SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2026

It seemed to go well I think- lots of happy children coming out. My son found it fine but that’s not always an indication of a successful performance. One more exam done now :)

How was Emanuel for everyone today? Hope it was a positive experience for all!

How was today's Emanuel exam please ?

I know how you feel. Just dropped DD off at her first exam and feel horribly conflicted about it all... But we're in it now and it will be over soon for better or worse!

Our DC also pretty done with it all. And I've seen a few worrying signs of the level of anxiety they feel about it all, despite our efforts to keep stress level down - feeling quite guilty even though it didn't feel like we had reasonable alternative options. We'll mostly be done after next week now and can't wait.

WHS changes things a bit from one year to another but key themes are intellectual curiosity and working together, They throw some creative writing and (sometimes) puzzle-solving into it. It usually lasts 2-3 hours and the girls usually enjoy it. Interestingly, and reassuringly, there is not such a thing as a "type" coming out of it (rest assured that not only "alphas" go through)

Thank you! That’s very helpful.

@Seasaltlady I was told last year’s exam had 14 questions which were multi step with parts a, b, c. Then there was a short creative writing task. We have been using Exam Papers Plus Problem Solving pack to practice but my daughter also did a Problem Solving course in Yr 5 with her Maths tutor

@Dontknowmuchanymore Last year WHS had group activities, there was one where they were given some objects to identify and had to write about the item the group chose. There was also a creative writing task

Also doing LEH and glad to see the end in sight! Do you have any recommendations on what we should cover in advance? This is the only test that I literally have no idea on the format etc so it’s a little daunting! Any advice would be very gratefully received :)

Absolutely fine to have a bag and a coat etc- just make sure it’s easily identifiable amongst the sea of black coats and bags.

Good luck all- been through it twice- all works out in the end. Everyone says the 11plus process is the worse- I disagree- the A level results/ University thing is much worse!

Second stage is an interactive exercise - not one to prep, really. The girls are placed in small groups and given a "fun task" to work with through together. At some point, the girls may be individually asked to do some creative writing and problem solving.
Most girls really enjoy it!

PS good luck! It is a great school (feel free to PM me if you have any question). We went through the process 3 years ago and definitely do not regret having chosen WHS

Thanks to all earlier posters for your kind responses! At the risk of sounding like the most neurotic parent on here (I promise I'm not usually a worrier), does anyone know whether most the these schools have somewhere to leave coats and bags and will mind if she brings a book? Or should I just be sending DD clutching a clear pencil case and a water bottle?

We’ve reached saturation point so not doing too much. We also heard re WH yesterday which is a relief as a small step forward. Any idea what will be included?

We heard back today re our first exam with Wimbledon High, so maybe around a week and half after each exam? We also did LEH. How is your DD feeling for the Problem Solving on Sun?

Will most second round, interview emails come in December? Wondering for Putney/LEH. The websites say before Christmas! Don’t think my nerves can wait that long!

@Seasaltlady @todayortomorrow @carbonelthecat @tennissquare @SWLmama thank you for your feedback ! much appreciated

Our private prep has not lost any DCs to state however there have been a few new joiners from state schools in years 4/5. Mostly from parents who had just gone through the 11+ with an older sibling (in state school) and realising that their children needed a huge amount of extra coaching they were not prepared to go through again.

At our school, quite a few left in y4/5 to go to either all through private schools or at the 10+. Far fewer of those that remain are going to go private at 11+ than even last year. So it's 2 things: much more 9/10+ entry & less people going private in total

@Offtheygo I think we are the only private applicants in our 2 form SE London state primary this year - I haven't heard of anyone else.

I have heard anecdotally from a friend in the sector that registration numbers are holding, but state primary applications are down. I'm hoping this might mean DD has a better chance at getting in as one part of this process has been me discovering some rather worrying gaps in Maths and English as well - our school stopped giving maths and English homework other than spellings and the tedious TT Rockstars during the pandemic and never went back, and according to her parents' evening reports she was doing really well, so its been a bit of a surprise. I think they've been concentrating on bringing the whole class up after Covid as DD1 went to same school much further along at this stage.

In central London the registration numbers are holding up because of the move by private prep London parents discounting boarding schools due to cost (£60k) and considering day schools only (£30k). The pinch is being felt by the second tier boarding schools etc.

@Offtheygo there have been less children going private from state primaries in my area since the intro to VAT. People thought they'd save up in a state primary to go to private in secondary, any many realised it's still not viable financially.
On the other hand, private school children just went private - a little increase in popularity for grammar schools for tighter households, but many of DD's school parents just didn't consider going state at all.

a question for all: have your state schools been sending the same number of children to private schools over the last few years ? ours has been sending less and I am wondering if it is a general trend or a more local situation
thanks

It was the same for us coming from a state primary (and DD came out of the exam enquiring about what ratios were which did not give me much confidence) and it was fine. Fingers crossed it will be the same for you.

I think it’s totally natural as a parent who loves your child and wants the best for them to be wanting to do as much as possible to help them succeed. The whole process feels such a leap into the unknown that it makes it hard to be as calm and rational as you’d always want to be!

I think it’s probably a good sign that our kids are showing us that they’re tired and a bit fed up - sure we all feel that way also! Hopefully you’ve got some reassurance that we’re all in the same place, and things will work out ok. Certainly in our home it feels like lots of time connecting/relaxing and reassuring is the best thing we can do now, as tempting as it is to try and do some last minute cramming!

Thank you all - we're coming out of a state school that puts almost no one through this process (and, as it turned out, hadn't really taught her much maths), so rather less confident that we have actually prepared her well - I'd have got her to do exam practice earlier if I'd realised we would hit a wall! But I of course agree that they need to be rested and happy - insofar as that is possible in amongst the utter madness of putting 10 year olds through this!