Have we missed the boat for secondary

[MoreTeaVicar]

What can you do when you missed the boat to change school at 11+ and HAVE to wait until 13? DD tried for a school and didnt pass the exam and therefore had to stay at current independant school where she has been since age 2yrs. Now in year 7 it has so far proved impossible to move her for year 8, an her current school really is not up to scratch, hence we need to move. We have now found a school we all really want but there will only be 10 places up for grabs. I'm worried we may not stand much chance against all the other applicants, many of which I fear will most definately be from the prep schools. The thought of not making it into the new school at 13 fills us with dread, as does the thought of DD remaining where she is for another year. DD currently is having 3 private maths sessions a week, any other ideas?

its oh so quiet on here lately

OK I'm not au fait with girls school practice, but I would have thought that you could get her into Year 7 of another prep school? At least far more easily than trying to get into Year 7 of of a senior school. I know of a number of boys preps which do go 7-13 (or 4-13), but I can't instantly think of many locally for girls, though it seems more common for the local girls school to be 4-18 (all 3 of our local ones are).

I know that the dcs school has an advert out this week looking to attract people who failed the 11+ with a view to getting them through 13+. And one of the Sutton grammars is changing its admission so that it will now offer places at 13 too.

I have tried to get DD into the coming y8 in sept but with no luck as there are no available places, hence she has to remain at her current school which has let her down so badly, but seems she will have to remain there for another year plus until yr9 in 2008. It is a mixed school and the school we are looking to move herto is als mixed but will have only 10 places available!!!! I dont think a prep sch would be willing to take her for just the final year 8 and anyway they would have already taken their exams for seniors by that time also. So leaving DD where she is until yr 9 seems to be the only option and each day feels me sadness.

Is that right? If you were willing to take the knock of paying an extra half term fees you could whip her out by Easter, start in her in another prep. 13+ exams haven't happened yet? They're usually later than 11+, so she would have the best part of a year to get prepared.

If current school didn't get her through 11+, do you think that it will get her through 13+?

Don't panic. there is bound to be a place for her somewhere. Do you have any other secondary schools near you to look at.

Phone up the school and ask what the competition is like for places. Changes are most fo the people at prep schools will already have places for entry in year 9 (that is what they do round here - kids take exams at 11 to gain a place at year 9) - what I am trying to say is may not be as much competition as you think.

Ask at your current school for guidence as to what the exam might be like, sample questions etc to help.