13+ schools in Surrey/London that DONT require pre-test in year 6

There are a number of state schools that have selective/aptitude streams or scholarships - Graveney, Kingsdale, Haberdashers New Cross Gate, West London Free School.

You've missed all the selective/aptitude entry points as these were in the autumn, but some have lottery entry or faith entry rather than just distance.

I would get on as many waiting lists as possible now so that you at least have the option. At least in London you have a lot of choice available.

Once you are past the main entry point, you are relying on whatever space comes up if you have to go for state in Y9. A number of state schools teach GCSE over 3 years with options being made in Y8 so it wouldn't be ideal to be the new kid at that point.

And if boarding is a clear no, bearing in mind CH is in Sussex, I'm not confident your head has fully grasped your criteria and the importance of gaining a significant bursary.

If you live in SW London did you consider selective state schools? Apologies if I'm misunderstanding but you seem very naive about the different options.

Christ Hospital is known for its funding support. However it is largely if not entirely boarding. If he did not get into Epsom I'm not sure he would there. Why are you so keen on independent schools exclusively? Did you look into state boarding schools?

@WishfulMum09, have you looked at Aldenham School? It's not so selective as the ones you mentioned and they have weekly boarding.

Mill Hill always seems to have places. I've also noticed that a few preps are opening senior schools in September 2020.
How about Kew House?

Apologies for all the typos in my last post

Straight no's from several schools must have been quite disheartening for him. If he doesn't do a lot of extracurricular activities now I'm a bit sceptical about how much difference it will make to take on new ones between now and the autumn term of Year 8 when applications are submitted. You may be better off focusing on getting academic performance up to really solid levels in the core subjects of English, Maths and Science (which is what most Year 8 entrance exams will be based around), abnd workng on interveiw technique.

If you're going to try to "add value" with more extracurricular involvement, I'd suggest not going for the obvious ones of music or sport (very hard to achieve stellar levels in a short timeframe). Maybe instead think about your DS's other strengths and how they might fit some more unusual extracurricular activities that would demonstrate initiative and enterprise and enable him to stand out a little more at interview - e.g. involvement in charity work/fundraising, writing a school magazine, volunteering or community service, starting his own business making or selling things.

If you are going to need a bursary to make it work, I would forget prep school and concentrate on getting on the waiting lists for as many good state schools as possible and going that route. It will be far, far harder to try and find a state place in 2 years time and much harder for your son to move at that point. You will be looking for a school with a space and that may well not be one that you like or is easy to get to. At least now, you will be judged on the admissions criteria and there is lots of waiting list churn.

Loads of children move from private to state at 11+ with no problems at all.

If you are currently able to afford prep fees without a bursary, your chances of getting a bursary for secondary are very slim. I know a number of parents whose children have been offered scholarships to schools you mention in your first post but no bursary and are opting for state instead. A number of schools reserve bursaries for those children who have been offered scholarships.

With what is happening at the moment, bursary pots will almost certainly be being redirected to help keep GCSE and A level students in school whose parents have had their businesses crippled.

Extra curriculum won't have been the main reason for refusal at 11+. Academic performance more important. He would have been offered at least full fees or wl if those were solid. I fear your hopes of a bursary may prove an obstacle even if he secured a place.

Entry to most schools is 130-140 cats for normal places.

Not true, especially if a CAT average in the 120s is the result of a spiky profile with exceptional strengths in one area and lower scores in others.

Going by the experience of DS's Year 8 cohort, a number of whom went through the entrance process in the first half of this term for the likes of Whitgift, Emanuel, Dulwich College etc, it is perfectly possible to be awarded an academic scholarship to a good senior school on the basis of a very strong performance in one subject with an average CAT score below 130.

The biggest problem with 13+ entry is that the number of places on offer is very small in comparison to 11+. For example, I'd estimate that 80-100 children sat the academic component of the Emanuel 13+ entrance exams, and the school said they were looking to offer 6-8 places. On sheer numbers, those aren't great odds.

OP, you mentioned that your DS sat for Hampton, Epsom and Emanule. Was he waitlisted at any of them or did he just received straight no's?

Those cat scores and fear of a pre test don't bode well for an academic scholarship ?

Entry to most schools is 130-140 cats for normal places. Good luck !

@WishfulMum09, DS (Year 8) has just gone through the standard 13+ entry route for Whitgift and I can't see any indication from their website that they're planning to move entirely to pretesting in Year 6. Their admissions office staff are very helpful and I'm sure they'll be able to clarify for you.

Whitgift has two entry routes at 13+. For the pre-test option, assessment takes place in Year 6, but there is still a standard 13+ admission process which takes place in January/February of Year 8.

I have known quite a few boys go to State school after Prep and do fine. In fact one parent said she wondered why she'd paid for her older sons - and they'd got into a very good school. But the best state schools are not necessarily easy to get into.
Some of the Preps which now goto 16+ might be an option?

Have a look at The Royal School, Haslemere, and maybe Frensham Heights.

Have you tried Ewell Castle?

I would be very wary of doing year 7 and 8 in a prep school in your position. With your need for bursary and I think there will be huge pressure on bursary/hardship funding soon I would choose option of a good state school. I would try king Edwards witley but most of the others you mentioned have had huge number of applicants this year from boys so they will have long waiting lists. Another try are those prep schools that are now going up to 16 - st Edmunds, Cranmore. Downsend.

@wishful, you will get a place, see my other post in Sw girls thread, private Schools are about to enter a crisis if parents are unable to pay summer term fees, expanding class sizes is quickest action to help balance books but I suspect bursaries will go to current pupils whose parents have lost their income.