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Original poster

Reeds School 11+ exam

37 replies

somekindofmagic · 15/09/2019 08:26

Hello, Does anyone have any experience or advice to offer on the 11 plus exam at Reeds? ie level of difficulty, insights into maths/English papers, relevant level of practice papers etc.

Particularly interested to hear from anyone with a DS who has sat the exam in recent years.

Thanks in advance.

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Original poster
somekindofmagic · 10/02/2020 15:41

Thank you @TWmum28!

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TWmum28 · 03/02/2020 10:12

We done @somekindofmagic great news on Reeds - so now have one in the bag and can relax a bit - hopefully Hampton will also be a yes and you can have the burden of choice.

We aren't too hopeful about the waitlist moving but still crossing our fingers. It's been hard for DS as DD passed all her 7+ options so he thinks he's the non achiever. Spent most of the weekend looking at houses away from SW London on internet!

Trying not to call Hampton too often but admissions did say it's worth keeping in touch regularly ...

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 03/02/2020 10:02

That’s fantastic @TWmum28. That’s a big achievement! Well done to your DS. If he wasn’t to get through then surely you’d have a great shot at the 10+. Yes we got through to interview stage at Hampton so waiting to hear on that next week. But also delighted we got Reeds too. All the best.

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TWmum28 · 31/01/2020 21:31

Hi @somekindofmagic we got waitlisted for Hampton at the 10 plus so still waiting. Hope it was good news from Reeds ... did you go for Hampton and others as well. Be lovely to hear some good news! Dreading next year already!

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 29/01/2020 21:52

Hello @TWmum28! Reeds results should be with us on Friday. Funny, the actual exams feel like a distant memory now! Keeping busy during this nail biting few weeks has been the new omnipresent issue 😉
Overall I think DS found the exams ok, bits of each were tricky but overall ok. V hard to know with the numbers sitting his it’s going to pan out. Ok sure there’ll be debriefs aplenty on here over the coming days.
How did the Hampton 10+ go?

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TWmum28 · 29/01/2020 07:53

How did you all find the Reeds (and other) exams? When do you find out?

TWmum28 · 11/11/2019 16:43

@somekindofmagic and thanks for asking! Lovely to have somewhere to go to help deal with the parental stress if nothing else!

TWmum28 · 11/11/2019 16:42

@somekindofmagic he was pleased it was over. Said it was the hardest exam he has ever done. PM if you want more details! So we'll see but I am not that hopeful... but whole process was v good practice. I think we'll take a break now rather than think about KGS ...

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 11/11/2019 12:40

How did it go @TWmum28? All done now!
My son is similar... wants to be the next Ben Stokes too! We have had our heads turned by the facilities at Reeds. The cricket centre is pretty phenomenal.

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TWmum28 · 04/11/2019 09:35

Thanks so much @somekindofmagic - we've done as much prep as I think a 9 year old can handle ... which isn't that much but will put the bond books away for a bit! His tutor suggested reading over any practice stories he had written and plenty of sleep and nice food! Agree a treat sounds a good idea and I'll try not to ask too much.

In some ways I am a bit calmer - having been keen on Hampton initially over everything else - I really really liked Reeds and KGS when we visited so there are other options if Hampton isn't the one or he doesn't do well on the day! DS liked the cricket at all three so is v relaxed as he's convinced his playing cricket is what will get him a place (but the next Ben stokes isn't him IMO!)

Crossing my fingers and keeping the wine nearby!!

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 04/11/2019 09:14

Wine sounds like the way forward @TWmum28 Wink. I do think it’s more nerve wracking for us parents! The kids normally take it in their stride.

As for advice... At this stage I guess you’ve both done as much as possible. I’d say a break from the studies this week, or certainly in the few days before the exam. And the promise of a nice treat after the exam to celebrate the sheer fact of prepping for and sitting the 10+! We went bowling in the afternoon and I did my very best to not ask too many questions... on the day anyway Smile.

Best of luck. You’re right to treat it as practice. It’s great exposure to the whole process. Do let us know how you get on.

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TWmum28 · 04/11/2019 08:18

We are in the final week count down to the Hampton 10 plus. It's on Saturday. I have to admit I am pretty anxious but trying to hide it. DS is fine! I think it's worse for the parents ... keep reminding myself it's just a practice and also what is meant to be is meant to be.

Any advice for last minute things to do other than have regular glasses of wine (in my case obvs!) ... and anything you did with your boys last year/are doing this year that you think might help.

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 04/11/2019 07:24

How is the prep for Reeds and other exams going?

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Original poster
somekindofmagic · 14/10/2019 13:49

Hello, OP here. Welcome @Frazzledmumofboys. It's great to have someone else going through the process, and at Reeds.
And thanks @Gingercat1223 for the info and advice.

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Gingercat1223 · 13/10/2019 20:49

Sorry "King Edwards"

Gingercat1223 · 13/10/2019 20:19

St Ed's is a good back up.
Make sure you pay attention to the exam practice advice on St J's website - try out the sample papers. The interview takes place in a busy room, practice interview questions at home with background noise at the same time. Ensure your ds reads a good book he really loves in the next 8 weeks that he can talk about with passion, ie Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig. Finally make sure at all interviews he can explain why he wants to go to that particular school ie, "I love hockey and can't wait to play on your amazing hockey pitches".

Frazzledmumofboys · 13/10/2019 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gingercat1223 · 13/10/2019 19:43

@Frazzledmumofboys , it's a long process. Yes all schools over offer, generally 1:3 so 3 offers for every place but sometime tighter like 1:2, schools like Kingston Grammar are constrained by size & can't afford to over offer too much. (I'm guessing, I don't know these ratios, it's not something a school reveals).

For many ds sitting Reeds it's a back up for Hampton & RGS & whilst the ds will get offers they won't accept.
All offers have to be accepted around the same day as national state school offers come out - 2nd March 2020. If you are offered a waiting list place in Feb you may then get offered a place from March onwards but if you have paid a deposit at another private school you may not have it returned.

St Johns is similar to Reeds but with half the places going to dd it's harder to get into. The risk is your ds may be rejected by both. Have you got a state school option or private back up like Claremont Fan or Halliford?

Frazzledmumofboys · 13/10/2019 16:26

Hi All
We’ve just applied to Reeds too. Thanks for the thread. The 75 min exam scares me silly, not sure how my DS will cope!
We are new to this process, as DS currently at a state school, however, feel he would be better at a private school, so going to apply for 3. Quite concerned about the sheer volume of kids applying for a limited number of places. Do the schools/Reeds tend to over offer and have a waiting list (just in case more places turned down than expected?) Are you told if you are on a waiting list, and if so roughly how long do you have to wait to find out? Any advice much appreciated.
We are also applying for St Johns - is this similar in terms of the academic ability they are looking for compared to Reeds do you think? Thank you !

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 03/10/2019 14:13

Thanks @Magicmum2, that's really helpful! Lord knows what my DS would say to that one :) We'll do a bit of interview practice closer to the time - I don't want to overly labour it - they're supposed to be themselves after all, but it's super helpful to understand the type of questions Reeds might ask.

Thanks too @JoJoSM2. That's an interesting point you make. I should dig deeper into results. We did consider Epsom College but aside from the travel being too much, I wasn't keen on the very long days and compulsory Sat School. Shame as it looks like a fabulous school.

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Gingercat1223 · 03/10/2019 06:35

@JoJoSM2 , Reeds has a intake of girls into Sixth Form, it's really popular especially with the girls at single sex schools around Guildford like GHS , Tormead & Notre Dame in Cobham.

JoJoSM2 · 02/10/2019 22:26

Btw, if co-ed schools set in beautiful grounds are of interest, have you looked at Epsom College? It's very academic (not Hampton, though) and has a very useful coach service.

JoJoSM2 · 02/10/2019 22:07

OP, if you liked CFC I'd give it a serious consideration. I don't know how much movement at 16 there is, but if you look at the official government stats for CFC and Reeds at A-Level, the first one is seriously impressive and the latter the opposite. A-Level attainment is actually higher at CFC with consistently impressive progress scores. Reeds looks consistently quite poor for sixth form progress. Obvs that the sixth form and not the main school but I think that there's a good chance that CFC might have excellent teaching otherwise too.

Magicmum2 · 02/10/2019 14:12

Sorry forgot to add that the timing for the maths paper is tight, lots of boys according to my DS didn't finish the paper so if they get stuck they need to move on quickly to next Q!

Magicmum2 · 02/10/2019 14:10

Hi my son sat for the Reeds 11+ last year and he found the maths element the hardest. Part of the process also involves an interview with two members of staff. My DS was asked by them who he chose to be stranded on an deserted Island with! I think he made some comment about Trump (😳) which stirred a laugh. I think other boys from his school who went were asked similar style questions. My DS got offered a place but we chose elsewhere in the end. Hope it goes well for your DS - its a stressful process