7+ or 11+ from a GDST?

[achiswickmum]

Hello. Our DD has a place offered in a selective GDST for 4+ (in West London - one of the top 3 GDST on the performance side). However, we would like her to try for Bute 7+/ G&L/ CLGS 11+ later if the aptitude was there. Pls may I ask if anyone sat those exams from a GDST and what their experience was? Is this doable (as in school won't encourage but was it hard - does this makes sense to do). Pls note GDST is a great local option for us Vs other options and hence considering it.

Following, keen to know how supportive and/or understanding they would be for girls trying out other options when the time comes. And how open they are in regards to moving to another GDST.

You’ve posted so many times with very similar questions! Your child is so young - take on board the many comment you’ve received to your other posts as well as how much schools are changing now (becoming co-ed, closing, extending years) that it’s hard to tell. You have little idea the aptitude for your little one so stick with your guns and then see!

If you want 7 plus you can always supplement with tutoring which is what (many/most) do so I would choose somewhere you’re happy with and goes till 11 and go from there……

Completely unhelpful comment. I am looking for advice on whether specifically someone has done this before and what their experience was. I don't need to be patronised on what and when my child can do what the can. I am choosing between schools and I have to commit to the GDST right now - and of course they don't support 11+. Hence why asking others with a experience. Please just move to other threads if you don't have any experience to advise from.

Our daughters are also in one of GDST school and we are sooo happy with it! All my daughters friends are so kind and confident - GDST schools environments are just perfect for little girls to grow. They are so young and they don’t need that stress to be able to succeed. We also had offers from other more selective/academic independent schools but we didn’t move them. Their happiness and mental health is more important than anything.

@lililililililili this is exactly what am wondering. Am worried in case she is fed up of staying at the school - or eventually isn't a fit, that we can move her to a great school
Equally it has great extracurriculars / pool (my daughter has been swimming since 6 months) and also lovely staff alongside being local - so it is perfect for us for now - but certainly might not be in future and am worried I won't be able to support 7+ or 11+ prep (esp as am not from the UK).

@shinesparklesmile thank you for the great response and the vote of confidence! We certainly liked the one near us. The girls will be there a terribly long time which is what makes me worried - not all girls can fit everywhere (my sis really struggled in our through school - not in the UK though ... But similar concept as a GDST school. It was perfect for.me but not here and in hindsight my parents should have moved her as it definitely knocked her confidence). Hence, just want to know how hard the 11+ prep would be if we needed to do it. Have any children at your school done the 7/11+ exams, that you know of? Thanks

@achiswickmum “The girls will be there a terribly long time which is what makes me worried“

I believe this is because they are happy with their GDST school. Parents who prefer GDST schools usually don’t even try 11+. They are joining to GDST because its all-through school so they don’t need to worry about the prep etc - And some parents o just try 11+ to see if their children gets more scholarship from other schools.

My DD1 had an offer from 4 different independent schools including JAGS and Alleyn’s (11+) - and DD2 had an offer from JAGS ( 7+) she didn’t sit other school exams x

My daughters do well academically and socially so we felt its not worth to move them. They are so happy where they are so we felt its risky to move them somewhere else. Also, I am sure they will do well in their GCSE’s and A level’s in their school. My daughters gets top grades right now when they do assessments at school but for example I don’t mind if they get 8s but some parents aiming for all 9s etc - I don’t see any point of that as even Medicine Course only ask for 2 GCSE including Maths and English - grade 6 is even enough and 3 A level grade A*AA which is grade 7 and above).
So I feel like whats the point of being in really competitive environment and having that stress till 18.
Which school you are aiming for if she starts to Bute for example?

I’m sorry it wasn’t meant to helpful. It seems you’d ideally like to “trade-up” at 7 and are concerned about how a GDST school will support that and the best school to go to which will give you the broad choice but essentially be pro 7+?

I’ve just been through to 7+ twice in the last two years and chose to move so I do feel I speak from experience and also from talking to other parents in terms of where their children have been to school before and their own wishes for their education. So not a total dinosaur 😉.

@achiswickmum , you are better off at Kew College which will support your ambitions for your dd than a GDST school that is providing a path for your dc until 18. There is lots of movement for all dc in schools across SW London but as others have pointed out moving a dd at 7plus is increasingly uncommon and will be even more so in 3 years time. Focus on Reception and then a move at age 11 (a labour govt will need quite a few years to be able to impose vat on school fees, if this happens when your dd is 11 the private schooling landscape will change fundamentally).

It's a risk you take in return of minimizing the bigger risk of doing 11+
Unless it's one of SHHS/PHS/WHS, a solid prep school with good reputation would be a better choice. It very much sounds like you will definitely want your DD to move up OP.

GDST have their own curriculum set up and will not always have a precise report for DC, quite vague compared to boys schools. Our friends found those with 7+ offers in Bute, City and Latymer Upper all prep their kids with tutors, creative writing camps, parents, grandparents helping with extra workbooks etc. You have to be proactive since you may get reports stating it is all fine but not 7+ level fine.
Someone told us to check London Preprep website, it shows exits and offers of many years. You get a better picture of exit schools and feeder schools.

@HawaiiWake that's amazingly helpful advice. I will have a look at the site. I think I am realising that I don't want the exam pressure but equally I don't want her shut off from options esp in case we move to a diff area. This chat has been very helpful. Thanks