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Original poster

Late entry SE London Independents?

34 replies

SE22schoolpuzzle · 17/03/2022 17:35

For complicated reasons we are wondering about whether we should try and find a place for our DD at an independent secondary, having missed all the application processes for year 7. We are in SE London. Is there any point even approaching schools at this point? Do places come up during year 7 or even at the start of yr8? She does have a good state secondary school to go to, so it’s not a crisis if we have to wait a bit.

DD is pretty academic. We did some tutoring earlier in the year in case we wanted to apply for private schools and it looked as if she had a realistic chance for jags or Alleyn’s, but at the time we decided against it. She’s quite musical, obsessed with reading, loves languages, totally uninterested by sport. Are there any independents in proximity to SE London it would be worth approaching now?

OP posts:
LondonGirl83 · 18/03/2022 00:13

People move / leave London so occasional places come up in all schools. Add your name to the list for these as JAGs, Alleyns and Sydenham and see what happens. They get snapped up fairly quickly though and for the start of Year 7 in September they’ll be using their waitlist before assessing new candidates so it’s more likely after school starts.

I’m not sure there are any schools that don’t get full based on year 7 applicants anymore as everywhere seems increasingly popular but if so it would potentially be Royal Russel, Streatham and Clapham or St Dunstans.

Thomas’s Clapham branch goes to 13 and will definitely have space for year 7 as will some of the other Clapham and Wandsworth Co-Ed preps. They’ll be very big heavy though as most girls leave at 11 but will give you time to find a place at 13.

Good luck

xoxohappygirl · 17/03/2022 23:47

@wordless thank you for your reply!

Original poster
SE22schoolpuzzle · 17/03/2022 22:48

Thanks everyone so far. I guess I’m just going to have to make some calls and see what they say. I get the impression there’s a bit of movement in some of the local independent schools in yr8/9 as I’ve known children move then, but I’m guessing year 7 entry is going to be tricky. We might look to places more centrally if they’re not too long a commute too. DD could get the Thameslink or the line into Victoria easily.

OP posts:
Wordlee · 17/03/2022 22:37

One of the GDSTs schools

xoxohappygirl · 17/03/2022 22:22

@wordlee mind telling me which school your DD is studying?

Wordlee · 17/03/2022 21:30

DDs at an academic school in SW London. They had quite a few new joiners in y8 and a few girls left- all moved abroad. Then a fair few joined in year 9 as well.

Toomanyminifigs · 17/03/2022 19:21

It might be worth contacting Blackheath High. I know a friend's DD started mid-year - maybe she was lucky. I know several families with DD there and they're very happy.

TypsTrycks · 17/03/2022 18:58

You will be able to get into a prep school in Y7. Or a regular school in Y9. Most competitive schools in the area will not even tolerate a late admission question - you will be better off looking at preps for now and then trying again at Y9 or sixth form.

I only know boys’ preps sadly! - hopefully someone else will know of girls’ preps that will go up to Y9 in the area.

Turmerictolly · 17/03/2022 18:03

No harm in phoning around but it's unlikely at places like Alleyns. More chance at Year 9 as kids leave for boarding or prep schools or 6th form.

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