11+ questions? Should we go ahead?

I agree with PP - 11+ is a huge undertaking. You will always hear stories of “my child did no tutoring or prep beyond a couple of past papers and they got into an ultra selective indie/grammar.” But this is very much the exception, most are tutored and some within an inch of their lives.

So I wouldn’t even consider it unless you and your daughter are happy to put in the work.

You could take the view you have nothing to lose as you’re happy with where you are. However inevitably there will be a level of emotional investment in the shiny fancy alternative, and it could be a hard and unnecessary blow for your DD
to be rejected by it.

Does her current school achieve some 8-9s in all subjects every year?

Will many of her friends leave if they get a place at the bigger, fancier schools?

Are you very confident that her current small independent school will still be viable in 5-9 years?

For us it was about giving my very academic dd the best chance to thrive in a grammar with likeminded other girls. She utterly loves it (year 11) and her predicted grades are all 7’s and 8’s. The 11+ was stressful but I didn’t want her in a comp because she is like Saffy from Ab Fab and she needs her dork tribe (her words). I am thrilled with the outcome and she thinks her school is like Hogwarts.

dd2 quit half way through her tutoring and wanted to go to the local comp with her friends. She does well (year 8) and she’s happy enough but it’s not what I wanted for her. The 11+ is a huge undertaking you have to be sure that the child wants it enough to put the work in or it’s not fair in them.

Nothing you've said indicates you or dd want to move.

Don't move a happy child.