Late entry SE London Independents?

That’s good news OP!! Sometimes the big schools are so large that they’re properly zoned and sectioned off and it can be easier to find your tribe there. A friend has a child there with an SEN (not the same as your daughter’s alas) but she has been impressed with the support. Some independent schools are not good at all in supporting non-NT kids and don’t even make any effort to hide it. Glad she’s loving it.

Op under a new name. We stuck with the state place in the end and it’s early days, but so far are happy we did. I didn’t say in OP, but we were worried that recently diagnosed ASD meant a large comprehensive would be a tough environment for her and a psychologist we saw seemed to think she would suit smaller classes and a less over-stimulating environment. In fact, she seems to be really enjoying it, loves all the new lessons and clubs and has settled with some friends. We’ll see how it goes.

What did you end up doing with your DD, @SE22schoolpuzzle ? Thank you @ChnandlerBong for the info above about some schools not having any13+ entry points

am intrigued - do you have a state school place for Y7 that you don't like?

Colfes/Farringtons/Dunstans/Blackheath High/Cobham Hall might have spots - but it's down to luck?

Not many girls schools have an offiical Y9 entry (Alleyns don't and the JAGs exam is a pretest already completed I think and think Eltham College is phasing out 13+) so you're on an occasional places entry which is going to be super competitive.

Sweetnhappy, thanks for pointing that out. I hadn’t seen the update.

Just had a read on a couple of sites. Yes, the industrial action is sorted, but Teacher Pension not offered to new staff joining from Sept 2022. It will be a relief for existing teachers but will make it harder for GDST to recruit top teachers. Those looking for new jobs will always choose one with the teacher pension scheme if they can have it.

Even schools which are very oversubscribed have occasional places in year 8 and 9. People leave for whatever reason - international parents who move, not coping academically, haven't made friends - in my experience in year admissions are also a lot less competitive - bums on seats are needed for the fees. You'll probably need to keep contacting them.

www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/private-school-pension-deal-ends-strike

@WombatChocolate , the GDST dispute is over with current teachers allowed to stay, see other thread.

I think you’d get interest from GDST schools. As others say, lots are not very over subscribed, especially as you go out of London.

Bear in mind the GDST is in an industrial dispute about leaving the teacher pension scheme. There are a number of strikes and also teachers leaving to go to other independent schools which aren’t leaving the pension.

@Journey123 BH has a lot of stiff competition - JAGs/Alleyns/Eltham and the grammar schools and more people are also going to Bullers Wood (all depends if they want to pay!).

A number of schools have y9 (13+) entry points, and it might be more realistic to apply as part of that round.

If the schools are interested in your DD they will ask her to sit the entrance exam and then she may be able to go to the top of the waiting list or gain a place if she does well. They are fobbing you off if they are saying she can go on the wait list without paying an entrance fee and sitting an exam.

You could try the GDST schools in outer London - Sutton, Croydon and Bromley. They don't have as much competition as those more central. Ring the admissions people and see what they say. Nothing to lose.

Eltham College, for example, takes girls now and is fairly academic but I suspect it would suit a certain type of girl to go to a school that still has a majority of boys in the older years. It could be intimidating for the wrong kind of girl with a competitive boys atmosphere.

I would call all your closest ones and ask and I would only go for an academic one if your child is very academic. Did she sit any grammar school tests and do well? I know several people who got into e.g. Newstead or Townley and changed their minds last minute for independent schools and got in quickly off waiting lists despite not sitting the usual round. However, they could wave the objective academic standard grammar school offer so that might have helped. Most independent schools have discretion as regards who and when they admit, fair it is not, but some will do so and just admit the best candidate even if it is late in the day.

Emanuel used to be easy to get into and had a turnover. I know two who left quite early on. I think it’s harder to get into now. A school like SCHS also used to be easy to get into but is now harder. Might be worth asking both. But why go to a middling independent when you haven’t tried the state school yet? Those who I know who left those two independents moved to state schools, although one moved out of London, to be fair.

Whoops, sorry. I suppose you could put yourself on their waiting list though, like any other state?

Greycoats is a state school.

Greycoats in Westminster? That’s an easy walk from Victoria.
Emanuel I think would be tricky for Y7 but no harm in asking.
You could look in the other direction and consider independents in the Bromley/Beckenham/Chislehurst area.

There’s a reason you decided not to apply to independents. I’d suggest sticking with the state school place you have and see how it goes. There will always be a chance to move her later on if it’s not right, but chances are, your dd will fly at a state school.

I'd approach some of the less academic GDST schools - it sounds like your DD has a lot to offer them academically. I wouldn't have thought there would be much point in approaching the more competitive schools, but worth applying for a chance vacancy if there are any you are really keen on. Or a prep and move at 13+.

Bromley High always has problems filling its places for year 7 so you should try there.