Latymer Grammar - how clever do you have to be?

I looked at Latymer’s most recently published A’level results (2022-24) and out of 205 students in that Year 13 cohort 185 had studied maths vs only 35 for English Lit and so on - obviously STEM is popular generally at the moment but I see them very much becoming a ‘STEM school’. Plus there’s an increasing proportion of EAL students, which might impact both take-up and outcomes in the Humanities.

@runningpram I think that could be exactly it; I haven’t dug down into the stats in that forensic a way but from my knowledge of similar schools students do often ace the maths and other STEM subjects but their English Language/Lit/MFL can be much less secure - just not prioritised in the same way.

Latymer are clearly aware of this; when we recently went to the Open Day they made a point of saying that they won’t fast track pupils through maths GCSEs or offer intensive maths training ahead of other subjects (something that a lot of the parents of current candidates are pushing for).

I’d be inclined to agree with @Cloudyskyline; the DC I know who have got in have generally had fairly intensive tutoring from about Year 4, although some go earlier than that. One mum I know took a six-month sabbatical from work to get her son through the test (it paid off, thankfully!) As I said above, it is very slightly less frenzied than QEB etc but only very slightly!

I think there’s no harm in having a go though if you have a solid comp alternative that you’d be happy with and likely to get into, especially if your DD is strong in maths.

@runningpram given the numbers at play for Latymer, putting your best foot forward unfortunately means tutoring is almost necessary.

Of course some get in without it, but it’s a low probability outcome and I think you have to consider how you would feel looking back if you tried without tutoring and didn’t get a place?

How badly do you want her to go to Latymer?

We approached the 11+ in terms of trying to have no regrets. I think worst feeling to have in this is wishing you did something different - we have friends who didn’t do tutoring and didn’t get their target schools and they completely regretted it.

As PP said the maths paper is the first hurdle, so if you daughter is not up to speed there, it will be hard to get a place.

DD was one of the top in her class and had tutoring when she sat for Latymer last year. She didn’t make it through the first round.

I’m not saying this to put you off because we don’t regret going for it and you absolutely should if you think your child has a good shot and would thrive in that environment. But it is competitive. There were 2,400 applications for 192 places. The children who got in from DD’s school were tutored very intensively. We didn’t go that far, just a weekly tutor. It’s important to know what you’re up against and it’s also important to focus on the maths as the other papers aren’t even marked if your child isn’t in the top 700 after maths which is a bummer for those who are stronger in English, especially when around 50% of those 700 are out of catchment and only a handful move into catchment by the deadline.

I don’t think it’s about how clever a child is these days, it’s about how prepared for that particular exam. And children have good days and bad days, sometimes the papers click, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they get overwhelmed, sometimes they don’t. But 192 children have to get in so why not your child? It’s worth a shot. Go in with eyes wide open, give it a go and best of luck.

They score the maths paper first. If you don’t pass the maths paper they don’t bother marking the rest. So even if you are a genius otherwise, you’re out if maths isn't as good.

You don't have to be "some kind of genius" for HBS either :)

DS went to Latymer albeit a while ago, it wasn't a Mensa club but they do expect children to be motivated and independent learners.

Hello OP, I attended Latymer myself but a long time ago, so I won’t claim to have recent personal experience. However, based on friends’ DC and my own primary teaching experience I’d say it’s highly competitive but a bit less so than QEB, HB and also DAO now that’s become more sought after; I think Latymer’s ‘gritty’ location will always put off a certain proportion of potential candidates, and it’s a little more likely to be able to achieve a place without intensive tutoring than other super-selectives.

We live locally but will be moving out of London to avoid the 11+ tutoring frenzy - DD is also 8 and academic but I don’t want to put her through the process and we don’t have a non-selective ‘Plan B’ that we’d be happy with.

I’d also bear in mind that in recent years Latymer has become very STEM-focused, so there is also that factor to consider- part of the reason we have decided to move is that we are looking for something slightly more balanced and holistic.

Finally, just to add that I’ve had a quick check of the most recent Times Parent Power league table and according to that Latymer achieved 84.1% of entries at grades 7-9 this year.

Top 10% and tutoring you should be fine / it's worth applying.

Remember it also depends on the day - some kids can "perform" others choke....

The two children from my school who got in last year were naturally both very bright. One was tutored, the other wasn't.