SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024 - Continued

We released ours too in the last few days@ItsMeHi48 Epsom, St John's, St George's, Latymer U, KGS. Secondary school state offers next Friday so I imagine lots of movement after that and after offer days have been attended. Keep us all posted as I am sure it will help some people on here too with hope if they hear of movement specifics.

We accepted DS’s Hampton place today and have released the others (KGS, Emanuel, St John’s) - appreciate it’s not one out, one in but suspect there should be movement soon, as you say, @ItsMeHi48 particularly after offer holder days. Hope you hear soon.

Has anyone been hitting the phones to admissions re waiting lists yet? I sent a couple of emails over half term but have so far resisted the temptation to call bc I’m assuming they don’t have much to update on at this point. Thinking that after this week and offer holders days then post 1 March things might get spicier… anyone else also chomping at the bit for WLs?!

Thanks farfalla! Will add to budding shortlist for DC2… (not sure I can face it all again)

@farfallarocks congratulations to your DC!

Do you know by any chance how many applicants wrote for St John's 11+ this year?

We are trying to decide whether we apply for 11+ or 13+ next year for those schools like Caterham, Epsom, St John's and Reeds which offer both entry points.

Thank you!

@farfallarocks , I know so many families with dc at St John's and they all love it esp with the option to stay over if need be. DC travel quite a distance to go there. I'm sure the open day for offers will make the situation clearer and well done to your dd for getting the place as it's such a sought after school.

Hi @minipie its St John’s .

Has anyone done any offer holder days yet?

We have some coming up and I realise I’m not quite sure what to ask or look for 😬

Gosh I think both mine (especially the younger one) would absolutely love the chance to flexi board 1 or 2 nights a week..that’s not so much “boarding” as “weekly sleepover” 😁! Appreciate it still leaves several days of longer journeys though. Which is the flexi school if you don’t mind saying (asking with Dc2 in mind!)

Agree it sounds like there is not enough journey difference (esp with flexi) to swing you away from a school you all prefer.

@farfallarocks , many congrats to your DD on the offers.
If the difference in length of commute is not very marked, I would personally go for your preferred one.. especially as having the bus and the ability of flexiboard gives you more leeway if there are issues with the tube.

Thank you @minipie @CocoC @travelturtle
We could move, it is on the cards but I have to factor in my younger dc who we don't want to move so that means a longer commute for him and more logistical challenges too.
The other school is still a train but a shorter journey. However, she could flexi 1/2 nights a week at the longer commute school and the buses all leave after prep and clubs.

Going back to see both!

I know two children who have academic scholarship offers for schools at least as or more academically selective than KGS. Both with KGS offers neither offered KGS scholarships.

Congrats. It's a great school.

Ours wasn't academic but we had music scholarship offer and it was 10%.

Amazing - I hope they haven’t over offered. I wonder how many places they offered as opposed to wait list. Fingers crossed it is all ok :)

@FlyingPandas @MuddyBoots21 @lolo99 We’re 99.9% Hampton (DS’s choice). He’s ecstatic.

We have accepted our favourite school (Hampton for us too @lolo99 @MuddyBoots21 ) and released DS's other two offers today. He did go to the offer holder day at his second favourite school, but we have decided to accept Hampton before attending their offer holder morning - we have an older DS there, so know the school well, and it's the school our younger one always wanted, so it was a no brainer for him really. As soon as the Hampton offer landed in the inbox that was it.

I do sympathise with those worried that DC might choose a school based on what parents might perceive as trivial things though. Talking to DS about his thoughts on his other two schools, he focused on food and was genuinely torn about which might have the best daily menus - one had offered applicants sausages, chips and chocolate cake on assessment day, the other opted for pizza and doughnuts....but which was the best? Oh the dilemmas of an 11 yo

Good luck to everyone with decision making and for those on waiting lists, hopefully you will get good news soon.

Please can I ask if anyone has an academic scholarship from KGS this year and how much, or anyone that you know this year. In the past it was known of 20-30%. Thank you.

Agree that it’s worth going to offer holder events for a couple of schools you’re considering. It really helps, even if just to confirm that your favourite is your favourite!

@farfallarocks I don’t think 30-40 mins commute is necessarily too far, but it also depends how easy the journey is. It takes our DS1 about 35 mins which is 10 mins walk to station, 10 mins on train, 10 mins walk other side - plus a few mins to wait for the train. He travels in with a couple of friends though and my DH is usually on same train too. He doesn’t mind it. It’s roughly average in his year (Y8) and plenty travel further.

DS2 has choice of same school so he will travel with DS1 or school bus to another one which takes about 35 mins too.

@lolo99 My DS will be joining. He is over the moon!

I brought my daughter to a few offer holder days even though we had a strong preference for one school, but didn’t feel certain about it. In the end she chose the school we preferred. All kids are different, but most at that age will get excited about what you are excited about.

@farfallarocks otherwise the other option is to move closer to the school…?

farfalla what is the travel like to the other school?

I did a 40 min school bus journey to senior school. It was a bit limiting re after school clubs. However, a lot more clubs are lunchtime these days and in your case there is a train alternative. Getting up for the bus in the morning was a struggle yes but I was always just about on time.

If it feels right in every single way bar the travel, and your DD has a strong preference for it, I wouldn’t let the travel put you off - it doesn’t sound too hideous by London standards.

Hi all, new to this forum.. congrats on the good news received so far and fingers crossed for those on WLs.

We have unexpectedly received 3 offers from tbh each were our target schools. Just wondering if anyone had experience or feedback on them - Trinity, Reigate Grammar and RGS Guildford. Keen to know how supportive the schools are and if there are any sifting post gcse? Class sizes and teaching quality? will post as main topic as well as completely torn!! For journeh times, they all involved travel but Guildford surprisingly quickest as it is train.

@Annawintourssteak Agree that a difference of 30 minutes (each way) makes a difference - at least for my DD (like your DC). Not only in the mornings but also in terms of extra-curricular in the evening and/or homework.

We had questions as to whether DD would be swayed by the marketing efforts and/or activities but she emerged with clear views (and very cynical of what she called 'marketing ploys'!) so, overall, really happy that we went.