SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024 - Continued

I’ve been told we are in the top 1/3 but likely to be 1st or 2nd on the list.
I’ve also been told that NhEHS often doesn’t go to WL at all, but am getting conflicting info….

@mummyquestion we released our offer last week. I’ve heard that the WL moves a bit for NHEHS. Have you asked them where she’s on the WL?

Does anyone have any idea about WL moving for Nottibghill School. We have a WL offer and desperately hoping for an offer…
should I have hope?

@Iffiyas the comments about that school were negative, and they have a very vigilant marketing team watching these threads who get those comments pulled. They related to the way the school has gone with the new head and so presumably mumsnt was worried about backlash.

Thanks both @QuiteAJourney and @squirrelofsw19 , that is super super helpful!!!
As @QuiteAJourney said, we only applied for PHS (probably a mistake in hindsight but I was put off by longer journey time on public transport) and are on waiting list, but have a place at another school (not in this system). So am trying to work out what we might do if WL converts into a place with 24hrs to accept and no chance to visit…. Or if we would do better to start at other school and then reapply to WHS (and maybe PHS) again later on as an occasional place, depending on how the other school works out. No one can help with this but the more I know about PHS the better in terms of getting my head straight…. Whilst not projecting myself as we may not have a place there at all!!!! 🤯

Re IPS, disclaimer, I am not a current parent. However, I do have friends who have various DC there from Y7 - Y10. Most came from local state but one from local prep school. From what I understand, it is a nice co-ed school. I know one friend has a slightly tricky DC and school has been great at working with the family, I've heard no complaints about the teaching and the drama is good. One boy went on an amazing sports (cricket?) tour over Feb half term, an educational aspect had been worked into the trip so not just sport. All families are happy and not thinking of moving. The negatives I have heard is that the old head stayed on too long and it was hoped that the new head would shake things up a bit but given he was the deputy (I think) perhaps change hasn't been as fast moving as it could have been. If you live close by and you want co-ed, I think it is a good option.

Phew. I was trying to be as objective as I could. Thanks @QuiteAJourney. Your post was a really good summary.

@squirrelofsw19 , as someone with 'no skin in the game', it does not sound like a 'sell'... (hopefully my post did not come across as a sell either!).
If I was choosing, your message is the kind of post that I would find useful. As you say, it is what works for different people, and you have eloquently outlined some of the key factors.

@CocoC regarding WHS vs PHS, we having been weighing up offers from those schools for the second time. Our older daughter chose PHS two years ago and we have been delighted with it. She is now a rower so the closer boathouse is added to the list of advantages. We anticipated choosing WHS this time but, having run through all the criteria that @QuiteAJourney very nicely describes we are going with PHS again because a) DD2 has a higher scholarship offer at PHS (important given the school fees for two DDs will be our biggest outgoing) b) we have had no reason to question the education and music opportunities for our older DD all of which have been fab c) we infinitely prefer the new PHS head (to the previous one) and believe she will do great things (although I agree with other posters the WHS head is super impressive and that has caused us the biggest headache) d) we like the option for 10 GCSEs- allows for slightly more breadth of choice given that our DD will need to music as part of her scholarship commitment e) we perceive that PHS retains more girls at sixth form and are super impressed with the sheer range of destinations to which their leavers depart. We note the league table issue and the fact that currently WHS is perceived as perhaps slightly more intellectual than PHS but we’re pretty sure the same girl would get very similar outcomes at both schools as the teaching seems excellent at both. On the music front, we looked at this very closely. Our perception is that the standard of music scholars is very high at PHS but maybe there is slightly more breadth of talent at WHS as the orchestra was particularly impressive on the open day. PHS offer organ and WHS doesn’t yet. That was important for our DD but we realise is a bit niche!

I realise this now sounds like a bit of a “sell” for PHS but I agree with other posters they are different schools with similar academic results and you should absolutely go with your instinct on which is the the best fit for your DD and for your family. Hope that helps.

The posts were negative so that is why they were deleted. I think they were also written by more than one poster. I know one parent in real life who is happy with the school, but it seems a few that were not happy posted on mumsnet and it got deleted. I have no personal experience so cannot be helpful, but perhaps someone else will come along.

Sorry - I had a typo at the worst moment. She indicated football would never be as big as they are hoping tennis to be. Can’t remember if she said they were hoping for it to be a core sport or not.

@Annawintourssteak do you mean they're looking to make tennis a core sport at Emanuel? Just girls or boys too?

Regarding waiting lists movement, I heard that schools try to keep certain quotas in place, boys vs girls, state vs private primaries and whatever other quotas they have, so if they have a place available they’ll pick someone from the waiting list with the same criteria. A girl from a state primary for example. Can anybody corroborate?

We have an offer as well and would love to hear more. From reading some posts in last year’s sw london 11+ thread, my understanding is that any negative reviews were taken down so maybe parents are reluctant to say anything now. Maybe it is changing and improvement is underway.

Just to add as a Harrodian parent, that I have not found its reputation of wealthy, rich kids discussing their privilege to be true. My dd is only in year 7, but so far the kids and parents have seemed normal and grounded. No celebrity parents, that I know of, in the year and birthday parties are usually a trip to the cinema, bowling or a small sleepover. Overall, we are very happy with the school and would recommend it to anyone considering it for their child.

Hi, we’ve just accepted a place at Emanuel and I had exactly the same questions. I spoke to the director of sport at the offer holder day and was told there was a provision for girls football and it would grow if there is more demand, but it will never become a core sport. Their aim is to for tennis. That being said, there is participation in the Surrey league and also another one I can’t recall. My daughter, who is a very keen footballer, seemed happy enough with her response and is very excited to join and get stuck in to all the sports they offer.

@GetYourAintoG We got an offer for our youngest from a school we had previously declined for our eldest. I think the schools have so many applications they probably don't delve too deeply into previous applicants/ family links.

We have a DC at Ibstock.
We have been very happy with our choice.
DC loves (most) of her teachers and she is becoming more and more motivated to impress the teachers.
Lots of clubs. Delicous food. Nice friends.
Happy DC.

Thanks for feeding back! 🤗

That’s such an interesting question @GetYourAintoG ! I guess it totally depends on the school but my friend’s DS had just been offered a place at a school that his brother turned down a year ago. Not a super selective though. Same boy was offered another place at a school that his older brother was WL for. As we sift through our offers I’m conscious of turning down schools that we may apply to for DD2 but it must really depend on the school.

Hi All, I’ve been a lurker here and found this thread so supportive through what has been a hellishly stressful time! Has anyone experience of declining an offer but then applying to the declined school later with a younger sibling? Will the school snub the younger sibling because the family turned it down previously? Thanks

@HoneyMobster Completely agree, it is mostly down to 'vibe' and, like you say, there are DDs that live close to WHS going to PHS and others that live close to PHS that travel to WHS. Both schools have strong academic results and provide plenty of extra-curricular opportunities, partake in the GDST 'brand' and have a solid track record of having provided a happy environment for many DDs.

I am not familiar with how many other single sex schools lose to co-ed in sixth form - I think that is not uncommon to move, especially for DC that might have been in single sex for their whole education and in the same school. In WHS's case, the school is quite open about it and the links with Kings (which are becoming, if anything, stronger, with a common charter and some joint activities) and the proximity and the fact that many families have DC in both also help. I think quite a few parents see it as a plus in so far as it provides an additional option (especially given KCS academics and also the IB option).

DD has offers from PHS and WHS and went to PHS even though we lived in Wimbledon. It was purely down to 'vibe' as we felt there was little to choose between the two. DD rowed for a bit and liked having the boathouse in a Putney, the WHS boathouse is over towards Hampton.

One thing to note. WHS loses quite a few to KCS for Sixth Form. It's nit surprising given KCS is a very good school (DD transferred there) and lots of families will have sons there.

we would also love to hear current parents views on IPS. We had a negative perception based on previous reports but our interaction with the school at every stage has been incredibly positive and our DD is offered an academic scholarship there.

Hi all. Please, is nobody else interested in hearing about Ibstock Place School? if someone has any views, beyond their lovely presentation on Wednesday, could please post them here?
I'm new to Mumsnet and I found it so difficult to understand the school if the majority of the recent posts have been deleted. Thank you