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Original poster

SW London girls' schools 11+ thread 2014

77 replies

MinesACuppa · 06/01/2014 19:35

Who else?

OP posts:
Elibean · 06/01/2014 20:13

Not till next year, and am keeping it as relaxed as possible...but will watch thread with interest Smile

Good luck to this year's Y6ers!

Original poster
MinesACuppa · 06/01/2014 20:16

Ha ha Elibean, that's what I thought.... Actually we've been pretty laid back so far but IME the worst part is the stretch between the exams and the results

OP posts:
KingscoteStaff · 06/01/2014 20:45

Does anyone know whether PHS and WHS are finally going to use a joint exam next year?

Roaesandlillies · 06/01/2014 20:51

We are with you, st bens today .... Good luck to all sitting exams next few weeks xx

Original poster
MinesACuppa · 06/01/2014 20:57

I would have thought it unlikely, given that the exams are totally different formats and WHS only switched last year. Mind you, new Head may = new broom, so who knows. There are pros and cons to it - a good day in a joint exam is fine but a bad day isn't

OP posts:
ClaraMaugham · 06/01/2014 20:59

I'm in - nothing much to say yet but marking my place!

Seeline · 07/01/2014 08:54

Like Elibean we still have a year to go but will lurk with interest! Good luck to all sitting this year.

peppersaunt · 07/01/2014 10:26

My dd is sitting SPGS entrance exam today. Good luck to us all!

Original poster
MinesACuppa · 07/01/2014 10:29

Good luck to your dd, Peppersaunt. IIRC SPGS do a computerised test first, has she done that already or is that what this is today?

OP posts:
peppersaunt · 07/01/2014 10:40

This is the all-day written test ?? for those who passed the computer test. Thanks!

peppersaunt · 07/01/2014 10:41

Hey, what happened to my emoji?

SonorousBip · 07/01/2014 10:52

Is that definite that the head of WHS is leaving? I've only seen it on here, nothing on website or heard from friends there. Has she taken a new position somewhere? Why is the head of PHS the only one who has been in post for ages?

I am having a year off between dc but can remember exactly what it was like last year when I was in the thick of it. Good luck to those going through it this year. Smile

Original poster
MinesACuppa · 07/01/2014 11:00

yes, she's off to LEH in September. Current parents were emailed before Christmas, prospective parents have had a letter about it.

OP posts:
SonorousBip · 07/01/2014 11:13

Ah interesting. Had not considered LEH as we thought it a bit far from where we are, although there is a seductively close stop for the school bus, but that may change things. Any word re who is taking over at WHS - presumably they need to recruit.

I have been to open days for loads of schools in SW/W London - girls, boys and mixed - in the last 3 years and pretty much every school has had a change of head in that time!

Original poster
MinesACuppa · 07/01/2014 11:45

I've not heard anything about a replacement, so I guess they are recruiting.

OP posts:
Elibean · 07/01/2014 12:37

Not really on topic, so apologies OP, but just wondered in terms of choosing secondary in this area: if a bus goes almost door to door, but is likely to take up to an hour in busy traffic, is this too much? Friends and family say it is, as so may extracurricular things at secondary....but dd has set her heart on such a school...Hmm

peppersaunt · 07/01/2014 13:19

Interested to hear answers as potential schools have varying commutes (no buses to our neighbourhood unfortunately)

SonorousBip · 07/01/2014 14:12

From my experience, something to consider is whether the school bus will cover each and every eventuality?

DS has had to be in at different times outside of school hours in one term for day trips out (2), sports matches (several); quiz team; carol concert; music concert (2); Christmas Fair; open day. I've put aside "voluntary" sports squad practice as schools that are entirely bus reliant tend to organise around that, but he has that and music ensemble weekly as well. But a big eye-opener for us would be how much out of hours pick up and drop off we have done. Our first choice school was a school bus one with a just about feasible but long and not frequent train back up. I have no idea how we would have managed these.

Its a good question to ask on show round days - schools are a lot more blase about how students get home etc, and it is hard when they are in Y7 and 8.

ClaraMaugham · 07/01/2014 21:29

Is it a school bus Elibean, or public transport? If it's a school bus presumably there will be lots of other children from your area on it too, which must make a difference - and I hear they have a great time on them. An hour on public transport after school seems less appealing...

basildonbond · 07/01/2014 21:40

Personally I wouldn't ... Dd was v keen on one school but she'd have had to get the bus at 7:20 every day (10 min walk to bus stop) and then go all round the houses on the school bus route in order to get to school at 8:15

Coming back, she would have been dependent on the bus so staying late for rehearsals, sports fixtures etc would have been tricky. Public transport wouldn't have been an option ( no direct route, would have needed bus, train, bus combination) and I was also concerned how it would affect her socially if most of her friends lived in the opposite direction but equally far from school ...

In the end we decided not to apply even though dd loved the school (was her absolute favourite of all the ones we looked at). One of my dc can walk to school and the amount of stress that saves is worth an awful lot!

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 08/01/2014 11:38

I really wouldn't either, think of a 16-year-old, whose social life is all focused on events happening an hour's drive away. Sorry!

Original poster
MinesACuppa · 08/01/2014 12:54

My dd really likes a school which is about 40 minutes on the bus (not school bus) or about 20 on the train. I know that a lot of girls go there from our area, so I wouldn't be too concerned about her journey or her social life, because she would have plenty of local friends. But yes, the dark winter days are a bit of a concern.

OP posts:
Roaesandlillies · 08/01/2014 19:43

Anyone sitting at James' tomorrow? Uniform
or home clothes? Thanks

stressedofstreatham · 08/01/2014 21:48

Poor you Roases. Didn't realise St J had a double exam. Is she at SJ on Friday or at a different 'venue'. PM if you prefer.

Roaesandlillies · 08/01/2014 21:59

Another venue so tomorrow just VR x