How stressful are 7+ entrance exams in North London?

[Bamboo4321]

My 4 yr old is currently at pre-prep in north london which prepares well for the 7+ entrance exams and has a very good track record. We had applied for a couple of schools (SHHS, Highgate etc) for entry at 3+/4+ but did not get offered a place.

I'd really appreciate personal experiences from anyone whose children have been through the 7+ exams - how was the workload, how stressful (for you and your child!), did you use a private tutor etc?

One alternative we are considering would be to move out of London and send both children (also 2 yr old) to a lovely prep school which goes through to 13+. I worry that the competition for places in London is getting to the point where young children miss out on the chance to just enjoy being kids.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Very. Everyone tutors. But the 11+ is worse.

The exact reason we moved out of London. My kids are at a non selective Prep with 23 acres to run around in. They adore school and are doing exceptionally well.

The school sends children to a wide range of schools at 11+ and 13+. Grammars, local day schools (both highly academic and those more nurturing), boarding and state schools (because we have some great ones by us).

We will only have 11+ to deal with but it’s nothing like in London. My friend’s daughter sat for five schools and is on the waitlist at all five. I know where I would rather be!!!!

Yep, reason we moved out as well..however generally dedicated pre-perps schools manage to get their pupils in somewhere, they often have special relationships with the heads of other schools.

Being an out of London prep school mum with 2 boys, one is not academic, one is academic, both sporty happy boys. Both now at Harrow. No stress, no tutors.

I don't get the London craziness!!

Agree with the others. Move out to a lovely traditional prep where they can damn streams and play conkers. It was the best thing for my eldest and she still talks about her time there.

There are huge advantages to living in London, but the 7+ stress isn't one of them!

Killing myself giggling now at the thought of small children standing on the banks and swearing profusely at streams 😂

They need to dam not damn 😆 Though in a few prep schools I know with a sense of humour, they could manage both.

TBH the North London thing looks (from the outside) like hell. A friend of mine who's children are at a state school are looking at moving out and going to a prep.
Another friend at a state school her DD aged 6 is already demoralised as she is well down the streaming groups even though she is well above national average academically. Apparently these kids are not 'tutored' but taught by (usually) their mums.
I should imagine its worse at private / selective schools..
Madness.

Move away. Send them to a lovely, laid-back 3-13 where it's ok to just be a gloriously ordinary kid.

It's insane. I'm a pre-prep mum and we are looking to bail out before the 7+ in London. Our school now helpfully offers to get the tutor for you and calls it an after school club. They are 5-6 year olds. It's downright depressing. I'll miss london but I can't do this to my kids.

Utterly hideous. I bowed out and went for a laidback prep which did 11+ with minimal stress. Although most of the children had tutors that’s exactly the same even in the more academic preps and 11+ results were outstanding, all the kids got into exactly where you would have predicted. Putting 6 year olds through the London 7+ is purely cruelty for all but the very few. Most of them, especially the boys, simply don’t have the interest or maturity to truly get why they’re doing it.

For your dc they are as stressful as you chose to make them. If your child is doing very well at school and you think your child can get through with some focused but gentle pre coaching, it can be a case of visiting a school, which will include some lessons and worksheets and fun activities too. For the parent it’s is much more stressful of course but the dc can be screened from it. If the dc needs lots of intensive preparation then it’s probably best left til 11 or even 13.

@pamplemoussed I'm not sure I know any selective North London schools where the 7+ is as you've described. Most have English/Math and NVR/VR. What you described is more how the 7+ runs outside of London.

SWLondon here. So not north I’ll grant you.