Prep school or state school

[Resmi]

If a child has not the met the required standard for Grammar schools and Private schools , is it right decision to send the child to prep schools and try 13 plus ?

Well, it's an option ...

Have you asked yourself whether you actually applied to exactly the right schools for your child previously? To avoid repeating the 'not getting in' saga.

When you say they didn't meet the required standard ... I understand that as regards state grammar school exams, less so with independent schools which have more flexibility. With the latter, was it that they didn't score enough marks in written exams - or were there other factors? Such as performance at interview, interaction with others on open days, anything else that could be improved for next time?

@PoulePouletteEternellement I think regarding independent schools , my DS hasn’t scored enough marks in exam , so haven’t got invitation for interview. And 11 plus second stage results came after CAF deadline, so haven’t got good options of state schools in CAF .

You need to bear in mind that there are relatively fewer independent day schools offering a 13+ intake , with number of places limited, and increasingly fewer prep schools offering year 7 and 8. Would you be happy to do a Common Entrance curriculum? Also many independent secondaries now pretest in year 6 to make offers for year 9 entry so you may already be behind the pack or need an alternative entry route. Ime it only works if you have a clear and realistic destination/s in mind or want time to enhance skills for an extra curricular scholarship.

Have you considered private schools that are not selective or have a lower criteria ? These schools have the advantages of small classes and choice of recreational facilities without the academic pressure.

It may not be pleasant for your DC being at the bottom half of a class in an academic environment. (That said - they may be a late bloomer).

regarding independent schools , my DS hasn’t scored enough marks in exam

Okay. Were you over-ambitious in where you applied? (Quite natural to aspire to the difficult to get into places.)

Or was it that your child was insufficiently prepared?

Obviously they could just have been unlucky - too many applicants for too few places - but I worry about the bruising to confidence if they get into a cycle of being rejected.

I had assumed you're thinking towards Common Entrance - but LIZS is correct that you may have missed deadlines for the more sought after preps.

I don't know your area or child's age so can't suggest anything concrete. But I'm sure there is a way forward!

Sorry - also you may have already missed deadlines for independent 13+ secondary schools. The sort of schools that prep schools prepare for often begin their application process from yr 5 or 6.

(And that's already been said! Bears repeating though.)

@LIZS yes I understand that there will fewer intake for 13 plus and that’s why I am concerned about choosing prep school now .I just came to know that independent schools do pretest now for 13plus and obviously we missed the deadline . And it was ISEB pretest this year for private schools we chose which they decided one month before the exam .

@PoulePouletteEternellement we are in Sutton. My DS passed first stage exams of 11 plus and eligible for one of the Grammar school . So we chose private schools as back up as we are not sure about state schools in our area . But these private schools changed their exam pattern just for this year and introduced non verbal reasoning which we didn’t have that much practice and it was ISEB test .

There are lots of excellent state schools near you. Which schools are on your CAF. Are you likely to be offered any of them? I wouldn’t despair. Children succeed in all types of school.

@Lockdowndramaqueen we added Harris academy purley , Harris academy Sutton and Riddlesdown . But we are not in catchment of any of these schools .

Did you not do the banding test for Glenthorne?

@ChristopherTracy nope we didn’t add Glenthorne in CAF

Riddlesdown is a massive journey from Sutton! There are good secondary schools much closer.

OK [shrugs] I would say that after the grammars I would have put Glenthorne, Greenshaw, Cheam, Harris Sutton and not just some random Harris schools in massively different areas. But all of this is moot as we don't know exactly where you live - there is no catchment per se but you can always work out the likely school you will be offered.

Presumably if you passed the first stage you will be eligible for Greenshaw as well which a lot of people will pick over any Harris.

As to your first question - you could apply to somewhere like Homefield if you wanted to move to Ewell Castle at 13 but you can apply to there from a state school as well really. It is impossible for us to advise on your particular set of circumstances.

It really depends what schools you have failed to get into at 11 - Trinity and Whitgift?

@ChristopherTracy thank you very much for taking time to reply . We selected these schools because these are closest as per our postcode even though we are not in catchment for any of secondary schools apart from woodcote . There were some other schools in between which are not suitable for my child . Unfortunately we didn’t offers from both of these days private schools . This Greenshaw is bit far from my place and was thinking like state schools will be mostly same whether it is outstanding or good . Looks we will be in waiting list on national offer day . Will going to prep school have advantage of getting into private schools in year 9 ? I am only concerned because if we choose prep now , if in case we are unlucky again , it will be very hard to get local schools that time .

Are you looking at weekly boarding at 13-18?

If so, you will definitely be able to find a place for your DS. The less selective schools will still have their admissions open well beyond Y6 pre-test.

If you want a school you can use as a day school, it's less of a sure thing because of the immense pressure on places in London.

@reefedsail please share the names of that school. So I can have a look .

I just meant any of the less selective 13-18s. If you were looking at weekly boarding there would be a whole host of them within your reach. Wellington, Cranleigh, Charterhouse, Bradfield....

It is unusual for state pupils to do 13+ entry as they are settled into secondary life and they do not get prepped for either 13+ or CE. Most year 9 entrants will be prep educated or from overseas. Unless you have a particular independent destination in mind or a deferred place at one you are right that sought after state schools could not have vacancies when you need them and you are no better off than accepting a place now.

I do know there are established routes from state school to some particularly well known boarding schools - they've long realised that not every child goes to prep school.

But - those routes are often geared to taking and succeeding in scholarship exams - with very few prizes. And you still need to meet specific deadlines.

I sometimes think the second main barrier to entry to the 'best' independent schools is simply lack of awareness of the entry procedures. Obviously the first is money - and the belief that you can't go if you don't have any.

(Sorry, not really relevant to your problem, OP.)

ah ok so you're not really in Sutton then if you are up by Woodcote. Was Royal Russell your backup?

If you havent got into any of your private 11+ choices including your backup then it will be tricky for 13+ as well unless you are willing to go weekly boarding as people have said and are committed to private no matter what - this doesnt seem likely though as you have tried for grammars.

You may still get an offer of WCGS or be wait listed in March reading between the lines though?

It's very possible you'll get a waiting list offer from WCGS by September (particularly if you think it's likely that your DS did well in the multiple choice round but didn't pass stage 2 because of weaker performance in writing tasks and open answer maths). So I would try to put it out of your mind until a few weeks after offer day when you can get your position on the waiting list.

If no offer comes, I would give one of your local state options a chance. Your DS may thrive being in top sets of a comp rather than just coping at a very selective school. It's not for everyone. And if I'm honest I think the priority should now be rebuilding your son's confidence rather than putting him through the selective process again. I say that as someone whose son went through the Sutton Grammar process and I don't mean it unkindly at all.

I am in Sutton but the other end so I know most of the schools discussed on this thread, but not the ones on your form. Are you saying you don't think you'll be offered any of those? If you aren't happy with the state offer and you can afford fees I would consider a less selective private school - remembering that one of the (main) reasons very selective schools get such good results is they only take children who are already on track to get those results.
Good luck.

@TeddyDidIt thank you very much for taking time to reply . I felt very positive reading that . Yes we are also hoping a place in wallington boys by September, it all depends on waiting list movement . Their website is saying 15 seats will be offered for local boys , but not very sure about that . Regarding state schools , we are not in catchment of any of the schools we listed . We couldn’t edit CAF as second stage results came late . Their is mixed opinions about Harris purley one and positive opinions about harris Sutton one. But as per last year’s record harris Sutton has taken kids only under 3 miles , something like that. But we are not within 3 miles of Harris Sutton . Keeping my fingers crossed.

Hi @Saved123 what did you put down as your banker state school though - i.e. one you may not choose but is at least close to your house? There is no point, as you know, in putting down schools that you wouldn't have got into previously on distance.

All the council will do is give you the least popular school in the borough as there is always one which accepts from any distance.