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Original poster

Recommendations for 13+ day schools

57 replies

LondonerByDay · 05/10/2021 21:23

We are in the last stretch of applying to 13+ schools and so far have applied mainly to the boarding schools. DS' cat score came in at 134 so the school suggested we look at a few London day schools as well. I am not keen on the pushy, super-academic top 3 day schools and have so far applied to:
Dulwich College
Sevenoaks

Location is not a constraint. We are keen to find a school that suits an academic boy, but not too pushy. Somewhere that creates happy, liberal boys. There should be at least 3-4 teams for football as well!

Any schools in and around London we can look at?

Thanks!

OP posts:
HonorHiding · 07/10/2021 11:58

Have you looked at City?

HonorHiding · 07/10/2021 12:01

Or Habs Boys? They have c20 places at 13+, some of which are deferred from 11+, so not big numbers.

thing47 · 07/10/2021 12:15

No football at Merchant Taylors when we looked at it.

There is, but it's not their main sport which is rugby.

The same is true of Dulwich College though and OP is considering that…

embarassedmum2017 · 07/10/2021 13:11

Tonbridge School, 60% boarding, 40% day.

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 07/10/2021 17:59

@thing47

No football at Merchant Taylors when we looked at it.

There is, but it's not their main sport which is rugby.

The same is true of Dulwich College though and OP is considering that…

As long as they play football for a term or two I think DS will be happy. Yes DC has a huge rugby focus but they spend two terms playing football and cricket so it’s not all consuming (like let’s say Wellington).
OP posts:
thing47 · 07/10/2021 18:09

Dulwich and MTS pretty similar in this respect – rugby first term, football or hockey in the second (or more rugby if you want it Wink), cricket or tennis in the summer.

All I'm saying is don't discount MTS on that score, your DS would still get some football.

FlyingPandas · 07/10/2021 20:52

Worth looking at Hampton, OP. They have a 13+ intake and offer football (also rugby, but football the more popular sport). Definitely a surburban rather than cool urban vibe, though, which doesn’t appeal to all. The space is amazing, it’s strongly academic (we were told guideline CAT score of 130+ to get in) and it feels very unpretentious and happy. I have a DS just started there and he’s loving it. But we are Surrey rather than London based and I’ve known various London families discount it as being a bit too suburban/reliant on school coach etc. Worth a look though.

sleepwhenidie · 07/10/2021 20:54

Mill Hill

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 08/10/2021 08:57

@FlyingPandas thank you I definitely like what I see so far!

OP posts:
Coronateachingagain · 08/10/2021 12:42

Hampton sounds a good fit. If he is that smart, he may enjoy St Paul’s too

underneaththeash · 08/10/2021 13:47

If they’re really good at football - Wellington let them do that rather than rugby.

tomboymom2 · 09/10/2021 02:10

Hi all, I'm in the same predicament but Cat scores of 100 -115 so opposite end we live in south London

Incognito22333 · 15/10/2021 06:21

I second Trinity and Whitgift if you like Dulwich College and Sevenoaks. All these schools are more about the “whole” child than the results.

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 15/10/2021 11:26

@Incognito22333 That’s exactly it, a school that looks beyond the results while also academically challenging them. Will definitely look at Trinity and Whitgift. Is there a certain type of boy that suits each one of those schools?

OP posts:
Pices · 15/10/2021 20:36

If you're willing to look further afield I think you'd find Abingdon a really good fit or perhaps Magdalen.

tomboymom2 · 17/10/2021 13:11

I believe all what you have said regarding these schools however they are academically elective and cat scores have to be in Same range 130 plus

I think 115 is scraping it and my child maybe on a waiting list to get into the schools you mention. Any way London day schools are generally competitive and parents are now willing to move house to slot into them.

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 17/10/2021 14:13

@tomboymom2 I don’t think it’s that bad - I know a few who have gone to Dulwich College with that score for example. Also I suspect Trinity and Whitgift take around that score too. What’s your prep school’s recommendation?

OP posts:
tomboymom2 · 17/10/2021 14:19

My prep school recommend trying but it's unlikely . I believe these schools have become harder and harder .

My older son is dyslexia and go into one over ten years ago where the criteria wasn't as high as it is now. Now we have ppl saying I want to attend and will move my home if my child gains entrance. So competition has become higher, the person who started the post could easily attend a more academic school( Westminster, St. Paul's etc) with her sons Cat scores but doesn't wish too and is happy to move to an area she doesn't currently live in SE London, so as I said it makes ppl with lower or average have less chances to these local schools which were previously not so academically demanding.

Shimy · 17/10/2021 14:31

@OP, Kings School, Canterbury? co-ed excellent school with right balance of academics and extra curriculars.

tomboymom2 · 17/10/2021 14:33

Thanks I will try Kings, it's not too far either

Original poster
LondonerByDay · 17/10/2021 15:01

@tomboymom2

My prep school recommend trying but it's unlikely . I believe these schools have become harder and harder .

My older son is dyslexia and go into one over ten years ago where the criteria wasn't as high as it is now. Now we have ppl saying I want to attend and will move my home if my child gains entrance. So competition has become higher, the person who started the post could easily attend a more academic school( Westminster, St. Paul's etc) with her sons Cat scores but doesn't wish too and is happy to move to an area she doesn't currently live in SE London, so as I said it makes ppl with lower or average have less chances to these local schools which were previously not so academically demanding.

I hear you, but that’s the same problem with us as well. Though DS’ cat scores are in the 130s he won’t survive in a super academic school either. Kids in his class have been tutored for years and they practise hundreds of test papers to get into Westminster or St Paul’s. It’s definitely not the place for him or for me.

Have you looked at Epsom, Reigate?

OP posts:
tomboymom2 · 17/10/2021 15:14

Thanks yes I've looked at them there a bit to far for a daily commute, what is the top academic Cat score?

He is a higher achiever in sport so we are hoping he can get into a school on those grounds .

Incognito22333 · 18/10/2021 11:13

We have applied for our DS to Westminster and have done 0 practice papers so far. He has cat scores in the high 130s too. He just did a bit of Atom Learning this summer, probably max 25 hours over 3 weeks. It was enough to get good scores in grammar school tests. We will do a few practice papers over Christmas for indies, that is it.

I don’t think everyone does hundreds of practice papers… if your DS is naturally bright I wouldn’t let other pushy parents applying put you off. I do know some who did this but by Year 10 they too just left the school to get on with it so I don’t think they can keep pushing from afar:) I have friends who teach at the top schools both grammar and indie and they don’t pile the pressure on at all, yes, they have to contend with pushy parents but if you are not so inclined I am not sure it really will affect your DS.
I think it is more a question of what school he would be most happy in. I have a gifted DD and sent her to a more all rounder school where she is top because she cannot cope with not being the best… whereas my DS is more laid back, happy for others to be better and learn from them - it drives him rather than knocks his confidence.

SouthLondonMommy · 18/10/2021 14:10

@tomboymom2 Royal Russell would probably be an option for your son. St Dunstans also might be worth exploring though I understand its gotten a bit harder in recent years to gain entry.

Good luck with your search.

XelaM · 18/10/2021 22:23

Westminster, St Paul's, Haberdashers Boys, MTS.

Don't forget the grammars like Queen Elizabeth Boys. They are extremely academic but also very sports-focused