In attempting to move dd from state to independent school at start of year 9

[Earthseasky]

For reasons I won't go into, I am in the unexpected position of having to consider moving my daughter from the (decent) comprehensive she attends currently to an independent school. Not something I ever thought I would do, but current school are not meeting her needs.

I have never looked into this or prepared for this type of school entry before. We are not in a grammar school area, so no experience of lengthy preparation for any type of entrance exam. An initial look at websites of the two nearest potential schools both mention an entrance test, with this being 11 plus for year 7 entry. I presume the year 9 entry would be a similar age appropriate exam, but no idea where I would find practice papers or how to prepare for this. Also, if I move her, I want it to be soon, and therefore don't have time for a long period of preparation. She is bright, but not genius level, and she was the year which did not sit SATS due to covid, so hardly any exam experience.

Has anyone done this and got any tips/ know what to expect? Am I being unrealistic? We are talking about the kind of independent schools where fairly normal, if affluent people send their kids (eg high earning NHS or other public sector workers), nothing extremely fancy.

Thanks in advance.

[crowdedout]

You might find they are full. Some schools still have year 9 entry though but otherwise you may well be after an unexpected avaliable place. Where i am the school will have a year 9 entry paper. They will want to speak to existing school.

[Testina]

Are you sure she doesn’t have exam experience? One of mine is the same age. She did mock Y6 SATS before Covid cancelled the real thing, and has done frequent tests in secondary ever since.

Presumably you don’t have that many options locally? So you would be best to call and ask. In my town, 2 of the privates will just take your money and give you a start date. 1 will ask to see secondary reports and then interview. The 4th has their own exam which I think is quite tough - but they’re very selective. They give an example paper if you ask, according to my friend!

[Earthseasky]

Thanks - hadn't really considered possibility of being full! We are kind of in pre-contemplation phase.

[Claireshh]

I’m in Kent and there is a bit of movement at Year 9 here in the independent sector. Some independents don’t take students until year 9 and some take additional pupils at year 9. At my child's school a friend recently went through this to join and it was most recent report, an interview and tests. End of year exam type of paper. No big prep before.

[AFS1]

Daughter has just started yr 9 in a private school, having moved from a state school. She had to take English and maths and they used the end-of-term papers from the year before. We did no preparation with her. The way I saw it, if she failed the exam it was because it wasn’t the right place for her to go. If we’d hothoused her for the exam and then she couldn’t keep up with the lessons, we weren’t helping her long-term.

You are very dependant on when there’s a place, though. We were ready to go by January but she only ended up starting this term.

[Testina]

Bugger pre-contemplation!
With under an hour of phoning round, you could have a list of 5 schools by noon tomorrow with knowledge of if they’re accepting Y9s, and what the entry process is!
Start your pre-contemplation after that 😉

Hope you find the right school for her!

[Earthseasky]

@Testina - yes, she has that kind of exam experience. But it's not the same as having been drilled for 11 plus, as there has been no need for her, or us, previously to do this.
There are no behavioural or social issues - she is a model pupil, I'm presuming this is also the kind of thing they check.

[Earthseasky]

@AFS1 yes, that's a good point about hothousing. Slightly worrying about the length of wait though.
@Testina - I am stressed and awake ruminating, if it was daytime I would probably be phoning!

[BadGranny]

Most schools will be happy to send you sample papers. Just contact the school office, and once you establish that they have places available, they will send you some sample papers. These will be the same format and standard as the papers that she will encounter for the entrance exams.

[Earthseasky]

Thanks @BadGranny, that sounds pretty straightforward!

[AFS1]

In fairness, we had a fixed view of what school we wanted her to go to, so we were prepared to wait until the start of this academic year. If you’re more flexible, there may be more space elsewhere. Friends of ours applied for a place at the same school but a year below and their son has moved in less than a half-term.

[SweetsAndChocolates]

@Earthseasky definitely contact school, as they usually send past papers.
Once you have an idea, you could take a look at some 13+ books (they are usually designed for entry into state grammar schools though-but might be good for brushing up knowledge).
I could be wrong, but science may also be included in the entrance exam unlike 11+.
Best of luck 🤞

[gingerteaandme]

Hi OP - where in the U.K. are you roughly?

Have a look in the school websites to get an idea of how competitive entry is. The GCSE results should give you a guide as to the intake (in terms of educational profile if students). Eg - if it's 95% 9-7, that's a super-selective and will be highly competitive and probably a long waiting list for occasional places. But something like 60% / 70% 9-7 would be for your average to above average and she should be fine without any exam prep.

Whst is it you want from the school? SEN expertise? Please do check as some independents are shocking at this. Small class sizes? Academics? Pastoral care? Don't assume anything as independent schools vary massively.,

Ring up tomorrow and see if anywhere even has places. Then, if any do, they will ask you in for a tour and chat and it will go from there.

[Onceuponatimethen]

Don’t assume private will do better- we are going back to state.

If she has any SN be VERY wary of independent schools.

[Earthseasky]

Thanks all - no SN
I want a school where she will be able, and allowed, to reach her potential - I don't feel this is happening at the current school, and I am unhappy about disruption in her classes (I know an independent school won't necessarily prevent this, but I doubt it would be to the degree I am concerned about currently). The smaller class sizes would also be an advantage.

[Earthseasky]

@gingerteaandme both I am looking at are 80% 9-7, so somewhere in between!

[Earthseasky]

We are in Yorkshire

[jeaux90]

Hey OP. Do your research first.

There are several where I live all very different and I picked one specifically for small class sizes/school, facilities and flexible boarding.

It was also all about individuals reaching potential etc so lovely pastoral support.

You may find one with boarding abilities has spaces pop up as families move for jobs etc.

My DD13 school is not overly expensive, normal professional working parents basically.

And don't stress about the entrance exam, it's not designed to prevent their entry necessarily, more to work out the level etc. (although it does depend on the reputation they are trying to position for themselves)

So find the ones you like, contact them, go visit, they usually do taster days too.

[gingerteaandme]

Hi OP, 80% 9-7 is very good the standard and pace would enable a bright child to reach their potential. That kind of school will require her to pass an entrance test. I don't know what it's like in Yorkshire, but in London, similar schools often have waiting lists. But definitely worth trying. If there are dodges they will talk you through the process. There will probably be an interview if she performs well enough in the entrance tests. Good luck with the enquiries!

[gingerteaandme]

dodges? - exams!

[SeasonFinale]

Many indies do have a year 9 intake. You may find sample entrance exams on their websites or as others have suggested ask.

You are looking at the right time. Many hold their entrance tests etc in January so get viewing and talking to admissions. We viewed without DS as there was no point taking him until we were happy with the schools. Then we viewed again with him when we were.

[Earthseasky]

Thanks - I am really hoping to move her as soon as possible, not sure from comments if there will be enough flexibility for this though.

[passport123]

You need to ring all the schools and find if they have an occasional place available. Likely they will all be full and then you go on the waiting list and they call you if someone leaves. Term started last week so there should be someone in the office, but you're a bit late in thinking about it for this academic year - they will usually know about occasional places in the summer term before the September and fill them then. More likely if you start looking now, your daughter can move in Sept 2023.

[GeorgeorRuth]

DS1 and DS2 transferred at year 8 and 9. DS2 from state school. They took English, maths , verbal and non verbal reasoning tests. No preparation as such. DS1 transferred from a prep that prepared for common entrance so was used to testing. DS2 had no preparation. Both had scholarship/ bursary combination to pay the fees ( nmw earners) .
Talk to the schools.

[ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat]

OP I work in an Indie. Y9 is a popular entry point as lots of preps (private primary) go up to Y8. Private schools are not a mysterious closed world, just call them. Ask to speak with someone in admissions and they'll be happy to tell you if they spaces, what's required and so on. It's also very common for people to come and go at mid points through the year as parents move for work or whatever. Ours will do a tour of the school any day you like so make sure you ask to see round. Depending on the school, the entrance test might be solely to assess which sets to put them in, not a barrier to entry. And please ignore the inevitable anti- private school stuff on here. Of course they are not all amazing or for everyone or always get "better" results academically but there's a huge amount more to it. Good luck.