7+ 2023- RGS(Lanesborough admission)

[mommybigfoot]

Hi Mums,

Just wondering if there are any worried mums here whose children are writing the 7+ exams this year. My DS has his 7+ with RGS-Prep(previously called Lanesborough) and I wonder what would be the best approach to train him. I haven't formally tutored him, but trying to get him to do some random assessment sheets available on the internet. Regarding his creative writing, I wonder what the expectations are- in terms of number of lines, usage of any difficult words. His exam is scheduled on 12-November, and I am quite nervous about the fact that I am subjecting him to a seemingly competitive exam at such an early age.

Regards
Anannya

The exam will cover the whole of the KS1 syllabus even though you are only 2 months into Year 2 so make sure you are familiar with the syllabus and esp the maths/ times tables, telling the time and creative writing. RGS prep won't be as competitive as the London 7plus exams for KCS, Westminster and St Pauls or the girls 7+ at Guildford High which is so difficult due to high number of applicants for 5 or 7 places. You can gain info from searching on 7plus threads on Lady Eleanor Holles - LEH and Surbiton High 7plus.
Best of luck and it's helpful to remember that prep schools select dc that are ready to progress to their fast paced structured teaching style. Not all children are ready at this stage and do better at a slower pace and taking the eleven plus instead.

Thank you hockeygrass. Would you know how many applicants are usually there for RGS and how many are selected on an average. I tried to find posts, but couldn't find information on the intake.

Sorry I don't know but I wouldn't have thought it was that competitive because there are so many preps in the area. Feltonfleet is probably more competitive at 7plus because it has a massive catchment and parents adore the school. At the moment Danes Hill is the absolute tip top prep because the head starting this week is from St Paul's prep in Barnes and is highly regarded.

Guildford High is different because of the tiny number of spaces.

Thank you. Just looked up on Danes Hill and there seems to be quite a number of schools with the same name. Are you referring to Daneshill Hook, Danes Hill Oxshott or the one at Leatherhead?

Danes Hill Oxshott,

For Year 3 entry for September 2022, they still had spaces after their main assessment round so I'd say it isn't necessarily about the competition from other candidates but whether they think your DS is a good standard/ good fit for them. Where did you get the information about creative writing? Last year we were told that "The assessment will consist of online quizzes in English, maths, verbal and non verbal reasoning." We were also told they were approx 40 minutes each.

@MigAndMog

I didn't know it was online. In fact I don't know anything about the format. The website just said to register, and then information about the test would be sent closer to the time.

That's helpful, thank you.

So the Y2 state syllabus for maths times tables is just 2, 5, 10 tables which they do this term, I don't think DS is going to master his 9 times tables <eek! bit rusty myself!>

Do you know what they should know for English? I guess it would be comprehension?

Sorry, when I said "online" assessments I meant that they do them at RGS Prep but on tablets/devices. We didn't go ahead but I assume therefore that it doesn't include creative writing but English would maybe be more multiple choice around grammar, spelling and comprehension.

Thank you. That sounds a bit more low key than an old school pencil and paper test!

Do you mind me asking why / where you've chosen instead?

We are navigating a whole new world with this schools stuff :-)

We've gone for Churchers but nothing against RGS Prep - it was mainly because Churchers is closer and the logistics of RGS Prep with another child elsewhere didn't work for us as a family. I also wasn't too sure about going single sex so young.

Ah yes, that will be our issue to as I have an older son that we didn't do 7+ with (it was all Covid time) so he will either stay at our local school or somewhere around Leatherhead.