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Original poster

Private School - how many to apply for?

30 replies

Gumps · 08/09/2019 21:34

Looking for some advice re private school choices. My eldest ds is at Hampton, having got in on the 10+. My ds10 didn't get the 10+ so now we are going through the 11+ process for the first time.
He will sit again for Hampton (good feedback on the 10+). So far I have added Epsom and St Georges to the list but neither are a perfect fit. We would be the furthest stop on one of the bus routes for Epsom and the lack of a late after school bus from St Georges would make life difficult.
My ds is one of the top of his state school class and very sporty. For a variety of reasons the local comps are out for us.
So my questions are how many schools do the children usually sit for at 11+? Am I naive in thinking 3 is enough?
Are there any other schools in the area that would be a good fit? I took him to see Reeds and he didn't like it but I think this was due to the focus on hockey as he is a rugby player. Outside space is an important factor for me so has put me off viewing Kingston Grammar.
Any opinions very much appreciated.

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 08/09/2019 21:38

I think 3 could be a good number but at least one of them should be ‘easy’ for your son to get into so you have a backup.

Is Whitgift too far for you? Not ‘easy’ but sporty.

Whitejasmine · 08/09/2019 21:40

I don’t know your area but I would sit him for all the ones you think you would like him to go to. There’s nothing to lose and you can decide based on his results once you have attended the open days etc.

Original poster
Gumps · 08/09/2019 21:47

I don't know enough about the process to know what is an 'easy' school. I'm guessing they would rate in order of academia as Hampton, Epsom and St Georges. Is St Georges an easy option?
Unfortunately Whitgift is too far. It would be a great fit as it is a fab rugby school.

OP posts:
JoJoSM2 · 08/09/2019 21:57

I don’t know St George’s but I’ve just looked them up. GCSE results of 80% grades 7-9 so looks very academic rather than ‘easy’.
The backup school would need to be one that is less academic one. Otherwise it’s a little risky even if your son is bright.

stucknoue · 08/09/2019 22:12

You need a plan c - a banker he guaranteed to get a place at or a state school place. Failing that move here, spaces are aplenty at all private schools, not enough takers

Ambidexte · 08/09/2019 22:21

Three seems to be the norm, one of those three being a school which he is really pretty certain to get a place at.

In those circumstances you don't need a fourth. The entrance exams and interviews are exhausting for them and I wouldn't put him through more than three.

Plus do the state school application form as well, obviously. There is no downside to this and it may lessen his stress (and yours!) to know that he will definitely get a place at a school!

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 08/09/2019 22:23

What does the current school recommend?

Ambidexte · 08/09/2019 22:25

The "easy" school is the one with appreciably lower GCSE grades. As far as I can see, every area has one of these to cater for the well-heeled families with less academic children...

mundaneflounder · 08/09/2019 22:35

What about somewhere like Ibstock Place in Roehampton? Or St John's down in Leatherhead? Are they any good location wise. St John's is good for rugby.

I suspect that nowadays Epsom and St George's are on a par. But worth applying to both as they possibly look for slightly different things.

malmontar · 09/09/2019 07:41

Yes I would definitely apply to one that be can easily 'wow' in and you'd be happy to have him in. He is part of the buldge year and our DD has just started Y7. During the assessment days there were what seemed like thousands of kids and a big uproariously that loads of kids in our borough didn't even her a state place.

Lightsabre · 09/09/2019 15:22

I think 4 to be on the safe side. One as aspirational, two further and a totally safe one. There are more and more threads on here each year of children not offered any of their independent choices. Is it next year that the demographics increase?

milliefiori · 09/09/2019 15:27

Are you too far from Reeds? It's not as academic as Hampton and has a great reputation. There's ad hoc boarding too if he wants to stay over one night a week after late sports fixtures.

A safer bet may be Claremont. Less academic but more so than it used to be. Is that near enough?

We were told three was enough. You don't want them to be wiped out for the exam of your first choice school.But a safe fourth would work.

LIZS · 09/09/2019 17:45

Ewell Castle?

Rockylady · 10/09/2019 00:04

Radnor house in Twickenham. Kew House, Ibstock, st Benedicts, Harrodian, and further afield Halliford. Hampton Court House

Rockylady · 10/09/2019 00:10

Frensham Heights, St Johns, Emanuel and Charterhouse depending on where you live...

Dividenrule · 10/09/2019 16:45

Reeds have some very respectable rugby teams and a good list of fixtures.
Unless your son is an academy player, he would not have anything to complain about.
Maybe he should give it a second look.

refusetobeasheep · 10/09/2019 19:36

Kingston Grammar has lots of sports pitches - just on a second site. but they are great for sport so I wouldn't rule out

Gingercat1223 · 11/09/2019 07:53

Op, I'm familiar with all these schools, you need Claremont or Radnor on your list, St G's uses a computer based test and if your son is having an "off" day you could be left with Epsom only (with their fees increase from yr 9).
I know a mum in a similar position to you with a ds at Hampton, ds 2 missed 10 plus last year & is sitting Jan '20 at schools you listed plus Claremont as back up to ensure reduced number of sleepless nights!

sazzy5 · 11/09/2019 12:04

Personally I think 3 is enough, you should have one back up-would think if your DS is about Hamptons standard St G's and Epsom would be fine. I know some children did over 10 exams, some did 1 (that would scare me!) but the majority do around 3. I would also suggest Reeds, absolutely lovely school and on the up in terms of academics. Is a really good back up to Hamptons. Good luck!

Original poster
Gumps · 12/09/2019 16:52

Thank you for all your responses. Gingercat1223 I think you might be right. It is ridiculously competitive around here. However Claremont isn't a good enough sports choice. I think he will be academy level for rugby, although too young at the moment.
DH and I are disagreeing as he thinks 3 is enough. We will defo do a state school back up and he doesn't get it try again at 13+.
Thanks for all the advice.

OP posts:
User9876543210123456789 · 19/09/2019 23:34

DS's school recommend 3-4 tests. And if it helps, our list is currently Hampton, KGS, Reeds and Halliford or Radnor House (probably in that order). Feedback from school is that the 4th choice should be a banker, which those last two hopefully should be.

We're Hampton Court area and have ruled out Epsom and St George's just based on geography - although there are plenty of DS's year who are considering them. And I was under the impression that there was a decent amount of rugby at Reeds - if anything, that's pushed it down the list for us as DS is a footballer!

Whatever happens, January will be grim. We're going with the logic that we'll pick a back up so that we know we've got somewhere, and anything else is a bonus. Yes, DS will do more exams than I'd like, but he's been trained for it (also did 10+) and I'm sure he'll be fine.

doublesheesh · 20/09/2019 07:00

Don't fret about PP comment about being a bulge year. Hand on heart, EVERY SINGLE YEAR is a bulge year according to parents in that year.

ourkidmolly · 20/09/2019 07:27

@doublesheesh
As a statistician, I can tell the bulge years in the last twenty for school places were for those born between 2006-2008. We've been on a downward trajectory ever since. Quite a steep one in the last 5 years. We now have an oversupply of primary places. We are still short of teachers though.

doublesheesh · 20/09/2019 12:51

OurKidMolly then I guess we were just lucky that it didn't impact us or anyone we know with our 2007 dc.

doublesheesh · 20/09/2019 12:52

OP, 3 is fine if you have an absolute banker. As your are all competitive to some degree, I would add a 4th. But a real banker.