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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

From NLCS to SPGS at 11+

30 replies

Runa2014 · 23/01/2019 13:43

Our daughter is 4 and we are looking for a private school in london for her education. We are waiting for the final decision following assessment and would like to know...

How easy or difficult it is to make the switch from NLCS to SPGS at 11+?

Keeping all factors constant - in regards to a girl being academically ready for SPGS assessment - is a prep school better for her preparation ?

We are thinking of accepting NLCS ( if a place is offered) and playing it safe with a view that if at 11+ she does choose to go to SPGS we can try ( and have NLCS as a back up) . But our concern is - will a prep school prepare her better for SPGS assessment?

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missflippy · 23/01/2019 14:28

I don’t know exact process and likelihood but I do know a girl who transferred to spgs at 11

organiccoffee · 23/01/2019 14:46

I know there year there are always some girls in NLCS taking 11+ exams for SPGS, and some do transfer.

In terms of prepration, Bute house is the best feeder schol for SPGS, KPS, PHS etc are also good preps for SPGS.

organiccoffee · 23/01/2019 14:46

every year - typo

ourkidmolly · 23/01/2019 15:34

They're a long way apart geographically. Surely that's a consideration.

Ontopofthesunset · 23/01/2019 15:39

But why would you bother? It's not as if NLCS is a bad school or that a bright girl there won't do very well. Of course you might want to change schools at 11 simply for a change or because you know by then you don't like the school or because you've moved house. But if you've really got SPGS in your sights why choose an all through school? Why not choose an SPGS 'feeder' prep?

expat96 · 23/01/2019 15:49

I was told by a parent who has a daughter in the relevant class that, last year, 10 girls applied to SPGS from NLCS Junior School, 6 received offers and four went. It may not be easy, but it is doable.

Why not choose an SPGS 'feeder' prep?

Saves a bit of stress at 11+. If your DD turns out to have a realistic shot at SPGS, she'll be guaranteed a place at NLCS coming from their junior school.

Original poster

Runa2014 · 23/01/2019 15:51

Ontopofthe sunset.

We havent yet decided on a school. Processing and evaluating all information.

Your answers are in your questions. NLCS is a brilliant school. And as I have heard very difficult to get into. So if given an offer should we turn it down because we would like ou DD have a shot at SPGS ( 7 years from now).??? Or should we go with NLCS for now and try SPGS when the time comes. This way the pressure of getting into a good school is off.

BUt....will a prep scgool prepare her better for SPGS?

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expat96 · 23/01/2019 16:00

will a prep school prepare her better for SPGS assessment?

Bute House, Falkner House and Glendower Prep essentially specialize in getting girls into SPGS. They expend a great deal of effort to stay on top of what SPGS is looking for and to prepare their girls for the process, exams and interviews. Afaik, NLCS do not directly prepare their girls for any 11+ style exams or interviews, let alone the SPGS specific requirements. Parents looking to move their girls from NLCS to SPGS will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting themselves. That said, I've been told that many parents at Bute House, Falkner House, Glendower Prep, Kensington Prep, etc., do not leave it all up to their schools either.

Original poster

Runa2014 · 23/01/2019 16:22

expat96 Thank you for your the very helpful information.

Its just one of the things...'a bird in hand is worth two in the bush'.

Bute House ballot was unsuccessful for us. We have got an offer from Glendower. Awaiting NLCS Allyens and Jags decision.

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Original poster

Runa2014 · 23/01/2019 16:26

Does all girls at NLCS sit for the 11+ to secure their seat for senior school?

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Colorbomb · 23/01/2019 16:32

You absolutely do not need to go to a feeder prep to win a place at SPGS for a very bright girl.
Choose a school to suit your little girl, a neighbourhood you'd like to live in, and reevaluate that choice when she is 9 or 10. This should not really form part of your decision making right now. It is unhealthy for both of you to fixate on one school. You will only be disappointed, I fear.

expat96 · 23/01/2019 16:52

Does all girls at NLCS sit for the 11+ to secure their seat for senior school?

All the year 6 girls at NLCS sat the same exam at the same time as the external candidates, though they had the benefit of sitting it in the familiar settings of their form rooms. My understanding is that their places in the senior school did not depend on their performance on the exam. The school's philosophy seems to be that the assessment of the girls they formed over several years is more important than whatever the girls did or did not do in 2.5 hours of exams.

I mentioned earlier that, last year, many girls applied to SPGS. Every year, some girls apply to boarding schools or other day schools. However, my understanding is that most NLCS year 6 girls don't apply to any other senior schools at all. They obviously would if there was any chance that they wouldn't have a place in the NLCS Senior School.

expat96 · 23/01/2019 16:57

You absolutely do not need to go to a feeder prep to win a place at SPGS for a very bright girl.

But it can be helpful if your girl is merely bright. And a lot more of us will have merely bright girls than very bright girls. And I, for one, didn't know how bright my girls were when they were 3 years old.

missflippy · 23/01/2019 19:05

In my opinion, snatch the place at ncls if you are offered it!!

CaledonianSleeper · 23/01/2019 19:16

Judging by this and your other thread (threads?) you are completely over thinking this. She’s 4. Go with the school you think she’ll be happiest in now/for the next few years. Have you nonotjer considerations in your familybother than a schoolmfor this 4 year old eg siblings, your commute to work, where your/your daughter’s friends live, or even just which bit of London you like best...?

EglantineP · 23/01/2019 20:02

Agree with the above. Have you ever visited St Paul's? How can you be so sure it's the right school for your 4-year-old? NLCS is a fantastic school, it would be downright weird to switch her and a total pain to boot if you're settled in north London.

Original poster

Runa2014 · 23/01/2019 20:42

Caledonoan and Eglatine....

The original post and the other posts are for discussion on a particular topic. One aspect as many many to consider.

Family friends, commute to work, etc etc and ofcourse the 'gut' feel of the parents are of paramount importance.

Eglatine - I am so sorry to say this but 'motherhood statements' dont really help the process! All of us as parents know what the basic requirements of choosing a school should be...... m6bquestion is very specific.

Eglatine no one can be sure of anything.....I can neither be sure of how my 4 year old will be 7 years from now...nor can I affirm the quality/ ranking of SPGS girls in the coming years......it will be very helpful if we keep the variables aside.......

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Original poster

Runa2014 · 23/01/2019 20:48

Missflippy, expact96, organiccoffee thank you for your insight

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sanam2010 · 23/01/2019 22:29

You are much better off going to NLCS than a "feeder prep". There is no feeder prep, the preps themselves will absolutely deny they are "feeder preps". There are highly selective preps that will have a good amount of able children as a result (along with very dedicated and ambitious parents), so a high share of their girls will move on to very good secondary schools, but even at these preps, only about a third maximum will get into SPGS. And many won't even get into a secondary school as academic and selective as NLCS. So you are much safer at NLCS than hoping that your daughter is one of the super star girls in her prep school who might have a shot at SPGS. This is apart from the fact that you have no idea now if SPGS is indeed the best school for your daughter at that age. Maybe it's NLCS, maybe it's City, maybe it's Latymer Upper, maybe it's Francis Holland, who knows!

The academic standard at NLCS is very high, plus as it is so difficult to get into, the ability of the children is very high, too. I am sure more of their girls could get into SPGS if they wanted to, but only few apply (probably those who are less bound by location or less concerned about the fees).

Original poster

Runa2014 · 24/01/2019 00:22

Thank you sanam

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expat96 · 24/01/2019 14:10

you have no idea now if SPGS is indeed the best school for your daughter at that age. Maybe it's NLCS, maybe it's City, maybe it's Latymer Upper, maybe it's Francis Holland

While I completely agree with this statement in itself, I don't agree that it supports a preference for NLCS. NLCS, in common with most all-through schools, doesn't provide the same kind of support for the 11+ process as dedicated prep schools.

Original poster

Runa2014 · 25/01/2019 09:17

Expat96.... I agree with you. Its something to think of isn't it?

We have offers from Glendower, Putney high and a few others. Awaiting to hear from NLCS Alleyns and Jags this weekend.

If we do get an offer from NLCS ...its going to be glendower or NLCS (just from the 11+ exam preparation perspective)

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sanam2010 · 25/01/2019 09:22

I hope you are aware that the Glendower headmistress is leaving this summer, I don't think they have announced her replacement yet. So taking NLCS (or Putney High!) is a no brainer.

Original poster

Runa2014 · 25/01/2019 09:27

Yes Sanam. You are right. All details came through with the offer letter

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Original poster

Runa2014 · 25/01/2019 09:30

Is NLCS really difficult to get into at 4+? Or is it a hype? How different will NLCS selection pricess be from Glendower, Putney or any other selective school?

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