A thread for 8+ Westminster, St Paul's, Sussex House, Kings etc

[user8957365]

Merry Christmas!
Just the small matter of getting through the 8+ exams and wondered if there are other parents out there who might be interested in joining this thread.
Did any of your sons sit Kings in December? How did they find it? Apparently only 14 places going - gulp!
How are you preparing for St Paul's etc? If they are parents who have already been through the process and can offer any advice it will be very gratefully received.
Cheers

ifc1975, the vast majority of parents at SPJ want SPS so don't bother looking at alternative - more so now that there is an automatic entrance into the senior school (no transfer exam). However, those who do want to choose an alternate boarding school option do get their first choice. The school will support those parents who prefer Eton/Winchester/etc and the boys who want those schools don't have difficulty in securing a spot there.

Help!
Is there anyone on here who has an offer to Westminster Under (8+) that they will accept or know someone in that situation? Waitlisted there and Kings. I know Kings is a hopeless situation with only a dozen places available but I was keeping fingers crossed that Westminster might come through.
So stressful.
Thank you for all information.

Sorry meant dies anyone have an offer to WU that they will NOT accept.

Mominatrix I thought you had to agree to go to the senior school from SPJ?
This is very dated but I know families that were not supported when they tried to go boarding.

We just signed the SPJS parent contract & they make you agree to your child going all the way through. A friend of mine attended SPJ & his parents moved him to Westminster @ 13. He recently sat his son for the 7+ and during the interview pulled out his contract dating 30 years and told him they were not sure they could pursue as his parents had moved him.... His son went to Westminster instead!

Roseredvelvet That is nonsense, absurd and untrue. At best they can ask you for your intention at this point, or to confirm that you plan to stay the whole way through. But from a simple legal perspective what you say is nothing short of mad. How can they tie you (and your DS) legally (contractually) to stay in a school, essentially being prevented from considering another school or applying elsewhere at any point for the next 10 years??? If it's a contract, as you say, with legal implications, then by definition it would also spell out what the penalty would be in case of a breach of your agreement. What would that be?
Sounds to me like you are trying to encourage people here to look elsewhere so that a spot opens up in the WL for you!

almost, you do check the box saying that SPS is your first choice senior school when you initially sign the paperwork, but they really don’t hold you to this. A handful leave every year to boarding schools, typically Eton or Winchester and the school is helpful with this. Several people I know did this and they did not encounter any discouragement from the school.

Mominatrix - that makes a LOT more sense. Intention and legal/contractual obligation are two very different things. And, yes, I have checked around and confirmed (as you say) that SPJ is actually quite helpful with boarding school applications or even (in a few cases, apparently) applications to schools within London if the DS's commute is negatively impacted by (or becomes impossible due to) a family move, for example.

User44444 read what I wrote above, confirmed by Mominatrix. As I said, it sounds to me like someone was trying to encourage you or others to drop your SPJ offer for the WL to move by inventing an absurd 10-year legal/contractual commitment! As they say in America these days... FAKE NEWS!

I have just signed with a prep school and the contract says that I have to have DS there for two years. If I move him then I am liable for the fees.

Bringonspring That is a proper contract, with an obligation and a consequence if there is a breach of such obligation. And, to most parents, very palatable. What was implied earlier, which I labeled as "fake news", is that SPJ would tie you (in a legally binding contract) not for two years, but TEN!

ifc1975 why would I lie. In the contract we signed they clearly state that it is your intention to move your son to the Senior School at 13. It also states that if you do not confirm this your son will lose his right to automatic entry and be waitlisted for the Senior school. I believe 1 term' s notice is required for withdrawal or you will be liable to a terms fees. The same applies to my dcs current prep , I believe that is quite standard.

As Mominatrix said, the one that we signed two years ago at SPJ was a tick in the form stating that we accept that the first choice when at 13 would be the SP Senior School. To my knowledge this is by no means a binding contract and there’s not penalties if the boy does have to leave for another school. On the other hand, why would we want to move given it’s already the dream school that the boy has worked so hard to get into in the first place? This is the same with other schools in this discussion.

Roseredvelvet I am very sorry but you either made it up or you simply don't understand what you (or others) signed. What you are saying now is that it is not a contract, but an intention. VERY different. Your previous post claimed that SPJ "make you agree to your child going all the way through". They can't make you agree to stay for 10 years, from a binding contractual perspective, without having a breach clause in the contract that would establish a penalty to you for breaching that 10-year commitment at any point prior to the end of the 10 years. They simply ask if that is your intention TODAY, which is of course fine and fair as they would obviously prefer those with a long term view. BUT... people change, schools change and (more importantly) boys change. And, as a result, they are free to do whatever they want to pursue what they believe is the best schooling option for their boys (as is SPJ, who would be free to tell you at any point that your boy should try his luck elsewhere).
We know FOR SURE that many boys from SPJ move on to other schools, and that the school historically has been supportive provided that there is a good reason and that it makes sense for that particular boy. SPJ is not only an amazing school, but it is also a caring school that looks out for the future of the boys - they would never stand in the way.
You have to be careful with your choice of words in a forum like this. People are making long-term decisions on behalf of their children, and shouldn't be exposed to information that is not correct, or only half correct.

roseredvelvet, I think you are getting confused with another document parents are given in the 11+ year to confirm that SPS is indeed the first choice senior School. This is to plan for numbers in the 11+ protest stage for outside candidates. The school is just saying that if at that stage you accept another offer to leave ( and notify the school of this) but then change your mind, the boy would then move to a wait list position for SPS. Pretty fair as Am outside candidate;s position would otherwise be in jeopardy. There are no threats in that letter, and parents are welcome to peruse whatever option they wish, just keeping in mind that once they decide to not take up the SPS place, they can’t just demand it back.

Pretest , not protest!

Freudian slip?

I agree some people post information here to make parents move away from the school they want because they are waitlisted. Maybe you too ifc1975 and others....

My advice - choose the school that feels “correct” for your son not the school you think you should want because of peer pressure or whatever reason. St Paul’s cannot force you to keep your child there until 18+. You can leave provided you givr proper notice to the school. Every year a few boys leave eg to go boarding. The fact that so many boys and their parents simply choose to stay means most are happy there. If that is the school feels most “correct” for your son then choose it!

Good luck with all your decisions. I have been in same position I know it is not easy.

When is the deadline for 7+ and 8+ this year?

i think the deadline is tomorrow?

Does anyone know whether the waiting list at SP, WUS and Kings moved at all today? I heard Sussex House waiting list definitely started moving but I wondered about the other 3.

We very happily accepted SPJ yesterday. WU and Kings waitlist did not move for us despite some of the postings here suggesting they were turning down places. Apparently WU have filled all places this morning, not sure about Kings.
Hope everyone’s got a positive outcome. I’m leaving the thread now. I think a need a long holiday !!

We did not get off the WUS either. Not sure I got a straight answer from the Registrar whether the waiting list actually moved a bit or not all. She has been quite evasive.
SPJ waiting list did apparently moved and parents were told whether they could be offered a place from the list or not.
For us it is now over.
I need a holiday too!

User44444 did the Kings WL not move? Fingers crossed for you.