Ds doesn’t seem prepared for 11+

If you're applying to Habs why not Aldenham? Have you missed the application deadline (not sure when it is). But both schools are so close to each other and Aldenham is such an amazing school with lots of facilities and they also push very academic kids, but are less selective in the entrance exam.

Epsom isn't Saturday school for years 7 & 8. All the schools listed have sport on a Saturday that you have to attend if you are in a team.

Sorry, cross posted. Apply for a state school, really, even if it is a late application. Do you mean you’re in Acton? Loads of children that I know who went to not great (by repute) secondaries still ended up doing really well and going off to top universities.

Also think you need to narrow down your applications - 6 sets of exams and interviews is a lot.

Iirc at Epsom the long hours and Saturdays are spent on homework and sport so less time outside required for those. Also check that their year 7 & 8 is same hours as college as it is relatively new and was set up to capture those not in a 13+ prep, so may be less.

Are you still in SW London? I know children who were at Ashcroft and did exceedingly well there. There are lots of great state comprehensive schools, not grammars, around. Did you apply?

It's not impossible to do a state application for secondary. He'd count as a late application, but post March 31st he'll be in the mix and there are huge amounts of movement for secondary schools. One of mine went from getting offered 5th choice, then 4th, then 2nd and finally our completely-aspirational-never-get-a-place first choice.

@mummy2aPrince09 , it sounds like Reeds might be a good bet because if it's assistance programme, have you spoken to the admissions team at length? Also the new style exam this year will be new to everyone so an equal playing field. He can also get there on the train & walk from the station & you could either live in Surrey or at a point on the train line out of London.
If he is bright Epsom sounds like a possible, you must have registered by now, the lower school looks very nurturing & home like,
I would hesitate at Hampton, most of the intake at 11 is from the state sector or preps that stop at 11 but it's not a school for the faint hearted, it's very full on from day 1 - they select ds who thrive in that environment & I feel their open day reflects this.
PM me if you want more info on these 3 schools.

Honestly your son sounds like such a sweetheart that you need to take a deep breath and take it easier on yourself and him.

If he's so bright that he recently passed tye prep school entrance exam and the head recommended he applied to all those academic schools then he's done really well. My daughter has been at a prep school since reception (now year 5) and her head recommended we tried some less academic schools than Habs and Highgate for her so you should be very proud of your son. As for the recent move to prep, you did what you thought was best for your son, so don't kick yourself.

Anyway, plenty of kids fail to get into grammars nut pass the super- selective independent tests as less kids sit them. But just in case as a backup (and since you are pretty flexible) can you not try to move closer to a great comprehensive like Fortismere?

X posted, sorry.

Did you apply for state where you now live?

Have you applied for a state school place as a back up?
I don't know the prep/private system at all but just feeling for your son who was doing well in state and now seems to be struggling with the 11+ pressures and bursary requirements. What were the reasons for moving him out of state system for a short period?

If he is doing well at the prep and you can afford it I would be inclined to keep him there to 13.

If you had posted this a year ago I would have suggested strongly that you look into boarding. Assuming you don’t have a really huge income, your circumstances would have put you at the head of any queue for a large bursary (up to 100%).

What does your prep school primarily prepare for - 11+ or 13+ / Common Entrance?

Why did you move him from state to private? Are you set on him going to a private school for secondary? Why? How did you pick the schools you did?

You seem to have applied to a lot of schools and ones that are geographically diverse. Can you not narrow it down a bit? I know it's tempting to throw a lot of applications at the wall but I think you're compromising his chances if you overload him.

In answer to your original question, over the Christmas holidays my son was doing terribly at the English papers for the North London ones we applied for (one of which you are too). I don't know exact marks because I was marking them myself a bit haphazardly. At least he's getting 80%+ in the maths, I thought (dh's domain). Then dh fessed that he was doing badly in those too, he was just lying about the score to make son feel better.

Anyway, by January, he must have improved or the standard was lower as he did really well. Mind you, it was only three exams which I'm sure helped.

You’re very gracious Hepsibar!

It’s true there are countless good independent schools outside London - but if the OPs son is in yr6 they will probably have missed the registration dates for pre-tests for most full boarding schools. Applying to this sort of school is a huge commitment in time, energy, organisation and money (going forward). Some people do apply simultaneously to day and boarding schools - but it’s not really feasible as a last minute thing.

Schools with flexi or weekly boarding may have shorter application processes - I don’t know.

Oh, ok, thanks for the clarification. I was just thinking that if an independent further away, weekly boarding might not be poss.

I am not so sure that the application process is closed and there are many good independent schools outside London who offer differing boarding arrangements which might be worth exploring.

(Full boarding means compulsory exeats at least every three weeks, generally more often.)

Could he board at a country independent school where there might be less pressure to get in

Going home half termly?

???

Going home half termly doesn’t happen anywhere! If the OP wanted full boarding it’s almost certainly too late for her to begin the application process for the handful of traditional public schools that offer this. If she wanted weekly boarding ...

Firstly, want to say your son is likely to be the most marvellous little person whatever he achieves and you are a wonderfully supportive mum. It's so easy at prep/primary to be so over anxious about results, but the reality is he is likely to do well wherever he goes. He must have a very lovely temperament to put up with all this pushing!

Are you able to consider a different option for him? Could he board at a country independent school where there might be less pressure to get in, but good academic achievements? Going home half termly? Are there any really good comps around? You dont want to set him up as a failure, hawking him around the hideous grammar system.

Good luck, he will be ok.

Are you planning to move as that looks geographically spread out. Would the Whitgift schools be an option for 13+? Ewell Castle although coed now (are you hoping for boys only?) is less selective.

Habs, Highgate and MT have some of the most difficult entrance exams of all the selective independent schools. Try to get in by all means, but also have a "safety school" that's less selective.