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Original poster

South West London 11plus, private schools

71 replies

deerison · 03/01/2022 18:11

My son is at a state primary and we are now preparing for selective secondary. I know friends at private primary school are given advice on which schools to apply for in terms of how competitive they are ie. aspirational, try for, back up. We are a bit clueless.

Can anyone help me with my ordering/correcting my ordering?:-
Grammar
Super competitive
Tiffin
Competitive
Sutton
Wilson's
Wallington
-what are the differences with these three?

Private
Super competitive
Kings Wimbledon
St. Paul's

Competitive
Hampton
KGS

?? Not sure slightly less comp/easy bets??
Reeds
Claremont fan court
Hall school
Radnor house
Emmanuel
Epsom college
Ewell castle
Hampton court house
Ibstock place
Whitgift Croydon

Any feedback in schools also welcome. Thank you!

OP posts:
DeborahALondon · 04/05/2022 23:07

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secondaryquandries · 05/10/2022 11:55

We are doing the 11+ this year with our son. I can see that there is a thread for girls but are there any other boy parents on here going through the process? We are sitting for grammar and private schools.

Octopusdreams · 05/10/2022 13:20

yes, I have a son doing 11+ this year. Nice to have others going through it too.

secondaryquandries · 05/10/2022 20:08

Octopusdreams · 05/10/2022 13:20

yes, I have a son doing 11+ this year. Nice to have others going through it too.

What schools are you putting your son in for?

Octopusdreams · 05/10/2022 21:39

Still finalising but mostly likely Hampton, KGS, & Halliford. And you? Feeling quite stressed. They seem so young for this process.

secondaryquandries · 05/10/2022 22:57

We're think of sitting for private schools- Hampton, kgs, ibstock, kcs and reeds. Feel like maybe it's too many but I guess we're a bit unsure where he'll get in!

Octopusdreams · 06/10/2022 14:19

It’s a really fine balance between doing too many or too few and ending up without a place! It looks like you have a good range there, some more academic than others. Good luck!

Lightalight · 06/10/2022 16:17

secondaryquandries · 05/10/2022 22:57

We're think of sitting for private schools- Hampton, kgs, ibstock, kcs and reeds. Feel like maybe it's too many but I guess we're a bit unsure where he'll get in!

We did 5 and you have a good spread. 2 stretch, 2 achievable and one back up is what we were told!
If he is at a independent primary then they should give you a good indication of where he fits academically. We found that to be almost spot on, especially as they write the school report required!
Good luck.

secondaryquandries · 06/10/2022 19:07

Thanks, that's reassuring. My son is at state, so zero guidance! Im slightly concerned that our 5 schools are too close and he won't get anything! Would you say we have a couple of back ups in there, for a bright child?

hockeygrass · 06/10/2022 19:42

@secondaryquandries , is his sitting Tiffin? For Hampton and KCS he needs the ability level in maths and English equally to easily make it through to second stage Tiffin exam.

secondaryquandries · 06/10/2022 20:15

Yes he is. He got through the first round of Sutton. Now waiting to hear on 2nd round Sutton and first tiffin.

hockeygrass · 06/10/2022 20:28

@secondaryquandries , you should be fine then if you are happy with any of the choices, (KCS is very tricky).

PS - I just read the text that Tiffin boys have added to the website to justify their recent Ofsted grading of Good, it really doesn't do them any favours!

secondaryquandries · 07/10/2022 21:33

Yes I agree. Maybe better not to comment! I do think kcs is a long shot but it is very close for us so have to try. When you say tricky, do you mean the exam or just to get an offer due to how competitive it is?

hockeygrass · 07/10/2022 22:42

@secondaryquandries , just competition, my ds is at Hampton (he has been there several years) some of his class also got into KCS when they were 11 but some didn't (but passed the Hampton 10 plus), KCS seems to like strong English as well as everything else.

secondaryquandries · 07/10/2022 22:45

Thank you. Yes, I think in addition to being a top performing school, they also have very few spaces available at 11+, so I guess they can pick and choose!

secondaryquandries · 07/10/2022 22:45

hockeygrass · 07/10/2022 22:42

@secondaryquandries , just competition, my ds is at Hampton (he has been there several years) some of his class also got into KCS when they were 11 but some didn't (but passed the Hampton 10 plus), KCS seems to like strong English as well as everything else.

Are you happy with Hampton? Which other schools did you consider?

hockeygrass · 07/10/2022 22:51

It was a while ago but yes happy with Hampton, the teaching is very thorough and stretches my ds and he has lovely down to earth friends. He also got into KGS and 2 Surrey schools that are now mega expensive (£9500 per term) so im very glad we didn't go down that route. We didn't try for Tiffin but once he got to Hampton I realised that he would have probably got in.

secondaryquandries · 07/10/2022 23:23

That's good to hear, thank you.

Lightalight · 07/10/2022 23:58

secondaryquandries · 06/10/2022 19:07

Thanks, that's reassuring. My son is at state, so zero guidance! Im slightly concerned that our 5 schools are too close and he won't get anything! Would you say we have a couple of back ups in there, for a bright child?

Ibstock is your back up .
DS is also at Hampton. Also offered KGS but that didn't work as well geographically. Hampton pride themselves on taking a good amount of state at 11+ so that bodes well .

secondaryquandries · 11/10/2022 09:16

Thank you. Are you happy with Hampton lightalight?

Lightalight · 11/10/2022 22:07

@secondaryquandries Yes very happy. Quite academically challenging but he seems ok with it!
Many clubs happen during a long lunch break so most boys leave on coaches just after 4pm. Ds is not particularly sporty, but if your ds is, it has a great facilities/coaches and a programme of sport fixtures on Saturdays for those who make the teams.
Excellent comms from the school too.

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