11+ What are the schools looking for?

I agree I wouldn’t bother with St Paul’s Girls. The type who gets in is grade 6-8 on 2/3 instruments, Head girl, sports too and very strong academically. Or just incredibly strong academically but with good enough social skills or some amazing sport talent. So once there unless you are naturally competitive and academically gifted it could be quite demotivating. It is best to think about what kind of school your child will be happiest at and in at least the upper average cohort. Feeling less able than others won’t boost confidence and one of the main strengths of private education is confidence boosting. Most good private schools will bring out the best in your child academically and ensure she achieves good grades. Channing is meant to be more caring but not sure it is easy to get into. Jags is another good girls also fairly academic&sporty etc but not as hard to get into as St Paul’s girls. GDST school’s are good too but vary academically, for example Putney High is more academic than some others. Your headmaster should really be advising you on narrowing a suitable list down.

Oh and when DD sat for St Paul's the math paper had 3 sections A, B and C. As we were then told any child average at math would have only managed paper A. You could try and test your child with their old papers. Paper C is dreadful for any child very good at Math especially under timed conditions. So I believe a child who isn't very good at math would really struggle to complete their entrance exam, the English paper was not too bad but a keen eye is kept on vocabulary.

I have a SS at St Paul's School and my older daughter is at St Paul's girls. Doing the 11+ for other DD now aiming for St Paul's or CLSG and my youngest is at another selective independent hoping to move to Godolphin when the time comes because as far as the head is concerned she wouldn't cut it for St Paul's or CLSG thus far, as he said, she's not made for that sort of pressure, this is despite the fact that she's scoring 135+ on CATS though not in year 6 so that might change.

The school is extremely competitive, and no matter what they say, once the girls are in they are expected to do better and/or keep up, average wouldn't cut it and it would be a struggle for any child who isn't extremely academic.

When it comes to music and sports and this is particularly with St Paul's anything below grade 5 or county level is just a "hobby" so no scholarship and no particular praise. My daughter is on grade 6 Cello and 7 piano and she only got the scholarship for cello presumedly as it's less popular but didn't cut it for piano. She also got a sports scholarship but that's because it was for swimming (county level).

The interview questions are also ridiculous for any 10/11 year old. My daughter was asked what she would have done differently if she had been Margaret Thatcher in the 80's, what her contribution would be to the school, given an iPhone and asked to tell them everything she knew about it and how she would improve it etc. A lot of current affair questions, questions on how she would spend £1000 and why she chose to spend it that way. It was brutal according to my DD. We had been warned and DH had previous experience with DSS so we were somewhat prepared. Otherwise I am not sure how we would have prepared for some of the questions!

Once in, it is constant work and the girls are extremely competitive so you have to be tough to survive and keep up with the work. Francis Holland, St James, Queen’s College all very good schools and less academically challenging but very good in other areas.

I’m afraid a little above average won’t be good enough for St Paul’s. Your Head is right so why stress everyone out going for a school that’s not suitable. I’m not sure a little above average is what any of the listed schools look for if I’m honest. There are others which might be far more sensible, eg The Harrodian. If you are at a private school, where do they recommend? Go with that.