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Original poster

SW London Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023 (Part III)

997 replies

QuiteAJourney · 09/01/2023 18:58

Continuation from

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4697901-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023-part-ii?page=40&reply=122947087

An opportunity for parents of DC applying to private and grammar schools in SW London for entry in year 7 in 2023 to share their journeys.

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 13/01/2023 11:12

momomamiko · 13/01/2023 10:50

Has any one heard from St Pauls today?

Just curious, whats happening w st pauls today?

momomamiko · 13/01/2023 10:50

Has any one heard from St Pauls today?

jemini31 · 13/01/2023 10:41

Nothing yet from LEH. Hopefully we will get an email by today. It feels like it's been an awfully long time since the test.
Good luck to all having interviews today!

Everydayshuffln · 13/01/2023 10:41

Hi, anyone here have a Trinity interview? Have no idea what to expect at all.

LondonMum20222 · 13/01/2023 10:36

Good luck to all those with G&L and NHEHS interviews today. (I imagine some girls must have both, which is quite a tall order!)

BrightLight04 · 13/01/2023 09:16

Has anyone heard anything from LEH?

Wlondonmum2022 · 13/01/2023 08:59

Good luck to all the g&l and Nh&e interviews today!

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 12/01/2023 21:02

@Turquoiseturtle1234 I think that DDs not being fazed is the best possible scenario. Hope it goes well.

OP posts:
tamu1234 · 12/01/2023 21:02

We are also doing it tomorrow… it’s now our top choice so a lot riding on it! It’s only 15 min though so we will see.

Turquoiseturtle1234 · 12/01/2023 20:59

We are doing it tomorrow - DD doesn’t seem fazed by it…refused to do any practice or discussion with me

SamPoodle123 · 12/01/2023 20:54

@QuiteAJourney Thanks!

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 12/01/2023 20:47

@SamPoodle123 Good luck to your DD (and it is great that she is not stressed about it!)

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 12/01/2023 20:45

Who else dc is doing the G&L interview tomorrow? How are you feeling about it? I am a little nervous, of course my dd isn't thinking about it at all.

secondaryquandries · 12/01/2023 19:13

@KindergartenKop 😂 shall we say encouraging debate?!

KindergartenKop · 12/01/2023 19:08

@secondaryquandries as in trying to pick an argument? 😂

secondaryquandries · 12/01/2023 16:26

KindergartenKop · 12/01/2023 13:31

@VickiMent @secondaryquandries did the CFC interview have any weird quirks or just a discussion?

@KindergartenKop definitely a bit quirky and questioning. Along the lines of (not actual questions) what do you want to do when you're older? Be a pilot. Ah, what do you know about Richard Branson and do you think air travel is important? Not sure and yes. Ah, I don't, what do you think of that? Etc.

NellyCortado · 12/01/2023 16:17

@Pleasegrowmore sorry to hear that. What a shame. Our state primary wasn't able to offer any guidance about 11+ or choice of schools, but they have been very accommodating regarding time off. I know it has been disruptive for the school with kids in and out for open days, exams etc, but I am grateful that ours has (hopefully!) responded to reference requests and wished DS good luck. Good luck to you and your DD.

momomamiko · 12/01/2023 16:15

Pleasegrowmore · 12/01/2023 12:16

Is anyone else applying from state primaries?! We only applied to two private, one grammar and the state schools. Realistically DD is only going grammar (if she gets in to Tiffin, big if obviously) or state. There was absolutely no school involvement or advice (I think that only happens at private/ prep schools) at all. It does feel a bit of a different world to me! (Not meaning, I hope, to sound chippy about it or anything!!)

DS at state school - absolutely no guidance whatsoever and they make it very clear that they want zero involvement with the 11+ process (apart from providing references) so you find your way on your own.

On the flip side, you can go for whichever secondaries you like and dont need a “sign off”/blessing from the head.

Not sure which if any one is better tbh.

Pleasegrowmore · 12/01/2023 16:10

Our school was not just absolutely not supportive but actively unhelpful. Moaning about missing days / hours for exams. Send back a requested reference late. Acted like we were somehow being demanding when there was a clash with the Tiffin test and something else, like we had decided that was when the Tiffin test should be. Not a single word wishing her luck or anything.

I think she's the only person in her entire year who has sat any selective private exams, and one of I think three or four total who sat grammar.

PreplexJ · 12/01/2023 15:32

@1forward2back yep Channing is also fab

EweCee · 12/01/2023 15:26

I agree, our 'prep' needs to take the 'prep' out of its name 😁We have gone into this blind and are fumbling our way around it as first timers to the UK education system (we only started at a prep here 1.5 years ago) and 11+ - this thread has helped enormously, thanks!

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 12/01/2023 15:26

@1forward2back welcome! I remember you from last year's thread!
This is, imho, one of the pluses of this thread - bringing together people with different backgrounds and experiences (past, present, forthcoming).

OP posts:
HawaiiWake · 12/01/2023 15:23

All the best to everyone.
Not all private preps give in-depth advice and some are so vague that it doesn’t help. As other posted, it is a giant black box.
Tutoring and prepping in exam techniques is helpful not just for 11+ but secondary schools’ tests.

1forward2back · 12/01/2023 15:09

@LondonMum20222 i think most see South Hampstead, NLCS and Channing as the north london trinity.

just catching up with this thread (so much longer than last year!!)

to be honest the views on the impersonal approach at WHS match why we didn’t apply last year - felt quite cold. So different to DD’s gdst school which never seems to be mentioned on these threads but is just up the road! The admissions process is such a window into the school. Our experience is that the way we felt during the process has been matched totally by the reality of being in a school.

great to see so many positive emails being received this week! Good luck everyone

FriendlyMom · 12/01/2023 14:48

@SamPoodle123 that is exactly our situation! The closer we get to the end, the more relaxed my dd, the more nervous I get. Not much support from our school either.