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Original poster

7+ exams for Westminster, King's and St. Pauls

493 replies

Heist · 16/09/2019 10:51

Hello Everyone, my son is writing 7+ exams for Westminster, St.Pauls and KCS this year.
My son is preparing for a while now and struggling in English a lot as of now.
Could someone please provide me more insights on the interview and activity tasks that the kids are asked to participate in and how to ace those bits? How could I prepare my son for these bits?
Thanks a lot.

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FriendlyMom · 01/02/2021 07:39

Thank you @sanam2019! I read somewhere in previous postings that in the past they've called as late as summer.

FriendlyMom · 01/02/2021 17:07

Are any of the reserve lists moving?

redtooth · 02/02/2021 00:27

Hi, thanks for the information. Do you know KCS gave how many days to the people on the WL to secure the offer? My friend is also on the WL but she is still waiting if there is any possibility to move. SPJ sent email today to ask parents who want to reject their offers to confirm so their WL would move I suppose. I guess there will be some overlapping between 2 WLs.

RainbowBabyMum · 02/02/2021 07:54

Hi @redtooth
KCS gave us a call on 28th of January before sending all the documents to make sure we still want a place. They are waiting till tomorrow to get a filled acceptance form back from us.
Good luck to your friend!

redtooth · 02/02/2021 09:46

Thanks! I will tell her maybe just another more day to wait anxiouslySmile.

Ilovemypeloton · 04/02/2021 09:26

We’re on WL for 8+ KCS (only school we applied to), just heard that St Paul’s have still not done their 8+ exam? What is happening? Have any 8+ offers been made for St Paul’s? What is the timeline?

Banners75 · 04/02/2021 11:10

The SPJ 8+ exam is on 27 Feb, interviews are following week and offers are out on 2nd of March. Offer deadline is 10th March and waitlist will move 11th March. Not sure what deadline is for other schools. Am assuming schools coordinated deadline date so everyone can make final decision for one school. Am thinking some parents may put down multiple deposits, if different deadlines, so places may come up later on in year.

LondonJJ · 04/02/2021 16:31

Has anyone on the Latymer WL heard any news by any chance?

Zozopop · 06/02/2021 14:31

Hi @Heist, what level of creative writing would you recommend ? Like your son mine too finds creative writing a challenge. Regarding maths, 8-9 year books seem so out of syllabus. Would you recommend it? Thank you

FSiddiqui · 06/02/2021 22:10

Hi
I’m thinking to move my 7 year son from babington house to Breaside school in Bromley. Mainly because I want a more academic school and a place which can prepare him better for grammar school exam. What other academically best independent school do we have in Bromley or surrounding? And any comments on Breaside ?
Thanks

Hammmum · 08/02/2021 15:15

@LondonJJ WL at Latymer prep moved today! DS just got off the list. We are thrilled! Best of luck to you as well!

happybusymom5 · 09/02/2021 18:02

Hi there - does anyone know what the deadline for accepting a place at WUS 7+ is this year ?

Also for KCJS which areas do most of the boys come from. We are trying to work out where to live if DS gets in off WL. We are thinking Barnes, Putney or Chiswick but fear that these areas might be too far away. Any advice from those that know the school would be appreciated

redtooth · 09/02/2021 19:06

For WUS, deadline it is Mar 3. Did you accept KCS' offer but waiting for WUS?

happybusymom5 · 09/02/2021 19:44

We have WL for KCJS and are hoping for some movement based on WUS offers being accepted by boys who also have KCJS. Thanks for the info - really appreciate it.

FriendlyMom · 09/02/2021 20:52

If there are offers by WUS and KCJ, shouldn’t these have been accepted by now? Why the delay?

redtooth · 09/02/2021 20:57

You are most welcome. KCS' deadline was on 28 Jan. Their WL has moved on that day as people got offers turned off. It's unlikely for any one has accepted KCS offer and also going to accept WUS'. But everything is possible. Best of luck!

sandybayley · 09/02/2021 21:00

@happybusymom5 - do not move to Chiswick or Barnes and commute to KCJS! People do live there but it would be a nightmare. Putney would be a much better bet. Wimbledon best obviously!

Zozopop · 09/02/2021 21:30

Any advice, anyone? Calling on parents of successful children in 7+

Zozopop · 09/02/2021 21:34

@Zozopop

Hi *@Heist*, what level of creative writing would you recommend ? Like your son mine too finds creative writing a challenge. Regarding maths, 8-9 year books seem so out of syllabus. Would you recommend it? Thank you
Any advice, anyone? Calling on parents of successful children in 7+.
happybusymom5 · 09/02/2021 21:53

@sandybayley - thanks very much. Wimbledon or Putney it will be then. Want to be sure that DS gets some local playdates with school friends
@redtooth - just thought there might be some overlap between WUS and KCJS Wait Lists

sandybayley · 09/02/2021 21:58

@happybusymom5 - you're welcome! You could also include SW20 in your house search . Easy walk to school and a bit cheaper than SW19.

For the junior school (unsurprisingly) there are lots of local families, when it gets to the senior school the geographic spread is a bit wider.

Original poster
Heist · 10/02/2021 09:06

Hi,
The level required for creative writing should be such that it could be say around 20lines long, with a beginning, build up, problem, solution and the end included. There must be wow words, similes, adjectives, time words etc. included. The words used should be proper fit and not the ones that are made to fit forcibly.

OP posts:
RiverPlate1 · 10/02/2021 14:18

Hi, I wonder if anyone knows any parents from Esher sending their children to KCS on the school bus. Our son was fortunate to get an offer at the recent 7+ process and will start in September. We are planning to relocate from London to Surrey and have Esher on top of our list. Our son is very young so would be great to know if other kids of the same age use the school bus service as well. Thanks!

Original poster
Heist · 10/02/2021 16:08

Hi Riverplate1, roughly one third of kids in my son's class at KCS, use school bus coming from different parts of London. You can refer to the link for bus routes and timings - issuu.com/kingscollegeschool/docs/travelling_to_king_s_2020?fr=sMjFhMzE2OTU2Mzc

Listening to parents, most of them feel that given a choice, they will avoid using bus, as the day becomes really long for 7 year old kids. They leave get up around 6 AM, leave their homes around 7 AM and only get back home around 5 PM. Also, the days where they have after-school club, alternate arrangements need to be made or after school club need to be skipped.

If you are anyways moving from London, will suggest to move to a place where you can drive to KCS within 15-20 minutes. The school distance and logistics was the key consideration for us when we had a difficult choice between KCS and SPJ last year.

Hearing from parents of older kids, once the boys are 10+ years, the long schedule becomes much more bearable for them. 7-8 years is too young for 10+ hours of school days including bus service and homework on top of that, which include regular reading and another 30 minutes of daily homework. Cheers.

OP posts:
RiverPlate1 · 10/02/2021 17:46

Thank you Heist, that is really helpful. Is it fair to assume that 2/3 of students on your son's class are from Wimbledon and surrounding villages? Where to move continues to be subject of debate: it is space vs ease of kids' commute. We did the drive from Esher's racecourse to KCS before the lockdown at pickup time and took us 20m. If that is standard timing (discounting occasional accidents), it is probably doable mixing up school bus and school runs. I will be keen for views from parents that might have the same daily commute from Esher.