Upcoming girls’ independent SW London schools 11+ exams

Yes, I just got that. I'm not sure how I feel about it - my initial inclination is to be annoyed as we've been preparing based on the written English/ Maths exams and I have no experience of the ISEB Common pre-test at all, as it's not used by any of the other schools we're applying for.

Oceane

I feel your pain! It’s not helped by DD flipping back and forth between single sex and Co-Ed...

@dinosaurinmybelly , it's on the LEH admissions page. KGS has removed the VR as announced earlier this summer, these changes are going to keep everyone on their toes! (Also shorter exam sessions to help with social distancing).

Affidavits? Wow - this is going to be crazy.
Where have you seen / heard that utility if you don't mind me asking.

LEH dropping Maths and English from their January exams... SPGS asking for affidavits from parents and schools...
Strange decisions being taken on an ad hoc basis!

For anyone looking at SPGS, they’ve got a page on their website explaining that they’re planning to ask parents about the impact of school closures on their child, as well as asking the primary / prep schools about provision during lockdown. It’s here:
spgs.org/admissions/entry-at-11/

Thanks for the update Stella that’s good to know. (The pre-selection bit rather than your school being defensive!)

They are going to have a huge amount of marking in Jan!

Just had email from JAGs to say they won't be holding group pre-selection events this year and all applicants will be invited to sit the entrance exam in January. They will be interviewing applicants this term though.

They've also said that they are aware Covid may have affected their education this year and they'll be consulting schools and parents as to individual impact and will take this into account.

I'm pleased with the overall tone, although slightly concerned DD's school will claim they did an amazing job of providing remote learning (SLT hate any criticism and are very defensive).

@Corblimbea , it's against DFE guidance to allow visitors on site when pupils are present except for a medical emergency etc so it can't happen anyway. I think the school offices are focusing on getting through the next 2 weeks and then looking at the 2021 entrance exam process.

We’ve been to some great online ones. I think any school that ran a proper open morning (lots if visitors and students showing the school off) amongst this covid climate would be mad to be honest - it would go against everything else - hundreds of different family groups coming together, touching the same doors etc. Even with distancing and sanitiser, a big risk. I’d be quite worried if a school went ahead with anything other than a well-planned private tour. We’ve come to the conclusion we will apply and get (hopefully!) offers and then decide based on what we read and feel based on the application process. It’s all very odd but I wouldn’t go to an open day right now even if it was offered - for these London schools people are coming from so many areas to visit. It would be weird if they have to have the school kids in bubbles and then could just have anyone in to visit - I think they’d be putting their own students at risk too. But I know I’m maybe at the upper end of cautious right Covid! I’ve been able to get a good feel for the schools we have virtually visited and lots have 360 tours now to see rooms and facilities.

I wish there was more clarity on open days, but totally appreciate its not the schools fault!

Thanks C, that’s good to know. I’m going to contact JAGS early sept as they seem to be sticking to an early pre-assessment which feels unfair. I think I said before (forgive me it was a month or so back) Wandsworth test is now 3rd Dec for those interested. (Prob give or take a couple of days for those not in borough)

We’ve only heard from one school about changes (other than WHS removing the first round and combining it with the second) Sutton have let us know they will be doing online interviews and small group entrance exam days in groups of 15 through November and December and then issuing offers early by Christmas. I think others will follow (With smaller groups) unless they can guarantee the distancing in massive halls - fingers crossed they don’t have to wear masks through it all. Still have no idea what local authorities will do for 11+

With back to school fast approaching, how’s everyone feeling?

I, for one, am bricking this term! No idea where we sit in the wider scheme of things or what the schools will be doing. Hating the uncertainty!

Sorry.. just needed a mini rant! DD seems remarkably cheerful and has enjoyed a relatively relaxed summer. She is looking forward to seeing her friends and teachers.

Has anyone heard from schools they are applying to about changes to assessments or dates? So hard to plan at the moment, but I can’t see schools being able to have the traditional big exam hall sessions. Wondering if some will assess online or move things back a bit.

To be honest I only know of 2 who got no offers in the last few years - both boys ( much harder for boys) and they both went to preps for 2 years and ended up getting into good schools at 13 so all worked out in the end!
There is quite a lot of movement even once they start. My daughter has had quite a few join her school since y7 and a few leave.

I think I would have a heart attack if my daughter sat 6 sets of entrance exams and didn’t get an offer.......

I know what you mean about feelings changing throughout the process though. Our favourite school two years ago when we started looking did such a bad job through the admissions process that it put us right off. Even a scholarship offer couldn’t fix things.

I guess I was just wondering if it was a case of trying to ensure a place was secured and therefore a necessity or just a means of narrowing down the field of choices once you know which ones have offered.

Feeling very glad we moved out.

It does also depend on the timing of the exams and offers. We knew dd1 had an offer of a place at Sutton High before Christmas, and that meant we withdrew her from one exam in late autumn, on the basis she already had an offer she liked more.

I’d also agree with what summerfun20 said - you do see some odd results where a child gets an offer from what is seen as a harder to get in to school, but nothing or waitlist from one which is seen as easier. Either because they’re looking for different things, or because the DC had an off day. It’s all very hard to predict.

The stress comes from the high birth rate - it tails off from 2013 onwards

There are still more people in London willing to pay for secondary than there are private places

Unfortunately I do know of children in the last 3 years who sat 4-6 schools (taking the prep's advice) who didn't get any offers

I've known DC get 10 offers, other none and then everything in between! Some will need bursaries so may sit lots. But mainly comes down to the fear factor!
Part of the 'problem' is that are so many very good schools in London that it can be hard to narrow the choices down. Friends outside London don't tend to have as many to choose from.
Certainly with my DC we completely changed what our favourite schools were through the process due to how the exams went, how welcoming the schools were, the interviews etc, the offer holder days etc. Then the state v private dilemma. The schools we chose in the end were not what I would have anticipated 6 months before.

Just out of interest, for those sitting five or six exams, how many offers do children tend to get?

We moved out of London when the kids were small as I had seen the stress 11+ was causing friends and their children and just couldn’t face it.

If a child is, on average, sitting three and getting two offers, is that not the same as sitting six and getting four offers but with a lot less exams? How many sit six and get no offers?

Here in the Home Counties most children sit just two or three and it feels so less stressful. I guess because there are fewer options it makes deciding which ones to go for an easier task? Or is it really that competitive that you really need to apply to so many SW London schools just to stand a chance? Or is it just the fear?

I am just being nosey about why it feels so stressful in that part of the country.

Every child is different but most at my DCs SW London state school did 5 or 6 independent schools and coped fine. It was the parents getting stressed, the children enjoyed the days off school!
Some only did a couple as they had state options they were guaranteed to get and happy with.
It is hard to know what to do for the best as there are always unexpected results. This year we had boys getting into Kings Wimbledon but not Emanuel, girls getting into St Paul's but not Putney High, boys getting into St Pauls but not Latymer or Hampton ,Putney High but not Surbiton High, etc etc.
But I would say they all ended up at schools that seem to suit them and sometimes the perceived hierarchy of schools is outdated and results in a certain type of parent determined to get their DC's into 'top' schools regardless of whether they are right for their child.
I have a DD at WHS and a DS starting at Latymer so happy to offer any advice. Have a bit of a break before the next one!