Prep school till 13, what next if not staying independent?

[weepootle]

My daughter will board until 13 as the family will be mobile until then and that's what she has chosen. By the time she finishes Prep, we will have settled in one place so no need for her to board (couldn't afford for her to either - current perk of job).

I understand Prep school is preparing them for the CE exam and most of the kids from her Prep go on to prestigious schools, however we wouldn't be able to afford an expensive one. Should we be aiming for a local grammar school? Would it be detrimental for her to then join a local high school (even if it's a good one).

[weepootle]

Mini, that really would be perfect, it's another area we've lived before and know well - only if dd1 changes her mind about single-sex schools though.

[weepootle]

What that has shown me though is that grammar schools do seem to have late-entry places for pupils having sat the CE.

[Hakluyt]

Please don't rely on the late entry places to grammar. Kent, for example,don't reserve any- it would just be luck if you got a place.

[weepootle]

No, I realise I can't bank on it- just nice to know that it is a possibility.

[summerends]

weepootie I have heard of DCs who have gained a place at a grammar school by taking eleven plus at normal time but then deferred entry until year 9 for the same sort of reason as your DD. That was for grammar schools that didn't have location based entry criteria. Are you too late for that? Those who took the exams later for entry after year 7 had to join the waiting list queue.

[weepootle]

Ooh something else to look into then, summerends- not too late, dd1 is just going into year 5. Only problem is that she will be working towards CE, not sure how this would prepare her for 11 plus?

[Hakluyt]

"weepootie I have heard of DCs who have gained a place at a grammar school by taking eleven plus at normal time but then deferred entry until year 9 for the same sort of reason as your DD."

I don't think you can do that any more.

[summerends]

Maybe not in Kent but the cases I heard of were in Gloucestershire and negotiated with the individual schools and occurred in the last couple of years. There were some children who did the reverse for year 9 or moved out of region freeing up places
Whatever the regulations for delaying entry it is simpler to take the eleven plus at the right time, going on the waiting list if needed for year 9, and will also give weepootie an idea of the standard needed.
Weepootie once you narrow down your options and know what sort of exam (CEM or VR etc) you could discuss the preparation with your DD's school.