PART 3: SW London Girl's Indies 11+ Results, Decisions & Panic Over?

Is anyone here accepting a place to Croydon High? Any thoughts on how it compares to other schools, pros and cons? We are favouring CHS, but also have Woldingham and Caterham offers to consider - it's like comparing apples with pears, but academic results-wise there's not much in it, up to GCSE, at least, although the schools have very different characters. We've been very impressed with the post-offer engagement from CHS.

I know 5+ families sitting on multiple offers because we are state I think the grammar and graveney slots are coming into play. I honestly think these families will release schools as soon as they feel able so tomorrow might be a busy day.. fingers crossed for all those waiting. xx

DC is sport mad but not musical
So yes hockey club. Netball club and dance club before lockdown.
They have 1.5 hour lunchtime so they can go to lots of clubs. It is encouraged.

With regards to devices, my DD1 doesn’t take any special devices into school, just her phone.
Prepandemic they all had to leave their phones in their lockers and she did this religiously for all of year 7 and probably first term of year 8, after that she has been slack. Generally it’s not much of a problem, but she does talk about some who use their phones secretly in class constantly ( I’m sure she has on occasion as well). She says some teachers will confiscate it, but some will just ask them to firmly put it away.
In DS’s school they are very strict, it must be on your locker. If caught with it, it gets confiscated till the end of the school day and will result in a school service, or detention if you are a repeat offender.

With regards WL, it’s difficult. I know at least one school where the deadline was initially tomorrow, but they’ve now extended it until 9am on Friday. But still a problem because as someone mentioned deadline for a number of schools is midday on Friday. Potentially there could even be more movement from the 8th onwards. So the reality of having to pay 2 deposits is a very real possibility.

Yellow that’s great to hear. Do your dc get involved in drama / sport and music a lot? Is there good encouragement for this. Dc can get into it and love it but might need an initial push

I would imagine with regards to lists moving that many people don’t actually bother to notify the schools that they don’t want a place at, they just don’t pay the holding deposit by the deadline. If so then I would hope the WL’s will start to move after midday this Friday, as I think that’s the deadline for most offers to be accepted. 🤞🏻

For anyone wondering Alleyn's don't take phones away but the DCs are so busy that it's not an issue. At least it hasn't been for us. There are WhatsApp groups so they can share information.
I think more places were accepted last year than they expected because the classes have a few more than 25 children.
DC loves it and we wouldn't change it.

With the COVID relaxation in stages , there will hardly be an opportunity to see the school in action before May .
Holding multiple deposits is just plain indecisiveness in my opinion and so unfair that a person offered that place later will have to forfeit a terms fees .

Maybe they'll have visits when the schools have broken up but that rather defeats the purpose doesn't it!

Visits from end of March apparently- and notice by end of term - so it is possible, but very unfair. I sure that’s why WHS are saying response has been slow?

They won’t be able to visit before they’re liable for a term’s fees but some can afford that I suppose!

@Corblimbea So true. Families paying multiple deposits and also keeping their state (grammar) options. Happened to a Grammar school in north London last Sept - kids do not show up in grammars at the start of school.

I think people will have waited for February paydays to pay deposits, too! perhaps there will be lots of acceptances or withdrawals tomorrow! It’s so hard this year and I agree more will accept state grammar/good comps, if offered tomorrow. Such a strange year. I also know of families who are paying multiple deposits for some reason, hoping to view schools after they open again, which is very annoying for those on WLs.

@Pigtastic I think there will be a lot more people going from Wimbledon to LU in the upcoming Year 7 as a lot of people applied because of ISEB.
Might be worthwhile checking with LU if they can give you information about someone travelling from Wimbledon in previous batches or accepted in the upcoming one

@2atschool I have a strong feeling the state offer cutoffs will go up this year and a lot of people will accept them on account of COVID financial impact
I know a few waiting for Tiffins and holding onto SPGS offers

[quote Trialsat11]@Tomorrowonce thanks for consolidating and sharing the information . Very helpful .
@Stircrazyschoolmum congrats for making a decision (I know so many others who r still contemplaring) and I’m sure PHS will not disappoint you
We received an update from WHS on Friday that this year response has been unusually slow and they are waiting for people to respond to make a decision on the WL ‘s . I hope the state school offers sorts that out .
We are waiting for Tiffin and Sutton grammars as well.[/quote]
Apparently St Pauls sent a similar email at the end of last week- still waiting for loads of replies- funny old year! Although when both my DCs sat many people waited until the last possible minute.

@Tomorrowonce thanks for consolidating and sharing the information . Very helpful .
@Stircrazyschoolmum congrats for making a decision (I know so many others who r still contemplaring) and I’m sure PHS will not disappoint you
We received an update from WHS on Friday that this year response has been unusually slow and they are waiting for people to respond to make a decision on the WL ‘s . I hope the state school offers sorts that out .
We are waiting for Tiffin and Sutton grammars as well.

Hallo everyone. I have posted here before - and we have been through this before. Congratulations to the regular posters! This very energetic SW thread (always) wins over the dying/dead North London thread.

Things should start moving Tuesday - after the state allocations are announced tomorrow. Wondering if people are waiting for Tiffins, Nonsuch, Wallington, (Henrietta Barnet – saw a few posts today) and some of Wandsworth and Dulwich super schools. Even places at Camden School for Girls, St Marylebone, Lady Margaret’s, Grey Coat, Sacred Hearts – can make parents rethink.

As already mentioned, schools normally over offer – and they have done the maths of number of offers versus expected returns – before going to their WL.

But many girls have multiple offers.

Likewise, if a school normally has 4 forms of 22 students and 96 confirms, the school will then re-evaluate whether to extend each form to 24 or to open up a new form and get 14 more students. (I hope my math is correct!)

Going through the thread last year:

SPGS – Tiny movement in their WL just right after state allocations/indie deadlines. One poster last year was offered from the WL, but the offer was returned and the family opted for G&L.

G&L – Not sure. There was an email sent to parents that the school will not use their WL. Any current Year 7 parent out there that can attest as to whether how many forms are there this academic year?

CLSG & SHHS (South Hampstead) –
Movement in their WL. Know somebody who turned down CLSG for SHHS. Both schools were careful in over offering – from lessons of the past (exploding offers and bulging years). Both schools were also very persistent about offers, asking parents by email at least (and by phone for SHHS) to confirm ASAP. Given that CLSG and SPGS did the same tests this year, I wonder who will win in luring young 11 yo (and their parents) to their camp.

LU – I think it moved. There must be a separate list for girls and boys.
WHS – moved
Channing – moved
PHS – Not sure. Less movement here than WHS in the past years.
NHEHS – Not sure.
FHS RP & SS – moved
QCL (Queens College London) – moved
Emmanuel – moved

However, IT HAS BEEN A STRANGE YEAR – with having the ISEB (families applied to more schools than ever), invigilated tests, financial woes and with Atom being so popular …. Even those from prep schools applied to more schools than recommended by their heads

Great to hear that offer holders are enjoying the online events – and that some were more personal/simple (aspirational schools - CLSG, LU, G&L, SPSG) versus more marketing, frilly and ‘fun’ (SHHS, JAGS).

Hope you guys will update on WL movements for the next set of parents to see/digest.

One more night or two! Hope you enjoyed the warm weather yesterday and were able to have some G&T or do some running …

Thank you @2atschool!

My DCs have iPads at their prep. The senior division has had them for a while but they were introduced for years 3 and above this school year as it was recognised that they made the transition to home learning much easier for the seniors in lockdown 1. The prep children were taught how to log on, access Teams and all the other apps they use for learning. All their reading books are accessed via the iPad. It has made things a lot easier this time round. Also, when one of my DC’s had to isolate for a day in the Autumn term while they worked out close contacts of a Covid case, it meant that the class was up and running for home learning at 8.45am that day. Due to the risks of self isolation my DC’s were instructed by the school to bring their iPads home every day.

Thanks 2at that’s really useful

Devices...
LU give Chromebooks
SHS give ipads
PHS give Ipads (or used to anyway)
WHS- Windows device provided by parents. Does not need to be super top spec although some will invariably have that.
Others give Ipads, chromebooks etc (I say give but obviously all built into the fees...)

Both my DCs school use tech extensively which certainly made it a very smooth transition to home learning.
Both schools have also recognised that there has been too much screen time for all in the last few months and have said will be using more traditional methods where they can once back in school.

They have to take them home every night and charge them. Most homework etc is set on them but work is often done in books. With home learning photos taken of work and uploaded to device etc.

Re phones- all the schools seem to say phones should be in lockers during the day but it seems to be routinely ignored. DD always has her in her bag...
DS said they have been confiscated for the day if found at his school, but they have to be found...
Last term especially I think there was a it more leeway at lunchtime etc as Covid meant less lunchtime clubs and more segregation which meant hanging out in classrooms more than normal. Lots more lunchtime tiktoking!

Iam by the parent I think not sure on spec.

I’m also thinking about how they will have to lug them around and hopefully not on public transport (keep at school?)

For the school using devices in class for research are those devices provided by the school or bought in addition by the parents ? If so how high are the specs for the devices ? Do parents have to buy the latest state of the art or is there so leeway ?
Not all schools have devices in class though!
Thanks