Views needed on private senior schools in South/South East

[Labro]

Hi,
Could use some help.
Looking for independent senior school for my ds for 13+ entry in September 2015.
Will consider most of South/South East
Generous bursary/scholarship package needed
Day school (don't mind boys or co-ed)
No saturday school
Strengths - science, english, art, music (plays 2 instruments currently grade 2) design & technology, history, geography and re, slightly weaker maths but still above average
Doesn't like rugby, plays reasonable football, strong at hockey.

Just been browsing Ewell Castles website - any personal views on their senior school?

think op means Royal Grammar Guildford which apparently do a deferred entry exam , Reigate Grammar are also moving towards that for Sept 2016 entry until then it is 13+ exam taken end Oct Year 8 .

What about Lewes old Grammar. Friend of DS ,s went there after 2 years prep year7+8 following state primary. Didn't make Brighton.

RGS (Guildford ) do the 11+ and 13+ pretest in the January of Yr 6 - ds is now yr 7 mummytime

Some schools have 12+ exams but the only two I know of are City of London Freeman's School (Ashtead) and Whitgift (South Croydon) - I would imagine they don't have many places available though. I don't think you should dismiss a rugby playing school as this may limit your choices considerably. If your son is an 'all-rounder' academically then perhaps you should look at schools that offer the IB as they should be looking for more than just the typical mathematician.

I've known Ardingly and Worth take at 12+

Thanks everybody. We don't need 12+
Thinking of looking at Hurst and Duke of Kent.

"if you have an income of c.£30k + and/or any assets (and I mean ANY) you are are unlikely to get anything"
This is utter rubbish. We have both an income way in excess of £30k and some assets.
I would be the first to admit bursaries are getting increasingly difficult to get but there is no hard and fast rule.
OP frankly I'm confused scoring 80% + now yr 7 in CE is pretty impressive many of my DS's friends who went on to get scholarships into big names e.g. Harrow etc were doing this consistantly in yr 7. There are different levels of CE for maths Latin and I think MFL's and maybe others the first thing I would want to fund out is what level is he doing? How accurate is the marking? We were told my DS was getting very high marks in one subject but when he once accidentally brought home an old exam paper we found significant errors in the marking. Are all his class getting these marks?
You list schools your prep school feeds into but no super selectives SPS etc who would require 70% + at level 3 CE it makes me wonder if they really know what they are talking about, do they really understand the entry requirements? Just how bright you have to be these days to get into these places! I don't know RGS at all buts only what their website say but it's obviously very selective but you say they don't send children there. I looked at Reeds website definitely not a super selective but he still failed the pre test something somewhere is not right.
The only thing is I was talking to a friend only yesterday her DS is also sitting pre tests. She was saying for boys who want day schools in her area a famous city, the are three options: school A a well known super selective often mentioned on here, those who don't get in then try for school B another well known almost super selective also often mentioned on here both ridiculously over subscribed if you fail to get into both of these then they turn to school C. On its website not really very selective at all but now so many applicants are bright and having narrowly missed places at the other two so now when they pre test rather than take the average above average who historically they used to take with one eye on the league tables they too are selecting the bright ones. My friends DS a lovely boy but definitely in the average/just above average group she doubts he'll get into any of these three and go to the local well regarded state school instead three - four years ago he would have been welcomed at school c with open arms. Why? I suspect many wealthy parents who traditionally sent their DC's to boarding schools (we've at least six big names within sensible driving distance three are pretty selective at the very least) with fees at £34k day schools are just financially more doable and also many top very selective boarding schools are increasingly choosing the super bright from abroad so there finding it harder to get a place.
If you need financial support I think realistically your going to have to go for a scholarship with a bursary. I personally doubt schools like Hurst ( in fact I know they don't as a friend tried) Ardingly (ditto) will give you a substantial stand alone bursary; they are not in that financial league. You need to aim for a school that's not overly selective where your DS who if he really is as able as his CE marks suggest stands a very strong chance.

Duke of Kent might be a good choice on terms of places available- they have only relatively recently gone from prep to through school to 16 (so you still have to worry about 6th form!) so they are AFAIK keen to get bums on seats as it were. However because of the recent change it is largely untested on the academic side and I know from local gossip it is seen as the school of choice for the less academic. It is in a gorgeous setting though and was always well thought of as a prep school.

middle As I was reading your post I was hoping you would weave round to persuading the OP to try some slightly less selective boarding schools. Although I have no idea if any would still be selecting for 2015, she might find them more able to consider a decent stand-alone bursary.

I also was surprised that the prep school put 4 boys in for a school and didn't get any of them in.... OP I wasn't clear whether RGS is one of the schools they regularly send to or whether they just decided to take a punt on it this year.... You did say your Ds was in unfamiliar territory with the pre-test. Are you sure the school has been doing its job?

Sthing, no, they don't routinely send to RGS as most of their intake is Sussex rather than Surrey based.
Boarding isn't an option. Ex husband being very difficult as it is (won't sign forms etc) so I don't want to end up embroiled in a court case!
Lots of questions for head teacher!

Well I hope s/he surprises you by being completely on top of things and ready with a plan.

It is a pity that your son didn't sit for more schools in Year 6 (RGS only?)
pre-test or otherwise - perfectly understandable on your part as you had only recently secured the bursary for the prep school. However, the prep school could have been more helpful knowing your circumstances. I know nothing about Hurst or Duke of Kent but I've just looked at their accounts and charity framework on the Charity Commission website - Hurst is very transparent (bursaries attached to scholarships)+ how many pupils receiving assistance) and Duke of Kent clear as mud apart from an RAF connection. Don't give up though - good luck!

I went to Eastbourne College, it has great facilities and is a decent school - however, as others have said, your DS will have to achieve outstandingly to get a scholarship worth anything.

The main academic scholar in my year got the highest a level maths score in the country. He studied maths and physics as an exhibitioner at cambridge. He now works for nasa

Only an exhibition? He was lucky to get a job at all....

Labro...did you get any feedback as to why he failed the two pre-tests?

If it was the maths since you said that was weaker...then is that something you could remedy by private tuition...? I imagine as places like RGS (Guildford?) must get a lot of strong maths types who may well score close to the very high 90s or 100% in the maths part of the pre-test. Harder to get that kind of % in the English part of the exam and i think they do take the average so you can see how the overall test may favour the brilliant maths kids by upping the average.

I agree 80% predicted CE would be scholarship stream but of course many senior schools set their own scholarship papers.

Thanks again everybody. He is scholarship stream. Will ask Reeds to feed back to his school.

Sthing I know from previous postings the OP's ex won't consider a boarding school which IMO would be an excellent solution a few more scholarships/bursaries in boarding schools.

Rgs is very competitive, and not getting in there doesn't imply any lack of ability. Reeds rather less so however.

I would worry about the Prep school. DCs state school regularity send up to 7 boys a year to RGS, and the Headmaster is very good at advising which boys have the best chance of getting in. I have also known boys getting Scholarships at Reeds (and Cranleigh).
Is Salesian too far?

Hi mummy.
Salesian is too far.
Thanks all for your input. Lots of thinking to do.

The Royal School Haslemere have recently opened a Boys' Senior School at Hindhead, which would be worth looking at - www.royal-school.org/boys-senior/
I think there's a shuttle bus from Haslemere train station to the school.

The girls' school is excellent - both my DDs did very well there, and they did offer bursaries, so presume they do for the Boys' school too..

Oh and if anyones got any ideas on boarding schools that may have flexi boarding rather than full boarding, please name them!

Hurst does flexi boarding

Thanks bluestring. Have got the Royal's details. Didn't pursue it as school were so confident about Reeds!

Labro you may be pleased to find that most examples of full boarding now pretty much merge into flexi-boarding anyway. They're there on weekdays (and some don't mind parents popping in if not disturbing work) but at some schools the "full" boarders almost never see a Saturday evening or Sunday at school. And the endless short leaves and holidays.....

I really hope you might be able to find some boarding that meets your needs.