Kings college vs hampton preprep vs homefield

[teejy]

Hi all
I have a bright and naturally inquisitive 6 year old who sat the kings and Hamptons exams recently. He is curious about the world and so bright and gregarious.
He is very bright with maths and reasoning but his creative writing leaves something to be desired.....

He is currently in a local state school and we tried to help him but he appeared to let himself down just with the story. It was ok but brief and relatively basic... some alliteration and onomatopoeias etc but not as much as much as he could have. Gutted...
Everything else was 'easy'...apparently.

What are our chances? Are they likely to overlook one downfall or shall i be prepared for bad news.

Also Hamptons...there is.no guarantee for entry to senior school. I dont even know if i can do this again.

Hardest thing ever....
Homefield exam.is.one hour. How much can they realistically cover? Is it academic
He has a crazy talent for computers and coding. Want him at the best place for him to thrive
Welcome your thoughts please!

Surely you will hear from Hampton prep soon? Are you planning to move house too if he gets into Hampton prep? As you say a place to the senior school isn't guaranteed and there isn't as much choice if he isn't right for Hampton senior school compared to if you live near Sutton. I would put it to the bank of your mind and wait for the feedback,

Thanks for response. No wasnt planning to move. Just put him on the school bus.
My poor 6 year old....
Sometimes think we are ruining their childhoods with this 'best school' malarky....

It was "ok but brief and relatively basic... some alliteration and onomatopoeias etc but not as much as much as he could have."

surely you realised that it is extremely rare for 6 years old to use alliteration and onomatopoeias ...
Most kids will use a few adjectives and that is it..

Yes ordinarily but not at Kings where they are expected to be geniuses! Standards are unnaturally high!
Not right but true unfortunately.
Happy to hear from others if they agree...

Kings does have incredibly high standards, and so does Hamptons.

But, tbh, I think your son stands a good chance from what you described OP. He is only doing 7+, from a state school. They may well view that he is still on time to get into the Kings culture, education system etc. at that point. It mostly in the later admissions that they may want a 'ready product'. So if he is naturally bright, he at least stands a chance of an interview or getting in.

I don't know your third school. But this is London, I would think you need another 'back up' atleast.

Good luck

Thank you @mummy195
Given me hope even though there are a few days left to find out.
Your kind and encouraging words are most appreciated

Homefield Prep your son is very likely to be offered a place. I know a few boys who were offered a place at Kings at 7+. All were heavily tutored. Some were average academically but willing to go along with the parents and put in the hard work to prepare. As another poster said, at that age it's about potential rather than the "ready product".

To clarify my post as I realise it might sound contradictory. At 7+ schools are looking for potential at this young age. Reality is that many boys offered places are heavily tutored, which can include being prepared by a parent (still a form of tutoring). However, a truly bright child should still do well at the 7+ there and be spotted by Kings if they are doing their job correctly.

If you actually live in Sutton then surely your choices are only Homefield and Kings at a push anyway - not looking at Rokeby?

Homefield generally get quite a few boys into Kings later on but most parents are aiming for the grammars or Whitgift/Trinity etc at 11+ from there.

@teejy , re the distance again, Homefield send ds to Hampton at age 11 but they family I know relocated nearer to Hampton once they got the place. If your ds does get a place at Hampton prep and uses the school bus you need to be aware that his best friends may live in Chiswick or Ealing and you will find all your weekends and holidays spent in the car.
Anyway best of luck to both your dc over the coming weeks.

Thank you all for the comments.
@christophertracey - not necessarily? Children can go to school further away. Not ideal but possible.
The school bus does indicate it picks little munchkins from all over the place.

Not ideal I know. I would like him home at 4pm rather than 5.30...
@elsalvador - yes if school recognise is a different matter. Heavily tutored kids are hard to compete with. I think it is 300 kids and only 55 places.

@cricketjoy85 Thank you! Both are in the results waiting mode atm. Torture. Although if daughter gets LEH and son gets Hamptons- they are both on bus together and i am free from 7.30 till 5! (Yipee!)

@chrisophertracey- live in Epsom so all of them are a mission!!!

Yes - fair enough to the travel at 11 but you don't really want it at 6 I would think. You spend so much time at the school at that age as parents that it needs to be relatively close for your own sanity I think.

There are a lot of preps much closer to home - are none of them suitable in any way? have you categorically ruled out Epsom/St Johns/Freemans at 11 already?

He got on the reserve list!
So proud of him. No tuition and he did all by himself!
But how likely are we to get a place???
Thanks netmums friends

Well done to your DS !

I don't really know what his chances are, but you have to bear in mind that some DC will reject the place for WUS and St Pauls. Then there are all the ones who may not want to travel in the end. You also have ones who may go for preps in the hopes of boarding at 13+.

Several possibilities here.
Fingers crossed.

@mummy195- thank you so so much! I am so thrilled with him . No tuition and all him! I am chuffed to pieces! I hope it happens now. Long wait ahead.

When do school places get accepted?

Sorry for keep repeating no tuition!
I guess i want to tell any future browsers on here that it is possible! I kept being told I had no chance. Its lovely to know that he was able to show his personality and determination

Just to let you know that DS got offered a place at KCJS today!
Yipee! Thrilled

Go for Kings or Hampton, not Homefield. The chances of getting into Kings/Hampton from Homefield are slim. You will need a lot of extra tutoring.