Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2026

642 replies

firsttrax · 15/02/2025 06:31

Setting up this thread for those of us with DC joining year 7 SW London schools in 2026.

We’re planning to apply to KCS, Hampton, Epsom and Reed’s.

Have been living in Dubai for three years, returning in August for year 6 at DS’ old prep school.

DS has an online tutor focussing on exam technique and any gaps in the curriculum, plus Atom. Current school is great but definitely not preparing him for 11+!

OP posts:
ThatNoisyZebra · 13/01/2026 09:45

Do you have any information on the King's conversion rates and the ratio of spots to interviews? Thanks

ThatNoisyZebra · 13/01/2026 09:34

My DS felt the same; 80 questions were a lot to get through, and he had to throw a few guesses at the last handful. The other parts were ok, he said.

todayortomorrow · 13/01/2026 09:16

What did everyone think of the Alleyns exams on Friday? My son was surprised how many reasoning questions there were - maybe 80 in 50 minutes. I'm assuming Alleyns interviews 300 at most and there were a lot of kids there!

Nushi21 · 13/01/2026 09:06

MunchkinJ · 13/01/2026 08:58

Congrats on the Emanuel interview! Sorry to hear about Kings and Tiffins - they are both very tough.

Show quote history

Yes. My ds is gutted with the Kings result but they only had a few spaces and I know a lot off people that didn’t get to the interview stage.

MunchkinJ · 13/01/2026 08:58

Nushi21 · 13/01/2026 08:49

We have been invited for Emanuel interview. Rejected from Kings and Tiffin. Waiting to hear from Ibstock.

Show quote history

Congrats on the Emanuel interview! Sorry to hear about Kings and Tiffins - they are both very tough.

Nushi21 · 13/01/2026 08:49

MunchkinJ · 09/01/2026 13:05

We have our Emanuel email now! Good luck to everyone for all the emails expected today! 🍀

We have been invited for Emanuel interview. Rejected from Kings and Tiffin. Waiting to hear from Ibstock.

Minitomato · 13/01/2026 08:48

Is sps second round result different timing to spgs?

OneCalmVs2D · 13/01/2026 08:46

Anyone waiting for Spgs ?

ThatNoisyZebra · 12/01/2026 17:10

Does anyone have information on the KCS conversion rates from interview invites to offers?

Nushi21 · 12/01/2026 15:38

Csummer · 12/01/2026 13:25

Anyone has news on Kings interview?

We didn’t get through for kings 13+

Nushi21 · 12/01/2026 13:25

Csummer · 12/01/2026 13:25

Anyone has news on Kings interview?

Waiting impatiently

Csummer · 12/01/2026 13:25

Anyone has news on Kings interview?

thejollypostwoman1 · 12/01/2026 12:37

Lolakath19 · 12/01/2026 11:33

In response to question on conversion rate from interview to offer etc. I think the number of offers might be lower this year. I understand they had a very large Cohort start in sept 2025 (one additional class) as a lot of girls/ parents chose G&L over other schools. So they will probably be prudent not to over offer.

Edited

Really interesting thank you!

Momsywinkles · 12/01/2026 11:35

Hello, similarly would be good to understand the scholarship interview process at Hampton. Anybody got any recent experience?

Lolakath19 · 12/01/2026 11:33

In response to question on conversion rate from interview to offer etc. I think the number of offers might be lower this year. I understand they had a very large Cohort start in sept 2025 (one additional class) as a lot of girls/ parents chose G&L over other schools. So they will probably be prudent not to over offer.

W4mamabear · 12/01/2026 09:29

From previous years, they usually have a classroom type session where the teacher talks about the task/teaches them a little about the topic and then they discuss in pairs making their own notes for 30 minutes I believe to work on their ideas. The ideas/concept is shared with a teacher separately in a one-to-one chat and not with your partner.

Seasaltlady · 12/01/2026 08:24

CouldDowithSunshine · 10/01/2026 08:47

Anyone on here scheduled to do the Athena Assessment at PHS? Feel totally in the dark as previous years’ feeds have indicated different formats for the group activity: design a theme park/city, discuss and then present your ideas individually…

Imagine interview but will be fairly standard…

Any tips at all would be helpful!

Also keen to understand more on how the Athena presentation will work. Will they need to work individually or as a group but present individually etc? :)

MunchkinJ · 11/01/2026 09:59

Does anyone have any insight into what the parents interviews with the heads cover for Whitgift and Trinity?

CouldDowithSunshine · 10/01/2026 08:47

Anyone on here scheduled to do the Athena Assessment at PHS? Feel totally in the dark as previous years’ feeds have indicated different formats for the group activity: design a theme park/city, discuss and then present your ideas individually…

Imagine interview but will be fairly standard…

Any tips at all would be helpful!

W4mamabear · 09/01/2026 23:12

another scruffy state school child here. We’ll just have to make a neat hair style and hope for the best! It’s straight to school after and she doesn’t own any very smart clothes anyway at home so probably better than her usual hoodies and leggings!

Youaremyfavourite · 09/01/2026 20:21

Good news fromG&L for my DD - but I am surprised by how early her interview is. Has anyone else’s daughter been invited for interview before 8:30am?? My DD will definitely be in her scruffy state school uniform so that she can go straight on to school!

sevilleseville · 09/01/2026 20:03

Somewhereinlondon81 · 09/01/2026 19:36

Silly question: when somewhere like G&L says "school uniform is not required", do you take that to mean they shouldn't wear it? LU said something similar so I dragged DD home to change, but our G&L interview is first thing and she'll definitely be dropped off at school immediately afterwards! Our state school uniform is informal and scruffy, as is DD in any of her natural guises... (Loved FHRP for just telling her to wear school uniform TBH. Just want a clear steer!)

Mine went in uniform for exams and interviews if it was a school day and they were going to be in at some point. If it was the weekend or holidays they didn’t! They had scruffy state primary uniforms as well. There was always a real mixture as some local preps told their pupils to always wear uniform.
Knowing a bit about admissions it won’t make the slightest difference what they wear. Some will be in tracksuit bottom and some will be in 3 piece suits! (There will also be a lot of sports team kit- Surrey hockey under 11s etc that the child just happens to be wearing!)

Somewhereinlondon81 · 09/01/2026 19:36

Silly question: when somewhere like G&L says "school uniform is not required", do you take that to mean they shouldn't wear it? LU said something similar so I dragged DD home to change, but our G&L interview is first thing and she'll definitely be dropped off at school immediately afterwards! Our state school uniform is informal and scruffy, as is DD in any of her natural guises... (Loved FHRP for just telling her to wear school uniform TBH. Just want a clear steer!)

SamPoodle123 · 09/01/2026 18:57

Blinkofaneye2 · 09/01/2026 14:06

There's really no preparation to be done for a G&L interview. For the past few years, it's been a very short (sub 10 mins) interview with one or two teachers - tiny bit of chat about hobbies and then they're shown pictures and asked to talk about them. No right or wrong answers - just a way to see how students think. There's also been a group activity, equally short, that barely seems to be observed by teachers so it's unclear how big a role that plays (if any). There's been much chat on MN boards over the years as to why G&L invite so many candidates back for interview when they must select primarily on the Consortium test score given how short the interview is - and speculation that it's just a way to red flag any problem candidates. Best thing students can do in all interviews is try to relax and be themselves.

Show quote history

Yes, this is spot on. I felt like it must have already been decided before the interview. When my dd it they only had the 10 mins one to one and no group activity. They did the usual picture sorting then too.

What we did to prepare was just have chats with DD on what her hobbies are, current favourite book etc. Basically just spoke with her ahead of time about general questions so she would have thought about it before and not go blank with nerves. But we did it very relaxed like general conversations when we were walking around or in the car, not like sitting and grilling her.

ABCFulham · 09/01/2026 18:18

Good news for DD! Congrats to all with positive news and sorry for those with bad news.