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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London / Surrey 11+ Jan 2020

143 replies

somekindofmagic · 01/01/2020 23:24

Anyone who would like to join in general chat about the imminent exams? Somewhere to let off some steam out of earshot of DC!Smile

OP posts:
jane128 · 14/01/2020 20:39

@SmileyBuddha - did you get Hampton? DS didn't sadly 🙁 but found this one tough so no big surprise.

jane128 · 14/01/2020 00:00

Good luck Smile

ripple11 · 13/01/2020 23:55

@jane128 We have ; KGS "Wednesday 15th January (at the end of the day)"

jane128 · 13/01/2020 23:48

But I think we hear from KGS by end of the day tomorrow...for those whose DCs sat that one.

jane128 · 13/01/2020 23:41

No, not yet....waiting game.. too stressful.

SmileyBuddha · 13/01/2020 16:04

Has anyone received interview letters yet from Hamptons?

confusedparent12 · 09/01/2020 14:34

@ripple11 we are hoping it's our safe option but who knows! The journey is easier than most from where we are and also train - ds gets bus sick!

ripple11 · 09/01/2020 09:11

@confusedparent12 ...we liked it but, it just missed the cut here.
Good luck!

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 09/01/2020 09:09

@logfire2020 similar here... DS was happy and felt at ease in the interview which was good to see. I think they did a great, efficient job with the whole process. And snap on the snack 😂. Let’s hope the next few weeks don’t drag!

@confusedparent12 sorry can’t help on St James. Good luck!

OP posts:
confusedparent12 · 09/01/2020 07:12

Anyone else's dc sitting St James in Ashford today?

logfire2020 · 08/01/2020 20:22

Mine did, he came out happy.

Thankfully, it was very efficient, rather than hours of tests, that only suit those that prepare for hours of tests. So we both appreciated that approach.

He had a nice interview with a very nice lady.. although was disgruntled that the snack was just salty popcorn... as had heard of donuts on offer in previous years (suspect imagination)!

Reeds have a largish 2nd sitting next week for boys with exam clashes, so I'm mindful of mentioning anything more.

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 08/01/2020 15:07

Did any DS sit Reeds?

OP posts:
logfire2020 · 07/01/2020 19:19

Well done to all DCs today on Testing Tuesday. A lot of schools testing today before schools go back.

DS thankfully unscathed after his first one (of three) and was unusually rather chatty after. Suspect the parent has absorbed his worry....

First one down and roll on to the end of this horrible process! There has to be a better way for DS's in particular...

Mumintherain · 07/01/2020 19:15

Ds said verbal reasoning was ok. But he did Hampton yesterday that he found very difficult so could be comparing to that test.

Ami01 · 07/01/2020 19:15

DS did Hampton yday and kgs today. Kgs maths he found easier than Hampton. A bit worried about his English at KGS today, he found it hard especially the response question, he also forgot to use quotations.

Two more for us this week, what a long journey, finally done!

ripple11 · 07/01/2020 18:13

This one found the reasoning ok......but he does seem to like reasoning!

confusedparent12 · 07/01/2020 15:44

Ds said reasoning was hard and indeed the rest too! Kgs was always a stretch for us, so not too surprised.

studentandparent · 07/01/2020 14:41

Hello! This is stressful. My son sat KGS this morning (Tues 7/1/20). He said he thought his Maths and English were fine, but didn't finish the verbal reasoning. He thought it was 'hard'. Anyone else fine he VR tricky? Feedback is welcome!

cantwait2020 · 06/01/2020 22:51

Same here 8am start;( we had Kew today kgs tomorrow ... 2 more to go hard to believe we're coming to an end;) good luck to everyone

confusedparent12 · 06/01/2020 17:52

We are one down and off to KGS horribly early tomorrow morning (ds has extra time and it's added before rather than after). Good feeling to have one out of the way!

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 06/01/2020 16:44

I’m sorry I didn’t know that. Hopefully nothing given away there!

OP posts:
11plusisuponus · 06/01/2020 16:21

Please don't provide too much feedback- other boys will be taking the exam later in the week. Good he came out happy!

Original poster
somekindofmagic · 06/01/2020 16:15

Any Hampton feedback from this morning?

DS came out smiling which was the main thing. I’m glad that one is done. It was definitely going to be our hardest 😅 We didn’t debrief much but he said he felt he did ok and was happy so can’t ask for more. Maths was tricky in places and he had to leave out 5 or so questions. English seemed to be fine. There were a few comprehension questions that he didn’t understand.

Good advice @logfire2020. My DH was armed with a Krispy Kreme!

Onto the next...

OP posts:
logfire2020 · 05/01/2020 19:08

Good luck to all DC's tomorrow and hope they get a calm nights rest. It's the start of a very busy couple of weeks.

We start Tuesday ....I'm expecting not much sleep for me... but I am trying to keep DS as calm as possible, so he is getting possibly too much zzzzz.

Top tip - bring something fun at pick up, go for Hot Choc/Cake, afternoon off school...anything goes after the tests (but don't talk about it, just a big smile and hug... unless they want to... and then just listen). It's a long couple of weeks.

confusedparent12 · 05/01/2020 17:42

Hello, have been reading the thread and thought I would delurk. My ds is sitting Kew House tomorrow and KGS on Tuesday- he is fine and I am quite nervy!

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