Alleyns 11+ for Sept 2023 entry

Yes it’s pretty opaque for us parents :(

Oh wow didn’t appreciate the registrars share information about students’ offers, scholarships, WL etc. Feels like it’s a bit of game-playing?!

Thanks, yes I let them know it’s our first choice snd to keep us on waiting list. Didn’t say I’d pay deposit right away etc. … wondering whether I should contact yhrm
again

Have you let the registrar know that you are keen to take up a place and ready to put down your deposit as soon as you get the offer? I think that will put you higher up on the WL as they know they won't be losing time filling their places when they call you.

They had a 13+ up until the over offering issue happened a few years ago. They cancelled the 13 plus after that permanently @Citygal23 after having to suspend it.

Many thanks, this is very helpful. They don’t have a 13+ as far as I can see. It’s 11+ and 16+ only. Ok, will wait and see, they’ve given deadlines till next Friday for offered to accept.

I wonder if we should keep checking with the school to evidence our keenness or whether that might backfire with a school like Alleyn’s…

Alleyns over offered too much a few years ago and had to put on an extra class and cancel the 13+ entry as a result. I think they are more cautious these days on over offering as its so hard to predict. Hopefully that will mean more use of the waitlist. Best of luck!

Utterly variable, I'm afraid.

I can remember at least one year when Alleyns told prep heads within the first week of schools resuming after half term to warn families on the WL that they expected no movement at all (lots of rapid acceptances)

There's a kind of black art to how they make the number of offers they do - the registrars all talk to each other, and share things like the info on how many other schools people apply for, in order to gain some idea of how many applicants there are (not so long ago, people applied for 3 maybe 4 schools, now 5 or more isn't uncommon, they want to allow for that). Also they look at what pattern of acceptances/rejections they have had in previous years. And then presumably wave a finger in the air.

Does anyone know based on previous years whether waiting lists move much that people get offers? I would assume they over offer anyway…?

Each scholarship has a max value of £5,000 so theoretically you could get the top figure for both but it would be unlikely as most of the awards aren't at that level.

It may be worth checking the school website to find out the maximum offered for each scholarship?

Is anyone aware of the Alleyns maximum scholarship? If Music and Academic (or Academic and Sports) are awarded, does that still equate to a max of £5000?

We heard a couple of hours ago. Good luck to everyone.

Has anyone else heard from Alleyns today? I am still waiting… fingers crossed for everyone 😅

Good luck all. I’m assuming they wouldn’t rely on post only, given current speed. Perhaps they will do both? The nail biting home straight :)

Please can I ask where that information came from? The last communication I had from them said I would hear 'Just before half term' but they didn't give a specific date. Do you know if we hear by post or email?

Alleyns have said they will let people know on this Friday, 10 Feb 🤞🏻

offers usually come out the Friday before half term?

Hi there- did you already get your offers for 2023? We were told they’ll be in touch before half term and heard nothing since the interview….

@89fomveg I think the off the wall questions just give you an indication of the culture of the school. Alleyns definitely try and veer away from the stuffy/conventional - or at least give the appearance that they do. The questions dd had just made her laugh and lightened the mood.

It's not all on 15 minutes though is it? The group activity was at least an hour when dd did it?

It doesn’t sound like a very fair way of choosing if so much rests on a 15 minute interview with one member of staff as some staff will be better at engaging children than others and the interviewers bring their own personalities and styles to the interview. I think my DC would have liked being asked about himself (as he did during the Emanuel interview) and what he does in his free time but had very random off the wall questions instead. At least the group activity allows children to be themselves in a group, which is a bit more natural for them.

Alleyns always seems to be a bit of a toss up about who gets in. I've seen DC who get eg Westminster and St Pauls offers get waitlist or nothing from Alleyns

If you get an interview, then IIRC, it means they're happy with the academic level, and are then choosing the DC they want in the classroom. So yes, those who bring something like good sport/drama/music may well rank more highly after interview than one on similar test scores who doesn't. Also, they're going for 50/50 boys/girls, so the numbers can work for/against you for that reason too

Alleyns always say that once the kids have got through to interview that it is all on that - ie that the playing field is level.

My DS had a spectacularly bad Alleyns interview - managed to completely forget that he was in the choir/played football/was an interesting person and just mumbled something about airfix 😂 - so the waiting list result was no surprise.

DD on the other hand went in smiling and talked about netball/choir/flute. So her offer was no great surprise.

Not sure that Alleyns value well roundedness more than any other school. As ever confidence and a willingness to try is really key. Best of luck to all your dc.

I suppose that I just wondered if the Drama Dept put your name down on a list of someone they would like to give a scholarship to (or shortlist you after the initial screening) whether the school might choose to offer you a place over a child who was not shortlisted for a scholarship if both children did equally well on the academic assessment? Especially at a school like Alleyns that seems to have a strong Art and Drama Dept and seems to really value well rounded children... I wonder how on Earth they choose just 90 from so many talented children! Fingers crossed for everyone hoping for an offer.