3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ Support Thread 2021

[Thunderball1]

Creating a forum for stressed out parents undertaking a particularly difficult assessment path in these days of Covid.

I can only offer support as I'm equally worried as most parents having to record their children and send in video footage of them being particularly clever and those having to do zoom assessments for 3/4 year olds.

Wishing everyone luck and a peaceful mind!

[GoingBacktoSchool123]

Habs is definitely moving to three firm entry this year.

[BP1980]

I've heard that habs girls took 20 extra this year so 3 classes of 20?! Has anyone heard the same? Does this mean they won't have a 7 plus entry in the future?

[lovetulips]

thank you afewtoomanychoices, that's helpful, we are also tempted to 'trust the process' as DD's issue was very clear during the assessment and she was offered a place, so they must feel she can manage.

[SouthLondonMommy]

Why on earth do people in North London tutor so much? NLCS is a through school isn't it? Why do people need to tutor once their child has been accepted.

I don't doubt its true as the Good School Guide says the same thing but I can't understand it unless the teaching is terrible or they aren't good at stretching the most able or something.

[afewtoomanychoices]

My DD was at NLCS although just for senior. It suits the right girl and she thrived there. Although my other DD who didn't get in, and I was upset at the time, I can see clearly how she wouldn't have enjoyed it.
Although super academic, once you're actually a pupil 'in' the school, you don't notice it. It is really fabulous with great facilities. I just think if they offered your DD the place , they must want her. They definitely are not over-generous with their offers

[lovetulips]

Hi mxinthewoods, thank you for responding! We are going to ask NLC on the zoom session coming up but there aren't really further opportunities to ask, we have exhausted friends and personal contacts. Several people at SH have mentioned that NLC is incredibly tough and we will have to be prepared to tutor etc but no input in terms of support and resilience building at junior level. We don't know anyone who has actually studied at NLC in the past 5 years. The coach ride is long for us also but less of a concern as DD loves nothing better than to talk someone's ear off on an early morning bus, preferably while also looking through books and eating :)

[mxinthewoods]

Lovetulips, congrats on the offers! I would strongly encourage you to ask that question to the schools and parents directly if possible. Whilst no help here (as we have a similar choice to make, and our dilemma mainly stems from not having had the opportunity to visit one of the schools in person due to lockdown), we asked NLCS questions about children’s mental health and got very sensible and reassuring answers from both the school and parent representatives in online sessions.
Pastoral care aside, you may also want to consider the distance to the school and whether having a long commute (for us it would be a 40 minute school coach) would be a problem given your concerns.

[lovetulips]

Hi all, really need some advice, we have Reception offers from NLCS and SHHS but are worried about choosing right for our DD who is very bright and also very sensitive (to the point of having mild sensory issues). We love the idea of NLCS but worried it might be too tough a place for DD. Is it true that South Hampstead has better pastoral care? Please help as time is running out to make the right choice. Thank you!

[Redsockwhitewash]

Does anybody have a daughter at Habs Girls, North London Collegiate or SHHS, or direct experience visiting these schools pre-Covid? My daughter has received offers but I am struggling to distinguish between them as I haven't met a single member of staff or been into any of their buildings due to the pandemic. Thank you.

[SouthLondonMommy]

@CityMommy we've decided to go with Alleyns though both are fantastic schools. In the end, the biggest factor was that we've been able to see Alleyns and haven't been able to see JAGs. Selecting a school sight unseen felt a bit risky.

Good luck!

[CityMommy]

Hi all good to get on this thread (albiet a little late). We have secured an offer at JAPS for DD but waiting to hear from SHHS. Anyone else waiting for SHHS?

Also, any opinions on SHHS vs JAPS (given not seen either school). Also, we live in the City but will be locating closer to either school (assuming we get a choice.)

@SouthLondonMommy - did you decide between JAPS and Alleyns? Not being nosy just curious as would like to know more parents going to JAPS if we decide to go there!

[Charlie65]

Is anyone turning down WUS 7+ admission spot as deadline approaching? DS is on the wait list.

[user149799568]

I don't know a single person who has tutored for the 4+ and I also doubt tutoring would work at that age.

It was the norm for the nurseries that my DC went to and, I believe, the norm for the primaries that my DC are going to. As you suggested in a subsequent post, perhaps North London is different.

The things selective schools at 4+ are testing are the kinds of things that come from regular engagement (daily) with parents and pre-school not weekly intensive sessions.

I have a pretty good idea what questions the primaries asked during the 4+. Highgate, which you subsequently mentioned, used to ask parents to sit in on their 3+. The tutors I knew of all debriefed their tutees after the assessments and shared the types of questions with parents. And we, of course, debriefed our own DC, and shared that with our friends. Many of the things DC were asked were not things we'd have emphasized on our own had we not wanted to prepare for these assessments. Of course, I don't know how much weight the schools placed on each type of question.

Broadly speaking, my belief is that the schools were looking for children who were "well behaved" (some might say "docile"), who paid attention to what the teachers were saying (some might say "easy to teach"), and who appeared to have parents who were very supportive of their education (some might say "pushy").

I don't think reading with your children, talking about stories and teaching them vocabulary, doing puzzles etc is tutoring them though.

I agree.

[SE22mumof2]

Does anyone know if the waiting lists, for 4+ entry, at Jags or Alleyns have moved at all?

[Lsilver80]

I suspect the Habs waiting list might move once the NLCS and South Hampstead put their offers out

[SouthLondonMommy]

I should add though that a bright child wouldn't need tutoring every evening and weekend to get to the level I mentioned. North London does seem to be a bit more intense.

[SouthLondonMommy]

I don't know a single person who has tutored for the 4+ and I also doubt tutoring would work at that age.

The things selective schools at 4+ are testing are the kinds of things that come from regular engagement (daily) with parents and pre-school not weekly intensive sessions. I don't think reading with your children, talking about stories and teaching them vocabulary, doing puzzles etc is tutoring them though. It does require a high degree of parental engagement.

However, tutoring for the 7+ is common (though not universal) around here even for students in good pre-preps. By exam time in January of year 2, kids need to have covered the full year 2 curriculum and ideally at least part of the year 3 curriculum to really have a shot at Alleyns and JAGs which are pretty similar to Highgate. State schools don't always stretch their most able students to this extent even if they are capable of it which is why some work may be needed outside of school.

I don't think schools want over tutored kids at all. In fact the Dulwich school assessments I think now involve teaching the kids something new to see how they learn new material so they can distinguish between the truly bright versus the hot-housed kids.

[Parentnw8]

Asking honesty, do people you know really tutor their 4 and 7 year olds for these assessments? I’ve heard from many parents that it is common to have your 3/4 year old tutored... I was then told that schools outwardly discourage this, but I know of three parents (one direct, two indirect) who heavily tutored their young children (as in evenings, weekends totally devoted to prepping for the entrance tests), in addition to them already attending independent schools. They didn’t disclose the extra tuition to the school (I don’t think you have to?) and all of these have since been offered a place at Highgate. It seems that in order to get in, you have to buy-in through extensive and expensive extra tutoring. Apparently lots are doing it but very few admit it... it seems you’re a a huge disadvantage if you don’t get onboard with the extra tuition / education consultants etc, even if the schools claim they don’t want people doing this. But as an example, the only children I know who got a place at the aforementioned school were extensively tutored and knew on how to perform on the day. It’s depressing if this is the reality, as many people can’t afford / choose not to have our children tutored.

[Zenyah]

@SouthLondonMommy
General questions about your daughter- is there anything we should know about her that we didn’t get to see via zoom, why you chose the school,
Any questions we had
Very friendly and relaxed

[SouthLondonMommy]

They interview parents at Habs?! What do they ask you?

[BP1980]

Nice to finally find a 2021 thread! We sat 4 plus at habs and sadly didn't get an offer after round 2 parent interview
Nlcs is on Thursday
Anyone in a similar boat?x

[Zenyah]

Hi All! My daughter was put on the waitlist for Habs 4+, I know it’s hard to judge but does anyone have any experience /how likely it is to be offered a place? The wait is gruelling !! Good luck to all the children with their assessments :)

[sthe]

The registrar at Alleyns told me today that all 7+ places have been offered/accepted.
I'm not sure about Jags however...
And Alleyns 4+ places won't be known until Wednesday

[SEmum1]

Thanks all, just wondering if any 7+ here? Forgot to say we're 7+, deadline for accepting places was last Friday, it's been a week

[ABSE21]

Thanks Mums for your messages! Helps to know others in similar situation..
Thanks also SouthLondonMommy for you note...definitely hoping for some movement and news soon..fingers crossed!