Is this a decent range of prep applications? (S London)

[RockCrushesLizard]

I'd appreciate some advice on whether we have a sufficient range of pre-prep applications in.

I've applied for JAGS pre-prep, Sydenham Girls, Alleyn's Junior and Herne Hill school.

I'm wary of overloading DD with assessments, but equally want to make sure I have at least one safe bet.

Does anyone have any suggestions/input?

It depends on your DD. All of those schools are reasonable competitive but since there's a lot of luck involved in the younger children's assessments it would be unlikely that she'd be rejected from all (unless she is behind in some way). I wouldn't consider any of them individually a safe bet though you could consider somewhere like Oakfield I guess.

Is Oakfield a bit less selective then? I don't really have a feel for the relative amount of competition at each school...

Oakfield is not academically selective - although they do have some sort of assessment day at each entry level so I dont know how different it is in practice.

My children are at Oakfield. They started in upper foundation (reception) having been at nursery, and were observed for an hour or two as the selection process. They had no problems demonstrating whatever it was Oakfield were looking for from applicants - no idea what that was! Maybe ability to play alongside others, knowing their names, numbers and shapes or something. I have no experience of the others on your list though. We’re very happy with the choice we made, if that helps at all.

That's really useful, thank you!
I feel like I'm flying blind trying to devise a set of choices that covers all the bases.

Hi,

I would add in one more if Sydenham is selective- I’m not that familiar with the school at primary stage.

Jags and Alleyns are very competitive - there is only 1 space per 10 applicants for Alleyns at reception entry. JAGS is less over subscribed but still multiple applicants per place and both are academically selective even at 4.

Herne Hill’s admissions is primarily based on how early you register. The main entry points are at 2 and 3 years old and how many places are available at reception depends on if any one leaves and even then priority will go to those already on the waiting list from previous entries. The school is very popular and oversubscribed as historically it’s one of the main ‘feeders’ for Alleyns, JAGs and Dulwich College at 7 plus.

Less competitive mixed ability schools in the area are Rosemead and Oakfield. Both are very good schools, much cheaper and at 11 plus send a good number of kids to Alleyns / Jags and Dulwich College if that’s your ultimate aim. I’d visit both if you can to see what you think.

Good luck but there are lots of great options in Dulwich.

Are you committed to private and do you live near these schools? If you're applying to HH and JAPS, would you be likely to get into DVIS?

Londongirl: that's really useful to know, thank you - gives me an idea of the relative numbers, which is really hard to pin down.

Ghislaine: unfortunately, although we are geographically close enough to these schools, we are nowhere near the catchment for the infant school. Our best local school is has church attendance as a criteria, which doesn't work for us. The nearest non-denominational is a bit poor, hence trying to navigate the mystery of the private system!

Going forward Herne Hill will be easier to get into as its expanding but I don't know if that will impact next year's reception intake.

The applicant numbers were from the Good School's guide last year.

I'm current thinking about options for my DD. The good thing is that there are lots of good options with different pros and cons.

You'd be surprised! I think that the increase in (good) state schools in the area has increased the last distance offered for the Infants considerably. A friend of mine got a reception offer on the first day of school last week - she lives nearly 1.3 km away. That said, it is a very Christian school which might not suit you anyway.

Rosemead would be another fairly non-selective pre-prep/prep in the area. Or DUCKS - they take girls till Y2.

I don’t love in your area so don’t know your specific schools.
However - went through similar process and watched friends as well.
I’d say - it helps to have a good range of schools to apply to. From top selective to those ‘easier to get in’.
At that age - your DD will have barely an idea of what is going on. So she won’t be ‘overwhelmed’.
I told mine at that time that we are going to play dates at schools, and after each one we did something fun and special that she normally didn’t get to do often. So on those days of assessments she thought of the experience that was to come. The ‘play date’ just before it was just something before the expected event.
After we finished all the assessments - she kept asking to go for more. 😂

So - if you have other schools in your area that you might add to the list - no reason not to.