We are super excited to have a place there, I doubt that they'll fall down the rankings because a bunch of Wimbledon prep school girls didn't apply...

We didn't especially like WHS so it was kind of moot - but the school tutor who was helping them with the VR and NVR very strongly recommended to steer clear of Wimbledon as their entry requirements were so arcane...

I remember the head saying that they were trying to make entrance to the school 'tutor proof' but I think they ended up just making it confusing. My feeling was that they'd got a bit smug/complacent - and I do wonder if a tumble down the rankings (which they're so VERY proud of) might follow… Quite a lot of DDs cohort - who as Wimbledon prep school girls would have been likely/expected to apply - avoided it altogether.

Year 6 teacher here with 2 girls with straight no from WHS and today both have LU and G&L offers, so agree that the new WHS regime is different, to say the least!

Congrats Bool!!

🍷 indeed for all of us

Bool - congrats!! Glad that the wait ended up well!! Must have been a long day for you!

Sooooooo.......my post arrived and we have an offer for KGS!!!! Finally! It also doesn’t seem to be exploding but we will phone to check to triple check. Will report back! But am confident is fine.

So now the choice begins.

Aww, my dc are older but for the past couple of days I lurked here because I so well remember the knee-buckling relief combined with joy on hearing dc1 had got the school of our dreams at 7+. This was coming from a "needs improvement" state primary and with the only "tutoring" coming from me, when I really didn't know what I was talking about, so I'd felt hugely inadequate and stressed throughout the process.

I really hope others reading this because their dc are doing 11+ next year or in years to come will feel reassured that, no matter what kind of school your child attended, pretty much everyone ends up with a place somewhere that is right for them. Even if you don't make it to interview stage at one school, you can still win a scholarship to another or a place at a more "prestigious" establishment.

Congratulations to all the posters' brilliant dds, good luck to them at their senior schools and I hope all of you have a huge celebratory tonight

Many congratulations to all who secured offers.
Well done to Mini FlumePlume!