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Original poster

All schools rejected at 11+. What now?

187 replies

lirik · 13/02/2023 13:57

Apologies for the wall of text and a clickbaity title. One school, The Leys in Cambridge, put our daughter on waiting list with final answer due March 8th, and 10 others rejected.

We are based overseas, planning to move to UK this summer. Daughter is currently at NLCS (Singapore).

We have hired education consultants to help navigate UK schooling landscape, aid with school selection, applications, etc. We have also engaged tutors to help prep for 11+ over past year or so.

Now that most schools rejected, consultants are proposing to consider Fulham till 13+ and try again after two years, or just stay at Fulham senior till sixth form.
Another option is to try apply to few schools that haven't done their tests yet. Namely we currently have on our radar Eaton Square Senior School and Radnor House.
A good friend recommends to settle in area with good and outstanding schools only and hire tutors aiming for 13+ or sixth-form.
Locationwise we'd prefer London but can entertain outside London commutable to city. In a pinch if need be can consider pretty much anywhere in UK. I recon I can reach an agreement with the employer.

OP posts:
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Milliesmu · 06/04/2023 21:08

Brighton College Prep Kensington will open Year 7 this academic year so could be an option for Year 7 and Year 8 and a 13+ entry?

jigsaw234 · 17/03/2023 08:25

Think about St. Margaret's in Hampstead. It's less selective than the others, lovely nurturing place and they can be flexible about how many girls in each year www.st-margarets.co.uk/

PPLs · 17/03/2023 06:06

Hello. I second having a look at Queenswood in Herts, it’s just on the London borders. We have several friends there with happy girls, it’s a beautiful school. We are at NLCS london -

oilandwater · 10/03/2023 12:46

I am a Fulham Prep parent. Years 7&8 are very good ones at the Prep, I know a lot of students who have joined at year 7 and they integrate very quickly - kids are very friendly and welcoming to new students. I also think girls tend to have good options for switching to other London day schools for year 9, if you eventually want to try that. Also, FYI - the Senior School has switched to an A-Level only sixth form.

FrodisCapering · 18/02/2023 08:43

This reply has been withdrawn

Post withdrawn at author's request

TwilightSilhouette · 17/02/2023 22:06

Winchester has great state schools.

GirlInterrupt · 17/02/2023 12:39

It might be worth speaking to Marymount international school (in Kingston), they have a rolling application process I believe.

Booklove45 · 16/02/2023 17:55

Given the amount of schools she didn’t get into, maybe you should go to Fulham, then reassess the situation in 2 years? Her abilities might have changed by then. However, I think she must be quite stressed out by now, so I think the best option is definitely to stop giving her exams. I’m sure Fulham is a good school, and if she gets into The Leys, she can go there. But don’t get her to pin her hopes on going to a private school, because it sounds like she might be disappointed. Best of luck!!

woohooho · 15/02/2023 21:55

MBappse · 15/02/2023 21:51

Both have difficulty with small size and facilities... Fulham senior school very small building and Thomas's just has the small site off the A3 now. Thomas's iis only going to 16, not 18 and Fulham does IB for 6th form, not A-Levels.

Fulham changing to A levels ( or maybe offering both- not too sure about that)

MBappse · 15/02/2023 21:51

Both have difficulty with small size and facilities... Fulham senior school very small building and Thomas's just has the small site off the A3 now. Thomas's iis only going to 16, not 18 and Fulham does IB for 6th form, not A-Levels.

Original poster
lirik · 15/02/2023 17:16

KingscoteStaff · 15/02/2023 16:19

@lirik Were Queens College and Frances Holland both straight no or waiting list? Only asking because 3 of my Year 6s last year got places from those WLs - they both move fast!

I think Fulham is a good option - only other suggestion would be Thomas’s - another prep that is now running a secondary school.

A final suggestion would be talking to Newton Prep - they are very experienced at taking girls in for Years 7 and 8 and guiding them through the 13+.

Straight out refuse. The Leys was the only one that offered WL.

Fulham's senior now also has a senior school. How does it compare to Thomas's in your view?

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 15/02/2023 17:15

That sounds great, OP. I hope your DD enjoys it there and I wish you well for the move.

Original poster
lirik · 15/02/2023 17:11

CloudPop · 15/02/2023 09:55

@lirik My advice would be to take e Fulham offer, move somewhere nearby and take it from there. You need to be commuting to the City so you need a good transport connection, this is vital. Get all of you settled and then take a look round. You never know, Fulham might be the right school for your daughter.

Bear in mind there is always a lot of movement every year, if not every term, from private schools in London as there is such a broad international cohort. Occasional places come up all the time, once you know what you are looking for you can apply. Then of course there is 13+

Sending best wishes, it's a big move with a child of your age. I hope it all goes well.

Yes, we are definitely taking Fulham offer. We'll still explore other options and if something much better comes up, we might reconsider, although not very likely.

OP posts:
Original poster
lirik · 15/02/2023 17:07

LIZS · 15/02/2023 16:06

@lirik do you only have dd or are there also younger siblings to accommodate?

Just DD. The only child. It makes things a tad easier schollingwise. Finding friends is going to be tough.

OP posts:
modgepodge · 15/02/2023 16:32

I haven’t read the full thread. Would you consider Berkshire/Buckinghamshire? Definitely commutable to London, there are lots of schools here which aren’t super selective and would likely have places still at this point: Luckley House, Queen Anne’s, Holme Grange, Claire’s Court, Piper’s Corner, The Marist, and I believe Reading Blue Coat and Shiplake are taking girls from this year. I work in a prep which sends kids to some of those schools and we have had children be accepted even applying this late. You’d be looking at living in Reading/Maidenhead/Wokingham/ Ascot/High Wycombe, all of which have trains to London.

KingscoteStaff · 15/02/2023 16:19

@lirik Were Queens College and Frances Holland both straight no or waiting list? Only asking because 3 of my Year 6s last year got places from those WLs - they both move fast!

I think Fulham is a good option - only other suggestion would be Thomas’s - another prep that is now running a secondary school.

A final suggestion would be talking to Newton Prep - they are very experienced at taking girls in for Years 7 and 8 and guiding them through the 13+.

LIZS · 15/02/2023 16:06

@lirik do you only have dd or are there also younger siblings to accommodate?

jeanne16 · 15/02/2023 16:06

Contact More House School in Knightsbridge. They may have a place in September.

CloudPop · 15/02/2023 09:55

@lirik My advice would be to take e Fulham offer, move somewhere nearby and take it from there. You need to be commuting to the City so you need a good transport connection, this is vital. Get all of you settled and then take a look round. You never know, Fulham might be the right school for your daughter.

Bear in mind there is always a lot of movement every year, if not every term, from private schools in London as there is such a broad international cohort. Occasional places come up all the time, once you know what you are looking for you can apply. Then of course there is 13+

Sending best wishes, it's a big move with a child of your age. I hope it all goes well.

scarecrow22 · 15/02/2023 09:24

As Little Bear Pad said, I'd also be asking for my money back from the ed consultants: they appear to have been not just no help, but actually made things worse.

PS new Radnor House likely to be on school bus ir bus routes from places they trad serve.

Also forgot to add that Waldegrave is all girls. Friend's daughter got into Putney and Surbiton (academic, private): her dad compared added value and found it was no better so sent her to Waldegrave.

DaddyPhD · 14/02/2023 23:47

OldONL · 14/02/2023 22:51

Indeed. I wonder what your children will do.

I doubt many Etonians had parents who went to state school.

Show quote history

No doubt they will choose the opposite of what we have chosen for them!

OldONL · 14/02/2023 22:51

DaddyPhD · 14/02/2023 22:49

Bit off topic, but you're giving them a better start in life because you're middle classed, its not because they attend state comp.

But..on the flip side, some of the biggest advocates for private school are comp educated. I pushed for my DD to attend prep, I went to a huge, very diverse, London comprehensive and a dire state primary.

Sometimes the grass can always seem greener...

Show quote history

Indeed. I wonder what your children will do.

I doubt many Etonians had parents who went to state school.

DaddyPhD · 14/02/2023 22:49

OldONL · 14/02/2023 13:25

Oh and just to add - I had no tutoring and I came straight from a state school, not a prep school.

Things like this:
The prep schools in London literally spend years preparing the children for the 11+ exams.

Just mean they are selecting more by money than by ability. Which is going to lead inevitably to the sort of horrendous scandal that happened during COVID.

I've sent my kids to the local state school (a huge, very diverse, co-ed London comprehensive) and I am confident that it's giving them a better start in life. Although not the 'right sort' of contacts, I'm sure.

Bit off topic, but you're giving them a better start in life because you're middle classed, its not because they attend state comp.

But..on the flip side, some of the biggest advocates for private school are comp educated. I pushed for my DD to attend prep, I went to a huge, very diverse, London comprehensive and a dire state primary.

Sometimes the grass can always seem greener...

LittleBearPad · 14/02/2023 20:48

It’s a big move to the UK. If you want to be in London accept Fulham and find your feet

woohooho · 14/02/2023 17:15

DilettanteMum · 14/02/2023 14:34

If Fulham has now offered her a place I think it's a no brainer to send her there. It's a good school and will offer an easy entry into the system and living in the UK - and give you all time to figure out the next best move. She shouldnt be put off by the interview. Maybe you can ask if it's possible to have a follow up zoom with an admissions staff member and a current student so she can ask some questions and feel more comfortable.

Completely agree. Accept the Fulham space and give yourselves a bit of time to relax. Have friends who've stayed there until y8 and others who've stayed on at the Senior school and others who've joined in Y9. All happy.

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