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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

reserve list for westminster under school 7+

24 replies

impatientmum · 08/02/2012 14:30

Hello my son is on the waitlist for wus 7+. Anyone know approx how many children are on a waitlist and any if anyone is turning down westminster under school. I know deadline for cc and wus are tmrw. Cant wait anymore!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Correctmeifiamwrong · 08/02/2012 14:57

Sit down. Have a cuppa.

We are waiting too: IF SOME PARENTS WILL GET OFF THEIR FAT ARSES AND SEND IN THE BLOODY ACCEPTANCE PAPERS. (Phew, got that off my chest.)

The school said that some people really take it up (and beyond) the wire to send in their acceptance forms and cheque. Some peole just deliberate (FFS - dont they KNOW what their preferences are?). Not too may (if any) on the 'no' list so far though.

just letting off steam...

singersgirl · 08/02/2012 15:12

I guess they may be waitlisted on their preferred school and holding out until someone gives that place up....

Correctmeifiamwrong · 08/02/2012 15:15

wish they'd crap or get off the potty

Original poster

impatientmum · 08/02/2012 16:09

Just called school looks like everyone except 1 person has accepted a place. Some parents have called to accept but will put in the form by tmrw and this 1 person has still not contacted the school! odds are v low as many on waiting list! :(
wonder if ppl accept the offer and if tmrw or later they get an offer from the waiting list of the school of their first choice wuld then take it.

OP posts:

Correctmeifiamwrong · 08/02/2012 16:15

You never know how things turn out...

singersgirl · 08/02/2012 18:02

I personally know someone who accepted a place at one London prep (and paid the deposit) only to get in to their first choice on the waiting list a few days later and give up the first place (and the deposit). The school's press for a quick decision too, presumably because there are several very anxious people and several holding a number of offers.

Correctmeifiamwrong · 08/02/2012 22:02

I may well sleep tonight!

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 07:30

So what's your back up plan? We are on 8+ wait buy I can't see many if any declining! Our current school is ok but the children don't go onto 'good' schools. Change to another school, stay put to 11+ and keep fingers crossed? We are central so I don't want to be hauling him halfway across London at 8 years old. Anyone know what the likes of Wetherby or Hill House are like with admissions 'out of' the 7 or 8+ years?

milkshake3 · 09/02/2012 09:14

Most London schools will have spaces as the population is so transient. Do you want single sex or coed? You need to think if you want a day or boarding destination for secondary. Do you want 11+ or 13+ entry ( with year 6 pre test). Then I would check the destination schools of the preps you choose. A lot of secondaries want their prep school kids coming at 13 not 11 so that 11+ places can be given to state shool children who all move on at 11. Then go visit and ask lots of questions to ensure that chool can get your DS into the secondary of your choice.

Michaelahpurple · 09/02/2012 10:24

I heard this morning that there were 5 replies awaited at WUS for 8+ but haven't heard much on 7+. I assume that Colet Court's deadline is today too, as that is where the declines will come from, presumably (and vice versa).

All very nerve-wracking for all.

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 10:59

Not to worried if it is co-ed or not.

Our school is lovely - it really is. We loved it in the early years - the teachers were wonderful and he was really stimulated and learning lots. But DS is top of his year, and he coasts. Homework is just too easy (what I would extect in Year 1!) and he gets 100% in every test - every single one. I feel sorry for him as he will get to a point where he thinks things are so easy and never learn to try, or hit a stage where he DOES have to work and not be able to, as he has never had to!

There is a high turnover of staff and children, so I would like somewhere a bit more settled. I knew this is common for central London though, but I asusume some schools are better than others!

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 10:59

to worried! (too worried). Degree in English (doh!)

Original poster

impatientmum · 09/02/2012 12:05

I guess we will find out soon now. DS does have a place at habs but as its a bit far from where we are it wasnt our first choice. They do have a good coach system but for a 7 year old travelling 45mins is too much. We may now have to move a bit closer so that the commute isnt too much. WUS ticked all the boxes for us that way. Will just have to wait and see what happens.

OP posts:

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 12:10

Hopping up and down, hopping up and dowwwwwwwn..... too much coffee and chocolate.... hop hop hop

Wonder if they call if it's a 'no'?

Habs is good (a large contingent of ex boys in one place I worked - they were all sending their children there) but way to far away for us.

TennisMom · 09/02/2012 13:55

Correct..: heard anything? We accepted WUS 8+ and turned down Colet Court on Tuesday so there is 1 happy family at CC.

I think if your DS is bright, he will get into a good school eventually no matter where he is today. You just have to supplement him on your own. Your experience with your DS is similar to mine and the reason why I decided to apply to WUS and CC. He was top of his class w/o really trying. Now he is so excited to go to WUS. He said he'd rather be in the middle of his class at WUS than top of his class at current independent school.

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 15:10

It was a no, so very very . I dont think there were any no take-ups this year.

Not sure where to go now - obv WUS and CC will only take at 11 and 13+ now, and the schools that have the best results will be completely over-subscribed. I havent looked into middle schools yet, but know that Sussex House dont take children beyond the 8+ entry. I just keep thining that I have really let him down.

TennisMom · 09/02/2012 15:45

Don't focus so much on getting him into a "good" school now in the hope of getting into a good secondary school at 11+ or 13+. You are wasting your energy.

Keep him where he is at. My point earlier is that if a boy is bright, he can get into a good secondary school with the parents' guidance and help outside of school. It's not the school, it's the kid.

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 15:50

If you look at some of the schools, they have really good results... the children go onto good secondary schools. Our school just doesn't get the results. Not sure why - it has been sugegsted that it is 'cultural'. Homework is stupidly easy, nothing even remotely challenging and he has no idea how to 'apply himself' (as my mother would say!).

Any suggestions, gratefully received...

notavoicelikeShirleyBasseys · 09/02/2012 16:18

My advice is to find somewhere, move him now, avoid the 11+ or 13+ stress by moving him to a "good" through school that will go up to 18. I'm in the same boat with DD. I'm ringing round the houses as they say, already handed notice in at current indie though no onward place yet. Still hopeful.....and prepared to travel if I must!

Correctmeifiamwrong · 09/02/2012 16:26

Are there any though, that will take him through - we are central London, and they seem to fall into - up to 13+ and 11+ upwards.

Good luck with your search - I have just looked at Gabbitas and The Good Schools Guide service - £manymanymany!

emmash2010 · 09/02/2012 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

Mominatrix · 09/02/2012 19:46

Correctme, you might consider King's College Junior School - they have 9+, 10+ as well as 11+ entries.

Michaelahpurple · 10/02/2012 09:50

Correctme - am curious - did you only apply to WUS, with no fall-backs? For formal entry points I agree that Kings Wimbledon leaps to mind.

All schools have gaps opening up at time, so perhaps leave it for a term or two and then go on a programme of regular phoning to see if you can get lucky. Rumour has it Latymer won't fill occasional places with children who didn't sit the 7+ unless you can prove it was impossible to have done so (eg weren't in the country at that point) but I don't know if this is true or widespread - commerciality has to kick in at some point!

From what I can see 11+ for boys in London is a shocker - there seems to be one school too few (perhaps the half of Latymer that went over to girls!) so is definitely worth trying to find a way round it.

Correctmeifiamwrong · 10/02/2012 09:58

I have been speaking to some other schools. It is hard to choose - the likes of Wetherby say that there we can apply to go on the waiting list for next year - but can't tell me how long that it or how they decide. So that could be the fee for nothing really!

I am not panicking too much for the 11+ at the moment - we know that he can pass exams and is reasonably smart, but he just needs an extra kick up the pants and a school that is good for discipline!

How of you know so much MP - do you teach?

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