Upcoming girls’ independent SW London schools 11+ exams

@dinosaurinmybelly thank you for kind reassurance! Funny how experiences do differ and reassuring to know. Our lockdown educational provision was non-existent and left to our own.

@EnolanotAlone not a blanket definition at all - more a case of comparison with friends and those I know whose experience has been vastly different than our own this time round. One had hoped there might have been an adjustment in the assessing this year, but I do not see that has been the case with LU. I think they are looking typically for simply high scorers in the ISEB Maths and English and that’s enough for them even in today’s / this past years climate. Yes, life is unfair but this still boils down to super selection based on academic achievements and some who have had an easier ride in terms of preparation than some who haven’t (again comparing real life experiences of those I know personally and my own in both independent and state).

Like I said in earlier post we knew LU was very unlikely for us but my DD chose to try because of certain school aspects and opps that appeal to her. We sure do have others which are a better fit, but saying that in London those choices are rather limited and mostly super selective based on geographical ease and commute for us.

I am aware there are several state schools that actually spread their ISEB testing across a week - due to resourcing constraints 3 or 4 streams etc.. .. life is not fair.. end of.... @MumsRule20 but you can’t ascribe a blanket prep vs state mindset when all the children have been disadvantaged in one way shape or form through this shambolic 11+ year. This year more than any, you need to have faith the schools you have applied for are a natural good fit for your child in the first instance, .

Not all non-state schools are Prep schools. There are plenty of non selective small indies that nowhere prep the children like those at the selective Preps. I'd say they come off the worst in the ratios of state:private that schools like LU maintain who certainly won't subdivide the privates into Preps/non-selective indies

There's another thread on Secondary Education about missing the 13+ admissions deadline and a poster states that her Prep strategically identifies scholarship potential children and guides them in the right direction. In my experience nothing like this happens at the small non-selectives...and that's not because they don't have children of that calibre there. It's just not their focus

Like my mother used to say to me (a lot) 'Life's not fair'

Yes, I did worry about this the first time I went through the process, but having spoken to various registrars and now having been through it with 2 DC already, I believe that children attending a state school are not compared to children at prep schools i.e they are considered two different pools from which to select.

I'd also say that the reason for that is not that one group is better prepared than the other, but that they are prepared differently. So please try not to worry MumsRule20.

My DD plays hockey with children at various schools in SWLondon and some state schools (not ours) had fabulous provision during lockdown, whereas some prep schools did not and had some very disgruntled parents. It seems to have been down to the management at each school, rather than state versus prep in my view.

I agree that it all seems unfair but I do think these schools will try and take different circumstances into consideration. If a school like LU traditionally has a 50/50 state/private intake at 11plus and have taken their top scoring candidates this year and realised that 95% are from preps they will make some adjustments I’m sure. It is not in their long term interest to have an unbalanced intake.
All the schools will have analysed the scores I’m sure. I had a good chat with one of the admissions at another school last year and they were totally aware of all the differences in preparation at the schools.

Also heard about many prep schools with those sitting ISEB at own schools, staggering tests components (Maths / English / VR / NVR) over several days (up to 3 days for some I know of) as allowed by ISEB. Which I think is wholly unfair than state school child whose own school were not able to facilitate the exam. So they had to sit at one of their applied for schools in one sitting with a short break (so up to 3 hrs in one go).

@lalaland1999 Interviews are only offered to those who have met their scoring criteria following their ISEB. Everything moved early for most Independent 11+ so those that would normally sit exams in January have had to do it in Nov / Dec and many had deadlines to sit the ISEB by mid-Dec.

I do think that many have applied for more schools than they usually would this year because so many opted for the ISEB at last moment but there are also a number of schools who have interviewed all applicants and prior to exams so that they can gain a more holistic view of the child’s abilities and potential rather than just go on scoring which would be considered unfair to those whose schools (mostly state) did not formal / remote learning over Spring and Summer terms. Also why the exam focus was on Yr 5 curriculum and not covering any of the Yr 6 elements which it traditionally would for 11+

This seems a much fairer way then the children sitting exams and then being offered interview dependent on that. However, I do recall LU saying on virtual open day that the numbers of applicants is too high for them to interview everyone.

However, either way one looks at it, state school applicants are still disadvantaged as they would not have had any prep for the exams in the same way as prep schools would still have had their cohorts practising and doing mocks etc.

Yes- I think it was actually about 1400 who registered (I remember admissions telling me) but it was a major 'clash' day(!) so probably quite a few didn't sit it in the end- I know a few who didn't. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing between St Pauls and LU- luckily you could walk across Hammersmith Bridge then!

Thanks @lalaland1999 - some useful insights. I saw that 1,300 sat the exam last year according to this: www.latymer-upper.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FAQS-Year-7-Entry.pdf

Is it 5th January for LU interviews? That's super early- it was 1st feb last year!

DS did LU last year- I think about 1400 sat it so possibly a few more this year. I think interviews play a very important part in their process. He was offered a place whereas friends who probably scored higher didn't, but it is a better fit for him that it I think it would have been for his friends. The schools generally know what they're looking for.
Not sure what IESB will do to the process but if there are lots of children not getting offers I suspect there may be a second shuffle down in a couple of months. Even last year I know of children being offered places at highly regarded schools when they weren't even offered WL places originally.
Good luck all!

Another observation: that looks like a fairly significant increase in total applications compared to previous years for LU.

Maybe the ISEB effect...?

I saw this re Latymer Upper: www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61568
(although I think the poster means 130 places, not 130 offers - since every school gives out more offers than actual places)

Sorry to hear from those whose DCs didn't get invited back to interview at LU... I think it's possible that schools will prioritize different elements of the four ISEB assessments, so hopefully it'll work out with another school.

Does anyone who attended the Putney virtual open day remember if they specified that English and Math will be prioritized over VR and NVR - or will they look at the overall score? (although not sure why I'm asking as a bit late now!)

DD is at a state school, but we had a tutor (which was a lifesaver during the spring and summer, as her school was useless). Then I had a month's Atom subscription when LU switched to ISEB, and we did find that useful.

Also just to add, we also knew that we probably had very little chance for LU, but as it was ISEB, we figured we may as well try but in my view, guess it really does show they are 100% standing firm and looking at the higher percentile scorers to invite back for interview and not taking into consideration other factors or lockdown learning situation...which is as expected.

I think there is some ongoing discussion about senior schools in Tier 4 possibly not opening in January (already a staggered start) but it will depend on the results of the rapid testing. Primaries will still open so I reckon the tests will still go ahead as they are mostly scheduled for before the senior school kids returning.

As @noellejoy also says - really hoping the ISEB scorings won’t impact on chances for other schools applied for looking at same results So tough.

Wishing your DD much luck on 5/1 and do keep us posted.

On the point about the Jan exams, from reading the Gov.Uk guidelines, it seems fairly clear from Tier 4 restrictions such educational commitments can continue as normal. Emanuel also have their written exam on 9th and 15th Jan.

Hi everyone - have been watching this thread with interest but haven't posted till now, thanks everyone for sharing.

Not sure if this is useful but PH invited DD for an in-person sport assessment 6th Jan then when we went into Tier 3 they wrote back immediately to say it was postponed till end of Jan but that an 'informal' chat will still go ahead on 6th Jan via Zoom. Can't tell if they have already taken into account ISEB results or not but will just go with the flow!

Also wondering about LU criteria - DD didn't get through either which has got us wondering (nervously) about the other schools in ISEB list for which a couple are firmly at the top of our list.

Oh, and she did the ISEB at LU during the November lockdown, and there was no suggestion that it couldn't go ahead, so I don't think the January exams will be affected.

She's in the top 3 or 4 in her year at school, but I wouldn't have said she was a stellar performer - her handwriting is atrocious.

DD does better with online tests than written ones, so LU's switch to ISEB was really in her favour. We did a few Atom mock tests with her during the October half term and she was scoring 125 on English and 129-130 on maths. Not quite so well on the reasoning papers, but still in the 120s.

Would be great to know how your DD scores generally - is she in the top bracket. Am wondering more in LU’s stance?

I think a lot will depend on whether schools are ordered to close throughout January or not

Tier 4, I believe, allows for travel for educational purposes. But don’t know how that will be interpreted for the various schools. The grammars went ahead with their onsite paper exams while we had the ‘mini lockdown’ end of October/November
It’s all an unprecedented conundrum. It will be interesting to see how events unfold.