City Juniors 7+ any feedback?

[anxiousparent22]

how did it go for everyone?

I think every child is different. I have two and whereas for first one we had pick of the mix at 7+ and 13+ (City London being the first school we declined as was clearly not our top choice) and now for the second one didn't even make it to second stage for City Junior. So don't beat yourself about it - they will all grow at their own pace. What's important is that they go to a happy school and there are so many more opportunities to try again if you really are keen on a specific school.

Thank you all so much, I’ve had so many kind messages. Onwards and upwards…we will try again at 11+. At least now I have a better idea of what we need to be aiming for, but it seems such a daunting task compared to 7+! Agree probably best to try to get into a prep, there just seems so few places for them all unfortunately unless you start at reception.

They don’t call waiting list ?? Or what? Got email today saying extra round of 7+ in March half term !!!????

Hi,
were you on the waitlist? Are you able to share more about this extra round pls? Thank you

it is off putting to see they don’t even have enough teachers yet /

cityjuniorschool We're looking for a number of teachers to join our growing team!

▪️Upper Key Stage 2 Form Teacher with Maths or English Subject Specialism

▪️Head of Year & Key Stage 2 Form Teacher with Subject Specialism - 3 posts
▪️Key Stage 2 Form Teacher
▪️Head of Music & Performing Arts
▪️Visiting Music Teacher – 2 posts (cello or harp)

To apply or find out more about any of these roles, please visit our website (link in bio).

@Candyfloss2it is important to understand that the school size will be growing over the next few years. Currently only y3 has a full co-ed complement with y4-6 being the previous girls only CLSG prep. So of course they will need to hire more teachers over the next few years, that is to be expected.

If you want a very long established co-ed school with staff who have all been there a long time that is completely fine but this might not be the right school for you. We were very happy with what we saw and the leadership. This along with the transfer up to the senior schools made it the right choice for us.

I am more concerned about the immediate surrounding than the school itself .
It’s full of civil / criminal solicitors chambers and office and their CLIENTS . ( maybe some clients on bail ?)
kids playing on public ground were those mentioned above people walking passing by daily ? They have a gate at least ?

Seems very odd, as most parents have accepted other offers and paid deposits.

This approach just doesn’t put them in a good light. Rather than reconsider those on the wait list and those who have made it to the second round, all those applicants who were interested enough to apply and would like to attend there, they are trying to appeal to those who did not even like the school enough to apply. It just stinks of another scummy attempt to make more money.

Their application fee and their deposit is by far one of the highest and they have large class sizes as well.

All the talk about wanting kids with potential and not the full ticket blah blah is just complete nonsense.

If they have set the bar so high, then surely the high calibre students that they are looking for would have had offers from similar or even higher tier schools?

Basically they are accepting students who missed out on all other schools as well, as all other offers have been accepted and deposits paid.
very odd behaviour.

Why they don’t have waiting list

They do/did have a wait list as far as I know. DS's friend was on the waitlist. On the day before acceptance deadline they were invited to the 'offer holders' coffee/tour as they must have been considering making an offer. DS's friend had already decided on another school by then.

So
1 they under offered ?
2: they been rejected more than expected after offering ?
3: new money making ?
4: not enough boys population this year ??

@Candyfloss2 I don’t see the problem with the pending teacher recruitment- it’s not that unusual in my experience and particularly not for a growing / changing school like City Junior (but it happens in any school as teachers only give a term’s notice).
If you do or don’t like the school that’s fine - it is a personal opinion like it is for all schools. It’s fortunate that we don’t all look for identical things in a school / partner or whatever 😀.
We went to see City Junior for 7+ but chose another school that was closer to us. I thought it was a fantastic school and that the Head was amazing. I have no doubt that it will succeed and become as in demand as many of its competitors as it becomes more established.
Personally I’d take the opportunity for my son if we hadn’t secured our first choice at 7+ and certainly would if it was a choice between City and a prep. But that’s just my choice!

But yes I’d say they under offered and had more rejections for boys than expected.

I’m not sure if there are places still at Hampton for 7+ too - website says if you’re interested in admission for Yr 3 the exam has passed but so get in touch…..

Hampton prep and Hampton are totally 2 different companies fyi .

Huh? Neither is a “company”. They are both part of the Hampton Schools Trust, a charitable trust. The prep is the main feeder to the senior school. Did you mean to say that entry to the senior school isn’t guaranteed? If so, that’s correct.

Around half are offered early assured places in Y4/5, the rest are expected to sit the exams, and quite a few more go through that way, but it’s not the right school for all and not all do go through - they are very upfront about that on the website and when you join.

Did your DC get an offer?

I don’t have a problem with City’s recruitment in progress either - at this point in the year none of us have any idea who’ll be teaching our kids come Sept in a new school.

Regarding it’s location I also don’t have any anxieties about safety but that’s a personal issue as one of the above posters stated. If you don’t want to pursue the offer of a second 7+ sitting at the school then that’s absolutely your choice but I think it’s a bit off to start this bashing exercise (quoting the vacancies and saying it’s not safe).

Take it or leave it. Some may be interested in the opportunity and that’s up to them. It’s an excellent school and many - including those who didn’t get an offer earlier this year during the 7+ process - would I’m sure be delighted to have their kids go there. If someone only went for one school and didn’t get in or left it too late to apply then they might be very up for this second chance.

No kids at City so no vested interest.

As far as I know, it’s for occasional places for other year group not another round of 7+.

It’s actually another round of 7+. They claim they didn’t make many offers despite being oversubscribed.

This is a joke . I just got Email from city addressing to another parent and her child for registration & payment for this round of 7+ .

Eek! Data breach? Hefty fine...

I had the same from a different school but just deleted it. What are you gaining from this @Candyfloss2 ? I find it very peculiar and like you have an intention to damage this school’s reputation.

@Candyfloss2 out of all the concerns about the school's location/surroundings the possibility of a criminal on bail visiting local law firm and snatching a child/do any harm is rather low :)