Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023

994 replies

EmotiveBubblez · 28/09/2022 07:18

i myself have been looking for this thread and have been unsuccessful. Saw a couple people mention it over the past day or so on the 2022 one.

so here we go, albeit a bit late.

has everyone visited all the schools on their lists?

how many schools are everyone applying to?

what schools are you applying to?

how is the preparation going?

i know some exams have taken place, how did they go?

wishing all the whirls good luck with preparation and exams, hope we all find the right schools for our daughters.

OP posts:
Daydreamscometrue · 02/12/2022 17:03

We got through to Ibstock round 2 also! DS enjoyed Emanuel and was very impressed with the food and the free highlighter/pencil :)

Didsomeonesay · 02/12/2022 17:02

Omg waiting for the surbiton high email is ppaainnnnffuuulllll

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 16:58

NellyCortado · 02/12/2022 16:54

Also through the Ibstock Stage 2! Great news @QuiteAJourney and @secondaryquandries - very well done to your DCs! Hope others had good news too.

Congrats to @NellyCortado and @secondaryquandries too!
We got the email just as driving back from Emanuel. Now really ready for the weekend!

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 16:57

Dallasdays · 02/12/2022 16:25

Congrats!!

Show quote history

Many thanks

NellyCortado · 02/12/2022 16:54

Also through the Ibstock Stage 2! Great news @QuiteAJourney and @secondaryquandries - very well done to your DCs! Hope others had good news too.

secondaryquandries · 02/12/2022 16:32

We heard from Ibstock too. Through to the second round. That will be his last exam!

Dallasdays · 02/12/2022 16:25

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 16:16

Just got email from Ibstock - over the moon with an invite to round 2!

Congrats!!

Dallasdays · 02/12/2022 16:25

My DS found Emanuel ok today too. Another one down, Claremont tomorrow!

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 16:16

Just got email from Ibstock - over the moon with an invite to round 2!

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 16:03

DD out of Emanuel. Experience seems to have been as positive as exams can be - pleasant environment and kind atmosphere. Big biscuit to take home obviously a massive success!

PS still waiting for Ibstock, which is particularly strange as all other schools have been in touch on or ahead of schedule.

NellyCortado · 02/12/2022 15:11

DS seemed relatively happy at Emanuel pick-up thank goodness. He kept going on about the long breaks between papers and the "whole buffet" of snacks, so it seems they made it a pleasant and positive experience.
They finished up early though, I arrived 10 mins ahead of the pick up time and most kids had already left. Seemed very nicely organised and a lot calmer than our experience with DD.
Hope your DCs had a positive experience.

@SamPoodle123 - DS is doing 6, which I am sort of regretting now. DD did similar number (including the Consortium) and found it manageable, whereas DS seems to be struggling a bit with the pace. After tomorrow, there's a decent break for him. Hope Emanuel went well!

SamPoodle123 · 02/12/2022 12:01

Yes, I have to say it went quite smoothly this morning at Emanuel. It did not feel overwhelming or like too many children, as I read about in previous years. My dd is there now and it was the first time she got to see the school. She quite liked it and so did I. I am hoping the exam goes well!

SamPoodle123 · 02/12/2022 11:59

@NellyCortado sorry to hear that. How many exams is he doing? We are applying to 4 schools, but only 3 exams bc one is for London consortium. My dd is also at Emanuel right now. We are very much looking forward to the last exam and enjoying the xmas break!

Trickleg · 02/12/2022 11:52

Yes was very smooth and well controlled at Emanuel this morning, and they wouldn’t let anyone jumpy the queue, either, which was quite reassuring.

NellyCortado · 02/12/2022 11:20

@QuiteAJourney @secondaryquandries thank you! Hoping for smiles at Emanuel pick up. Tough times for them all (and us!).

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 10:30

@Dallasdays thanks for sharing. That is reassuring - apparently it had been very hectic and full on previous years.

Dallasdays · 02/12/2022 10:21

Good luck to all at Emanuel. Dropped my DS off earlier and I thought it seemed very well organised with a calm atmosphere!

secondaryquandries · 02/12/2022 09:29

@NellyCortado sorry to hear that your son is feeling stressed. Lots of cuddles and hot chocolates with a game helps us to feel positive. Also walks in the park. Good luck to those at Emanuel and also to those waiting to hear from Ibstock.

QuiteAJourney · 02/12/2022 09:24

@NellyCortado sorry to hear about your son. Hope he feels better after the exam and has a nice and relaxing weekend ahead. They are still little and are coping with so much!

NellyCortado · 02/12/2022 09:20

@secondaryquandries completely agree regarding Ibstock. Poor communication and I would have expected some sort of follow up after Saturday's first round. Unimpressed!

DS at Emanuel at the moment. He had a mini meltdown last night, which was heartbreaking. I think he's a bit overtired and drained by the process. Poor kid isn't even half way through, but after this weekend we have a gap until January (unless Ibstock Stage 2 next week...)

Good luck to DCs at Emanuel today.

Christmascactu · 02/12/2022 07:51

iRobot2022 · 01/12/2022 15:39

I wouldn't let it depress you, i don't think it is as clear cut as described here.
Almost all of the net "bulge" is in East London.
In the boroughs that are most relevent to this particular thread the birth rate was either flat or down in 2012.
For whatever reason there were increases in Barking, Hillingdon, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets.

Births in London as a whole:
2010: 133,111
2011: 132,843
2012: 134,186

data.london.gov.uk/dataset/births-and-fertility-rates-borough

Show quote history

i also heard this school year was more boy heavy in south west London!

QuiteAJourney · 01/12/2022 22:40

Good luck for those taking Emanuel tomorrow!

Daydreamscometrue · 01/12/2022 19:50

@QuiteAJourneyand@secondaryquandries My DS loved the experience at KGS. He enjoyed the exam and was happy coming out.

secondaryquandries · 01/12/2022 19:30

@QuiteAJourney I completely agree and I think my son feels the same!

QuiteAJourney · 01/12/2022 19:09

@secondaryquandries so far we found KGS the most transparent on process / timings / type of exam. That, in itself, has made it go up our preference list.
I think I am learning much more about the schools from how they organise the admissions process and communicate than I did from the open days.