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Original poster

Y5 girls not allowed at 11+ Open Days - is this new?

35 replies

KittyWithStripes · 03/09/2023 16:41

Is this usual now? DD is starting Y5. It’s not a huge deal, but I’d always been told it’s nice to start looking around at a couple of Open Days when your DC are in Y5, because there’s so little time in Y6 before it’s decision crunch time. Seems reasonable, you and DCs can start getting an idea of what they’re like.

Been on the website for a couple of London girls secondaries (SHHS and others) and it’s strictly Y7 2024 entry only who are allowed to attend the Open Days. Has that always been the case?

OP posts:
Foxesandsquirrels · 03/09/2023 16:55

I've never seen this rule tbh and we're in London. I always thought it's quite normal to go look in Y5 esp for the selective Indies.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/09/2023 16:53

The school quite probably doesn't have the capacity to spend guiding round sightseers as well as those who are actually making applications this month.

gogomoto · 03/09/2023 16:53

Always been the norm for secondaries here, also no siblings - due to numbers

Original poster
KittyWithStripes · 03/09/2023 16:51

Hmm. This is just for girls private London secondaries, not grammars- but it’s still strange. Again not a huge deal – but I’d always gotten the strong impression that you start having a poke around the schools in year 5 to get an idea of what they’re like…

OP posts:
HamishTheCamel · 03/09/2023 16:51

In my area this started a couple of years ago when they were keen to limit the number of people inside for covid-related reasons. Maybe they're continuing with it because they've realised it offers a better experience for the year 6 pupils when it's less crowded.

Soontobe60 · 03/09/2023 16:51

In reality, if a school is over subscribed, then open days are a waste of their time as they will still get too many applicants!
I suppose they could get swamped by nosey parents who might or might not apply for a place for their child in 2 year’s time?

BorrowedThyme · 03/09/2023 16:50

There is limited space, it is only for the children making decisions imminently. it isn't really appropriate for children to be visiting secondary schools in year 5 - they just need to carry on being 9 year olds!

12345change · 03/09/2023 16:48

KittyWithStripes · 03/09/2023 16:41

Is this usual now? DD is starting Y5. It’s not a huge deal, but I’d always been told it’s nice to start looking around at a couple of Open Days when your DC are in Y5, because there’s so little time in Y6 before it’s decision crunch time. Seems reasonable, you and DCs can start getting an idea of what they’re like.

Been on the website for a couple of London girls secondaries (SHHS and others) and it’s strictly Y7 2024 entry only who are allowed to attend the Open Days. Has that always been the case?

That seems odd. My experience has been year 5 is when you look around secondary schools. If you leave it year 6 it can be too late... often people go for a second look in year 6 to check they have made the right choice before the forms have to be completed at the end of October in year 6.

In fact Tiffin Girls, if you did not go in year 5 you would not get a look before you complete the application form as there open day was in July. Not that it was relevant for us as I have a boy.

Angelik · 03/09/2023 16:47

No but I think hosting these events is time consuming for schools so they want to focus on the children who are eligible. New thing in my area is grammar school open days only available to those who pass. So parents have about 2 weeks to get it done and decide!

CruiseOver · 03/09/2023 16:47

Seems strange. We took Dd to grammar school open days at the end of y4, prior to beginning 11+ prep in Y5.