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Original poster

Kingston Grammar 11+

67 replies

mondaygirl · 14/01/2014 13:55

Does anyone know how many sat the 11+ exam this year for Kingston Grammar, and when you can expect to be called back for an interview?

OP posts:
irisha · 14/01/2014 14:16

630 people sat the exams.

I think the letter says when they start calling for interviews, I don't have it to hand, but I imagine the calls should be starting now, given it's been more than a week since the exam.

Girls are called before boys so if you have a boy you might have a longer wait.

Original poster
mondaygirl · 14/01/2014 15:07

Wow, that's a lot. Is it usually that number do you know? Fingers crossed for an interview phonecall.

OP posts:
SonorousBip · 14/01/2014 17:41

I think they said at the open day that they had 900+ last year with 10+ and 13+, so that sounds right. Eeeek!

FYI, the accepted wisdom seems to be that you get either a general interview or a "subject interview" if they have concerns about either English or Maths. My DS had a general one last year and they literally could not have been nicer to him - he said he liked science and was looking forward to doing experiements and the interviewer showed him video clips of science experiments on her ipad, including ones that went wrong and they had a good chortle. It certainly did not seem to be the type of interview where they try and trip you up or ask you your views on quantitative easing etc. Good luck!

irisha · 14/01/2014 17:56

630 is for 11+ only. Adding about 120 for 10+ and 80-100 for 13+, does get one to 830 or so.

But I think if you get an interview you have good chances as they will obviously make more offers than places.

ClaraMaugham · 14/01/2014 18:15

We had a phone call today for DD. I have heard the boys get told later, but it's obviously underway! DD has an English interview - anyone know what to expect?

reddidi · 15/01/2014 02:22

But I think if you get an interview you have good chances as they will obviously make more offers than places.

I think the head said on the open day that for 11+ entry they expected about 600 to sit the exam, to interview about 300 and to make about 200 offers for the 90-100 places (presumably some of these are initially waiting list offers - many of the candidates who do best will also get offers from Hampton/LEH, state grammars etc.).

reddidi · 15/01/2014 02:28

"DD has an English interview - anyone know what to expect?"

It may vary over time and according to interviewer, but I wouldn't be surprised if she was asked to read aloud and answer questions about the passage she has read as well as some more general conversation perhaps starting off with her reading interests.

Shootingatpigeons · 15/01/2014 10:05

They may well focus on an area of weakness in the exam, so a friend's DD was given a topic and asked to come up with a story, and challenged to take it further. She knew the story she had written had been a bit unimaginative and formulaic. I know others who had Maths interviews that tunnelled in on particular topics as well .

DDs general interview was with two others with a History teacher and was also fun, I suspect a bit of a charm offensive. I just wish we had fallen for it.

Good school, everyone we know who goes there is happy and does well.

Dinocroc · 15/01/2014 17:56

Thanks for the info wise ones. Just invited for a general interview so feeling optimistic reading these posts. Oh and he is a boy , so they must be rattling through those calls....

ClaraMaugham · 15/01/2014 21:03

Thanks for the advice everyone, and well done to your DS Dinoroc!

It's slightly confusing as English is normally DD's stronger subject, so this was probably the last thing we were anticipating. What reddidi and Shootingatpigeons describe sounds all right though and hopefully fingers crossed she'll be able to cope with that kind of thing. Urgh, I'm at the stage of wondering why on earth we put them (and ourselves) through all this...

castlesintheair · 17/01/2014 17:11

DS had a general interview last year and was offered a place. IIRC on the offer letter it said 550 had sat the exam. DD1 was one of 230 to sit the 10+ this year so it is becoming increasingly competitive. Good luck to everyone.

ClaraMaugham · 17/01/2014 17:40

It sounds as if the general interview is more or less an offer already. Do you know how often the English/Maths interviews get offers? DD has now done hers and felt it went quite well, but she is prone to a rose tinted view I think... Good luck to your DD!

sybilwibble · 17/01/2014 18:52

I don't understand why there is a 10+? I thought KG was only from 11 and 11+ was the first entry point?

reddidi · 17/01/2014 19:39

"It sounds as if the general interview is more or less an offer already."

As before, I'm pretty sure that 200 eventual offers for 300 interviews is what the Head said so that's a good chance, but definitely not time to burn backup bridges yet.

"I don't understand why there is a 10+? I thought KG was only from 11 and 11+ was the first entry point?"

It used to have a small (one form) Y6 entry too, but stopped this ?3 years ago. You can still do an exam in Y5 but entry is deferred until Y7, and I think they limit it to ?20 places so with 200 candidates the questions might be easier but the competition is tougher.

castlesintheair · 17/01/2014 20:25

Yes 230 trying for 25 places at 10+. For us, and many others I suspect, it is practice for 11+ next year plus they give you feedback which is helpful. ClareMaugham, sorry no idea about english/maths interviews but I know they do offer a lot of places. Good luck to your DD. The waiting is awful.

wheresthebeach · 18/01/2014 18:58

So if we've not heard by now are we out of the running? We did 10+ for practice but am now desperate to hear (which is absurd, I know).

nmonkandmmonk · 18/01/2014 19:47

wheresthebeach I don't know of anyone who has heard about 10+ yet. My friend with a boy in year 6 got a call on Thursday for an interview and I think the 11+ applicants are contacted first. I think we will hear this week about 10+ although don't know if it will be a call or a letter.

wheresthebeach · 19/01/2014 00:53

Thanks. Will try to regulate breathing now. X

CountessDracula · 19/01/2014 23:47

DD did 10+ last year at KGS (and got a place, phew) but she did 11+ this year as poss scholarship (which she didn't get). I asked in teh office on the day and they said they had 800 for the 11+ this year.
Good luck to you all waiting

castlesintheair · 20/01/2014 14:42

Apparently the interviewing for 10+ starts today so if we haven't had "the call" by now, the rejection letter is probably on it's way. I wasn't expecting anything different but am now feeling nervous about the 11+ next year given those numbers CountessDracula! My DD will be completely untutored too. Her peers mostly have at least 2 tutors. Gulp.

wheresthebeach · 20/01/2014 16:31

Rats.odds at a girls school better I guess..

ClaraMaugham · 20/01/2014 17:50

Seriously 800 for the 11+ Countess? That's horrific! Is that 200 more than anticipated?

Fruitbat05 · 20/01/2014 20:28

Just wondering if anyone has actually heard re 10+ from Kingston Grammar, either way?!

ttcnumber3maybe · 20/01/2014 20:40

Hi folks! Ds took 10 plus on 4 jan and we haven't heard yet either. I bit the bullet and called up on Friday and they advised me that they were focusing on 11 plus and hadn't got to 10 plus yet... Would likely start this week ... Keep us posted! How did your dec find it? Ds found it easier than hampton 10 plus and at least didnt race through this time... He even checked his answers apparently!!! (Minor miracle!)... But with 230 for 20 or so places its pretty tough odds! Would love to know how many interview if anyone got any insider info! Good luck!

Fruitbat05 · 20/01/2014 20:55

Hi, to be honest it was more of a experiment, to give DS an idea for next years 11+. Hence, we only did Kingston, he felt it went ok but I don't hold out much hope as we didn't do any tutoring. Like Wheresthsbeach I am now a bit desperate to hear despite having a very causal approach to start. Must try harder.....