Calling SW London parents who know about schools for boys - indie or grammar (long)

[braketime]

Or indeed anybody with a view on secondary schools in SW London (we are in SW19) esp for oddballs. DS at prep school now in Yr4. Everyone says he is "obviously intelligent" but he has problems with application and social skills - great if you're talking to him, not so good if you need something written on paper. And he can be a bit odd in groups - not good at making friends but paradoxically is often in trouble for talking or doing something disruptive. Is a voracious reader who reads everything - fiction, history, science (apparently has a reading age of 16). Picks up maths concepts well but not an obvious math genius (and won't learn his times tables off by heart which would make a difference). Very good at reasoning/logic. Every teacher says, well, he could do well at this subject and he normally astounds at them at the beginning on how quickly he picks things up BUT he doesn't apply himself ....I suspect most of time it is because he is intrigued at the beginning but unless it is science/history/english/maths doesn't know what to do when it can't be done from intuition and requires practice and application (so non-core topics like music/art/French). And he is dreadfully dreamy and disorganised (loses work/clothes/sports gear/lunch boxes regularly and is found hiding in the locker room reading books when he should be in class). Not particularly sporty but doesn't mind sport.

While it seems early we are thinking about where to go next. Have learnt from following threads here that KGS is now only 11+ which we were thinking about as it is not too far down the road. But his prep school is in theory preparing them for 13+. Will I look a complete loon if I ask at this stage what they think he is capable of and where should he be aiming for? He may well be smart enough to get into KCS but he is not very diligent. He loves NVR and VR (weird boy) but at the moment would struggle with an extended essay. I'm a bit of a novice at all this and not sure what angle to explore next for my smart but dreamy, socially dysfunctional boy?

Colet Court? Similar to kings academic wise but know they take a wider spectrum of boys in terms of interests/personalities. Have friends with boys there who whilst lovely are positively geeky! Maybe a bit of a trek but sure they operate a coach system?

Have to say that Colet would be the last on my list for a dreamy boy.
It certainly isn't too early to ask school what sort of paths you should be considering - if do decide to do 11+ now is the start of thinking about which school.
If you are looking for somewhere less intense or flexible than KGS, perhaps Harrodian or Hampton Court?

How about Westminster?

As your DS is in year 4, he is 8 or 9? Would not make assumptions yet about how he will change in the next few years. He sounds prtetty similar to lots of 8 & 9 year olds I have encountered! Would not overthink it and pigeon hole him. We assumed our DS2 was not academic as he didn't willingly read a book till nearly the end of Year 5. We didn't insist, just let him be.
To our surprise, in Year 5 when he took 10+ for academic schools, just to calibrate for 11+ and because his brother had, he was offered places at all, and with very glowing accolades about his academic ability . And for the last year or so he has only stopped reading when forciblly compelled to . Very strange ,almost like a different boy.

Many thanks for replies. I know that in his currnet school his level of dreaminess and disorganisation is somewhat extreme so I'm guessing that will remain going into the future! I guess I'm slightly worried that we may rule out some options that might actually work well for DS by sticking to 13+ and given the different nature of the exams, will it play to his strengths I'll have a look at Hampton and Harrodian - I did have the impression that Westminster and Colet Court highly competitive.

Brake, have you spoken to his teachers or his current head? They should be best placed to know which of the local schools would suit him best (in theory!).

How about Ibstock Place. It has (I think) the advantage of being co-ed, and from what I hear a friendly school.

Check out its history so ypu are fully informed but what about St james's in Ashford. Everyone we know with boys there rate it.
another thought is latymer upper

KGS sounds like a good fit, but have you thought about the Hall school on the Downs? Their intake is also mainly 11+ but as they are non-selective they will take your son at 13 if there is space, and there often is when a handful of boys go off to boarding school.

If you think KCS won't suit him, then St Paul's and Westminster won't, and why travel all the way to West/Central London when you have schools in SW19 and Kingston?

I can guess the school he is in from your description, and whilst they prepare for 13+ they have some boys leaving to go to Tiffin at 11 so it isn't unusual to lose boys then.

Westendgirl, that link is interesting albeit a bit of a trek for us. Tailor-made for anxious parents!