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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:
Original poster
firsttrax · 12/12/2025 18:13

Hampton 11+ interview emails are coming out. V pleased for our DS, I hope all those here get good news too!

OP posts:
Burabura · 12/12/2025 11:46

ABCFulham · 12/12/2025 11:32

SPGS stage 2 invites coming out now, much luck to all that are waiting to hear :)

Our (positive) email came through at 11. What a nerve wracking process. Good luck all.

Dontknowmuchanymore · 12/12/2025 11:46

Yes, we were a no for SPGS but massive long shot for us!

ABCFulham · 12/12/2025 11:32

SPGS stage 2 invites coming out now, much luck to all that are waiting to hear :)

MunchkinJ · 11/12/2025 17:39

HanSB · 10/12/2025 18:27

Is anyone doing both GHS and WHS on the 9th? It seems a bit of a rush to get from GHS to WHS, the train timings don't really work so will need to drive - and feed her lunch in the car!

Not the same schools, but we have the same problem on 3 (consecutive) days in Jan! I think a lot of the schools are trying to shoehorn interview dates in on the INSET days. Makes sense for the schools, but a bit painful from this side of it! At last its straight after the hols, so the kids will be more rested.

spiritblackeye · 11/12/2025 17:16

We got the email yesterday from St Pauls Boys 11+. DS is through to the 2nd stage.

SamPoodle123 · 11/12/2025 12:16

W4mamabear · 11/12/2025 10:02

A yes for DD from PHS also! :)

On Athena assessment, would be great to know what came up last year but two years ago they worked in groups to design their ideal city and then presented their ideas

It seems they use a similar formula the last few years. When dd did it they had some group work that sounded similar and then they had to create a plan for a festival of their choice.

ABCFulham · 11/12/2025 10:27

CLSG emails also coming through... good luck to those waiting to hear :)

ABCFulham · 11/12/2025 10:24

Likewise, happy and proud of DD! Early January shaping up to be an intense period for dcs 😪

W4mamabear · 11/12/2025 10:02

A yes for DD from PHS also! :)

On Athena assessment, would be great to know what came up last year but two years ago they worked in groups to design their ideal city and then presented their ideas

Dontknowmuchanymore · 11/12/2025 09:54

We’ve had the PHS email too! Yes, any pointers on the Athena assessment would be great.

Seasaltlady · 11/12/2025 09:52

Putney emails are out! Fortunately good news for my DD and hopefully for others who are waiting to hear. Any advice on what to expect for the Athena creative task would be greatly appreciated! :)

Sparklinggreen · 10/12/2025 23:25

W4mamabear · 10/12/2025 15:57

Yes please, that would be super helpful! Thank you!

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Sure, have sent you a pm.

HanSB · 10/12/2025 18:27

Is anyone doing both GHS and WHS on the 9th? It seems a bit of a rush to get from GHS to WHS, the train timings don't really work so will need to drive - and feed her lunch in the car!

W4mamabear · 10/12/2025 15:57

Sparklinggreen · 10/12/2025 15:18

Our maths tutor who knows the Latymer Upper interview process really well did some Latymer Upper specific interview sessions with my child after we got the invite. It was extremely helpful as we had no idea what was involved and it helped a lot. Happy to share his details please PM me x

Yes please, that would be super helpful! Thank you!

Sparklinggreen · 10/12/2025 15:18

Our maths tutor who knows the Latymer Upper interview process really well did some Latymer Upper specific interview sessions with my child after we got the invite. It was extremely helpful as we had no idea what was involved and it helped a lot. Happy to share his details please PM me x

SamPoodle123 · 10/12/2025 13:46

W4mamabear · 10/12/2025 11:54

I was thinking the same and am hoping for my DD to have an interview at both places

@SamPoodle123 did your DD who goes to G&L also apply to LU? Would be very helpful to have some insights on the LU interview please!

We did not apply to Latymer for my dd, as we decided to do the 11+ last minute for her. For some reason at the time I thought LU would not be a good fit (without even seeing the school!). I felt a bit rushed on deciding which schools to apply for and figuring out a good fit (w no help from her state school). It worked out well for her though, as she is happy at G&L.

My ds, who is younger goes to Latymer and is happy there. The interview was a bit more challenging I think then the others, mainly because he felt less at ease. He was used to the very friendly teachers at the other schools, and he said the one he got at LU did not smile etc. He enjoyed the group sessions though.

SamPoodle123 · 10/12/2025 13:38

ABCFulham · 10/12/2025 11:14

Such useful info - thanks so much @SamPoodle123! Congrats on the terrific achievements of your dcs, you must be so proud!

I suppose logistically speaking, given the significantly shorter interview times, G&L have the capacity to interview significantly more than Latymer... wonder how they approach it...

I am not sure if they interview more given the shorter time slots. Probably not. You could try asking how many got through to interview round this year for G&L and compare?

W4mamabear · 10/12/2025 11:54

I was thinking the same and am hoping for my DD to have an interview at both places

@SamPoodle123 did your DD who goes to G&L also apply to LU? Would be very helpful to have some insights on the LU interview please!

ABCFulham · 10/12/2025 11:14

Such useful info - thanks so much @SamPoodle123! Congrats on the terrific achievements of your dcs, you must be so proud!

I suppose logistically speaking, given the significantly shorter interview times, G&L have the capacity to interview significantly more than Latymer... wonder how they approach it...

SamPoodle123 · 10/12/2025 10:45

ABCFulham · 10/12/2025 10:24

Fascinating (and confusing) how different the approaches are for the schools - Latymer next stage is 2-3 hours whilst G&L is 15 min interview?

Yea, I found this interesting...how are they supposed to know if the dc would thrive at the school in as little as 15 minutes? I suspect though with the majority of the more academic schools they already know via the test scores and the interview stage is probably more of confirmation or for borderline cases. It would be very interesting to know exactly how much weight the interview has on offers. I do have to say that G&L must know what they are doing with those 15 minutes....my dd goes there and is very happy. And DS goes to Latymer...he is very happy too. I think a big part of the interview is to get an idea of the dc would thrive at the school and be happy. They always ask questions to get an understanding if the dc will get involved in school and interested in what they have to offer.

ABCFulham · 10/12/2025 10:24

Fascinating (and confusing) how different the approaches are for the schools - Latymer next stage is 2-3 hours whilst G&L is 15 min interview?

SamPoodle123 · 09/12/2025 19:06

MunchkinJ · 09/12/2025 18:34

Do you know if they interviewed the same number last year (they’re saying 450 this year).

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Yes, they said 450 last year as well.

MunchkinJ · 09/12/2025 18:34

SamPoodle123 · 09/12/2025 17:51

It was just over 1,350 last year. But I guess it's normal to fluctuate from year to year and birth rate goes down, plus VAT.

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Do you know if they interviewed the same number last year (they’re saying 450 this year).

SamPoodle123 · 09/12/2025 17:51

sevilleseville · 09/12/2025 15:03

Just looked at the email when my DC sat it 6 years ago! Was 1300 then so that sounds about the right ballpark given VAT and no GCSEs!

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It was just over 1,350 last year. But I guess it's normal to fluctuate from year to year and birth rate goes down, plus VAT.