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Original poster

Wimbledon High School admissions

59 replies

CarshaltonMum · 10/10/2026 08:22

DD is in year 6 and we are considering secondary options. Our plan A is the grammar schools (Wallington or Nonsuch). She sat stage 2 but we don't know yet if she has passed and, even if she passes, will have to wait until offer day to see if she gets a place.

We have come very late to the world of private schools as an alternative route. Where we live, Sutton High is an obvious option and I'm pretty sure DD would get a place there. I recently visited Wimbledon High and absolutely loved it. For me, I liked that it was more highly selective than Sutton, as I feel that would suit DD.

I am know wondering about admissions. I know WHS has high competition for places. We have prepped DD in Maths and English, but not Verbal and NV reasoning. The school suggests doing 6-8 practice papers, which I'll happily do, but I suspect others targeting the independents will have worked on this for months. So far we have tried 2 NV free papers (NV likely to be harder than V for DD). She was quite good at them but pretty slow. I am trying to decide how much we push it. She worked hard for the SET and it feels mean to hugely slog again when she thought she was finished, but on the other hand it could be well worth it.

I know the 2nd round is a creative/problem solving group task. DD would likely thrive at this, if she gets there!

Also any general views in the school welcome!

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Original poster
CarshaltonMum · 12/10/2026 15:17

Sunbringer · 12/10/2026 08:13

I hope there is a non-selective on your list OP? It sounds like DD will be put through test after test and I can’t imagine how she’d feel if she didn’t pass any of them…

Yes, there are 3 non-selectives on my state school application. DD has visited those and we have talked positively about them to her. 2 of these will be where most of her classmates go. She would be fine at these, and they are still an option.

20/30 kids in her class sat the SET. 6 passed and sat stage 2. She knows she has done brilliantly already.

She will sit the Sutton High test. They take girls who score 'above average'. I have no doubt DD will pass this, considering she is consistently 10% at school.

She will sit WHS. We have told her that she probably won't get a place as we didn't prep much for this, but give it a go and enjoy the process.

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Original poster
CarshaltonMum · 12/10/2026 15:23

karmi2010 · 12/10/2026 11:25

we are in a very similar position - DD took 2nd stage for Nonsuch and Wally Girls and we are considering which other 4 options to put in the form and in what order. Currently have Glenthorne High, Graveney School (in Tooting but fairly easy commute by 127 bus) and St Philomena on the list not sure what others to consider - definitely not Carshalton Girls (really disliked it on the open day and heard lots of bad reviews as well), so probably will include Greenshaw as a back up (although did not like it on the open day either, and don't like the fact that they don't have sets for maths and other subjects).
Still considering if we should try independent schools - I can only just afford the fees, and am a single mum with no help from anyone, so it would be a constant stress for me what would happen if I lose my job...

This is my issue with Greenshaw and Car Girls. DD has often said since year 1 that the work is too easy and she gets bored. I know they can differentiate, but I'd love her to be really challenged in class. Do St Phils set them more?

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Original poster
CarshaltonMum · 12/10/2026 15:28

Breeze67 · 12/10/2026 09:25

I think 'test after test' is not a bad thing and parents should encourage kids to try rather than not try if the child has academic calibre. If she "didn't pass any of them," then I guess she would land at a local state comprehensive, just like many of her classmates. Based on the fact that OP would not let her DD skip a club session to visit Sutton High (which practically serves as a backup), I reckon she is not deadly serious about the private route. Still, having more options is always better.

Show quote history

Yes DD is happy enough to sit the tests and have a nose at the schools in the process! I actually think 'failing' something would be no bad thing and help her build resilience. She breezes through at school.

I'm not particularly committed to the private route. It's a heck of a lot of money when our state schools are good. But we can afford it, and decided late in the game to investigate a few other options and then see what works best. The state 11+ is still option A, hence our decision not to take DD to an open day 36 hours before the test.

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Deanofvenice · 12/10/2026 18:57

You sound like very sensible and level headed parents. I am sure your daughter will do very well and I really wouldn't worry about the Wimbledon high tests. She is clearly bright, if they are a challenge - great, it is good for bright kids to be stretched and as you say failure is also a good learning experience. If she copes well (which I suspect she will) you will have one more option to choose from. Different children react differently to testing, I have one who enjoyed sitting the exams, looking round the schools etc and wouldn't have minded doing another one at all and another child who needs as little pressure as possible. Good luck to your dd, I hope she is very happy wherever she ends up.

Original poster
CarshaltonMum · 12/10/2026 19:10

Deanofvenice · 12/10/2026 18:57

You sound like very sensible and level headed parents. I am sure your daughter will do very well and I really wouldn't worry about the Wimbledon high tests. She is clearly bright, if they are a challenge - great, it is good for bright kids to be stretched and as you say failure is also a good learning experience. If she copes well (which I suspect she will) you will have one more option to choose from. Different children react differently to testing, I have one who enjoyed sitting the exams, looking round the schools etc and wouldn't have minded doing another one at all and another child who needs as little pressure as possible. Good luck to your dd, I hope she is very happy wherever she ends up.

I really like how you have summed things up here, thank you. DD is definitely happy to give the tests a go. In fact she is mildly annoyed with me I didn't let her come to the Sutton High open day (because it was just before the state stage 2) so I promised her she would get a tour of the school on the test day! To her it's basically some time off school and a bit of a day out. (I promise we do have actual fun days out too!)

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Breeze67 · 12/10/2026 19:38

Yes, I think 11 plus preparation can actually be quite fun in its own way. Having my DD at an all-through school, I do wonder how those girls whose parents decide to keep away from the 11+ feel when they see some of their classmates busy preparing and skip classes for exams while they just carry on as normal like nothing is happening. Does it feel a bit boring or left out for them?

karmi2010 · 15/10/2026 19:14

CarshaltonMum · 12/10/2026 15:23

This is my issue with Greenshaw and Car Girls. DD has often said since year 1 that the work is too easy and she gets bored. I know they can differentiate, but I'd love her to be really challenged in class. Do St Phils set them more?

Show quote history

Someone previously told m they do set them, but a friend with a daughter in year 7 at St Phils said they are in tutor groups for all subjects at the moment, so maybe they set them later?

MysticCatLady · 15/10/2026 21:53

My DD was similar in that she was targeting grammars and hadn't had much exposure to VR/NVR. She also came from a state primary. It didn't seem to make much difference though and she happily got into WHS, we chose it over her Tiffin offer. The school were great with her neurodiversities and she has just started university. If your daughter is happy to do so, I would just sign her up for Atom and get her practicing the reasoning for the next few weeks. She'll be fine.

Original poster
CarshaltonMum · 16/10/2026 08:00

MysticCatLady · 15/10/2026 21:53

My DD was similar in that she was targeting grammars and hadn't had much exposure to VR/NVR. She also came from a state primary. It didn't seem to make much difference though and she happily got into WHS, we chose it over her Tiffin offer. The school were great with her neurodiversities and she has just started university. If your daughter is happy to do so, I would just sign her up for Atom and get her practicing the reasoning for the next few weeks. She'll be fine.

Edited

Thank you, this is really reassuring! She has passed stage 2 for Sutton grammars, but I'd still like her to have a good shot at WHS. She has done some workbook prep and then was planning a month of Atom.

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