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Original poster

London boys independent schools - year 7 in 2023

86 replies

crazymama123 · 29/11/2022 13:19

Hi everyone,

I was wondering how everyone is getting on with the 11+ exams for London boys independent schools? There's a great thread on girls schools in SW London, so i wondered if anyone was interested in a thread for boys? We're applying to UCS, Highgate, City, Westminster and Forest and are just kicking off the exams.

Is anyone else in the same position? The lack of choice or control in the process, or knowing whether DS has a realistic chance of getting in is so stressful! And the exams being over such a long period (for us the end of November through to early Jan and then hopefully interviews end of Jan), means we've got such a long period to get through.

Anyway, thought I'd reach out in case anyone else is in a similar position and wants support. x

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LoveBlueCheese · 14/12/2023 20:31

@crazymama123 I've sent u a DM x

sugarcookie5 · 25/02/2023 19:47

Any Halliford parents here? Our DS is starting in September. Very excited as it’s his and our-first choice. Been SO impressed with they way they handled everything- admissions, exams, offer letter- all surpassed expectations and made our son feel so valued! We were at the Open Day today as se couldn’t make the recent offer holders day- and was great for DS to meet all the boys and try out lots of fun science experiments! Anyone on here there today?

Momto1boy · 21/02/2023 07:39

Has anyone decided to accept UCS? It’s my son’s favourite and we have accepted the offer.

Original poster
crazymama123 · 19/02/2023 20:35

Thank you. That’s really helpful! Yes, we’re going to the offer holder’s day tomorrow.

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TheBrokenCracker · 19/02/2023 20:04

@crazymama123 looking at the City website it looks like registration is 8.45 but definitely worth clarifying. Assume you’re going to the tour tomorrow?

www.cityoflondonschool.org.uk/images/Parents_Handbook_A4_Square-June_2020_WEB.pdf

Original poster
crazymama123 · 19/02/2023 19:27

@VickiMent well done for getting the offer your wanted. Must be such a relief to have it all sorted.

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Original poster
crazymama123 · 19/02/2023 19:25

@NLondondiva congratulations! That’s great your DS got into those schools too. What are your thoughts so far and which are your favourites?

I believe they start at 8.50 at UCS vs 8.20 at Highgate and 8.30 at city. I want to check those times on the offer days though as it would make a material difference to our mornings.

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NLondondiva · 19/02/2023 15:48

We are also choosing between UCS, Highgate and City, @crazymama123 ! Your comment about the morning commute is interesting as I didn’t realise UCS have a later start - what time do the boys need to get there?

VickiMent · 18/02/2023 17:35

sugarcookie5 · 18/02/2023 16:33

Hi everyone- any boys going to Halliford? My DS been offered and he’s thrilled- it’s his and our- favourite!

Well done! Great to have what you all wanted. We didn’t apply as the journey was too difficult for us but we were super impressed by the ethos and they did have the loveliest headmaster we met.

sugarcookie5 · 18/02/2023 16:33

Hi everyone- any boys going to Halliford? My DS been offered and he’s thrilled- it’s his and our- favourite!

VickiMent · 18/02/2023 13:07

Well done, that sounds like you have done fantastic. Good luck with sorting out the rest!

We had a combination of waiting lists and offers. But thankfully our favourite through the process was an offer.

Original poster
crazymama123 · 18/02/2023 12:04

Thanks @Marisquita. DS likes Highgate best because his best friend from since he was two goes there. The commute would be difficult though and he’d have to leave home at 7.15am vs 8am for UCS, which seems very early to me when he gets to teenage hormone territory.

i agree about the social and economic diversity being a good thing at city. It’s definitely one of the biggest positives. The things that put me off are the sports fields being so far away and it being all boys all the way through, and it’s a very urban location (the astro pitch between the flyover is not ideal). It does get better results than UCS, but I’m not sure if I should put any weight on that as I guess DS would get the same grades irrespective of what school he’s at.

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TheBrokenCracker · 18/02/2023 11:33

That is great @crazymama123

We have been in the process with DS and are deciding between City and a couple of schools closer to us that are still great but not as top tier academically. Due to our location we weren’t applying to others mentioned on here. So very keen to hear views on City.

Marisquita · 18/02/2023 08:47

That’s fantastic @crazymama123 . I also liked UCS the best of those three excellent choices. Can DS put his finger on what he prefers about Highgate? If it’s e.g. preferring co-ed, or on-site green space, I’d be inclined to put significant weight on his preference. If it’s better biscuits on interview day, not so much! But sometimes a vibe can feel right or not without being down to specific factors, and I think that has value when deciding where to spend the rest of a childhood.

I do think City has a very different feel in terms especially of socioeconomic mix and central urban location. Both UCS and Highgate can feel a big “oligarch-y” depending on who you happen to get in the year group, and that’s not such a factor at City. But for me that wouldn’t tip the balance as a green, outdoorsy environment feels important to us for the senior school years. Horses for courses, but you and he will make the right choice together I am sure. Congratulations to him.

Original poster
crazymama123 · 18/02/2023 07:49

Thank you @LoveBlueCheese. We haven’t decided yet. It’s between UCS, Highgate and city really. We like UCS the best but DS likes Highgate so it’s going to be a difficult decision. Any thoughts from anyone on those 3 schools?

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LoveBlueCheese · 18/02/2023 07:39

Wow congratulations @crazymama123 to your DS! Thats amazing! Which school has he chosen?

Original poster
crazymama123 · 18/02/2023 06:48

We’ve been really fortunate and DS has gotten in everywhere. Feeling very thankful. Now I’ve just got the stress of agreeing the school and who pays what proportion of the fees with my ex husband (which isn’t an easy task!!!).

How’s everyone else got on? Really hope offers have come in for everyone.

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AegeanBlue · 17/02/2023 22:40

@crazymama123 how has it worked out for you?

Original poster
crazymama123 · 29/01/2023 17:25

Oh god, I hadn’t thought about the stress that waiting lists will involve.

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VickiMent · 29/01/2023 14:47

No long now. It seems like some offers are starting to drift in now. Most of ours are just under two weeks away...although I am expecting we might be left hanging for longer with WL for some.

drizzledon · 29/01/2023 14:20

We’re the same, it feels like this whole process just goes on forever! But it’s nice to at least be done with all the tests and interviews so we can put it to the back of our minds and just be for a while! I think the decision-making phase will be quite tough.

Original poster
crazymama123 · 29/01/2023 08:53

Is everyone done with the exams / interviews now? We’re now in the waiting phase and I’m struggling with the nerves!

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HerbertChops · 27/01/2023 11:53

Sorry, lost this thread! They asked him what his favourite subjects were, hobbies, how his friends would describe him in 3 words. General questions really. Was your son asked similar? Then we went and and had a general chat about his hobbies and what we like about the school. We were with teacher number 5 who was an Assistant Head. Have had an emailed offer this morning at 10am, they seem to do theirs earlier than most other schools round here. Good luck 🤞🏻

sugarcookie5 · 21/01/2023 16:50

ah ok didn’t know this was something they did! What did they talk about in your DS interview?

sugarcookie5 · 21/01/2023 16:42

Anyone else DS have a St James interview today? As there were I think 11 different teachers doing these interviews perhaps they had different ways of doing it? Hope so! Interview seemed to go very well!

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