4+ assesements 2024

[tps123]

Hello

I thought I'd set up a new thread for those sitting 4+ in 2024 for September 2025 start date.

Any tips for prepping?

What schools are people considering?

@yellowbathview We didn't receive an either from Channing either. However looking back at the correspondence, it reads that only those who are moving to the next round will be informed on Friday evening. It's a literal reading and also seems weird for them not to have the courtesy of informing parents who haven't got through.

Would be keen to know if other parents have heard back.

@Blacklabsonly Ah you are right it reads like this. I would have never thought they don’t message back to everyone but I guess the fact we didn’t get an email means only one thing….sadly.

I’m not doing Channing entry this year but one friend who is checked with the school and was told that they’re planning on sending out info on Monday. This is a girl who has a sister there so is pretty much guaranteed entry. So I wouldn’t assume you are nos!

weve got Habs second round too. I think it’s informal for the parents. I heard 100 ish are being assessed for second round so it’s definitely not a certainty.

Does channing have a sibling policy?

@KimchiLaLa they guarantee both round of assessments for siblings. So the fact that @Reallyareyoukiddingme’s friend hasnt had an email too could be a good sign. Fingers crossed for Monday @Blacklabsonly

But I just don’t get why they wouldn’t message us that email is coming later if they “promised” Friday. All parents are probably going crazy.

Channing effectively does have a sibling policy. They’ve only ever not taken a handful of sisters, according to the headmistress. The friend whose daughter is applying (and who has a sister there) was told by the school on Friday that they are planning to send out updates on Monday. I agree that they should have notified parents as seems obvious to lead to a lot of unnecessary stressing!

@YellowBathView and @Reallyareyoukiddingme fingers crossed. Def guilty of stressing in this household!

Interesting, did she say why those haven't been taken?

Ps we are also not doing channing, but find the school sibling policies interesting overall

No NLCS for us. My daughter was in the room for over one hour so not sure what happened. Very disheartening. Dont think we are going to get any schools - really sad as my daughter is a july born but is so bright. Was really hopeful to get a chance

Same! We’ve also had a no from Nlcs. It’s disappointing. Would be nice to have some feedback at least, but guess this is how it is.

There are so many applicants for so few spaces, so as hard as it is, I wouldn’t see it as a personal rejection of your daughter.

There will be places in other schools for sure, depending on where you live.

It's so hard to know what they are looking for. Don't take it too personally

Good luck everyone! We haven't done the assessments yet, wondering how many children are in a class at a time? My child is easily overwhelmed by big groups but is great in smaller set ups. Particularly interested in group sizes for the assessments at Channing and Highgate?

From memory around 5-7 kids max per group I think…

@NwLdnmum was that for both schools? Thank you!

for these 2 it was more 6-7 children, I think St Christopher was the one with 5. This is just from memory so the number might not be 100% accurate, but it was not big groups if that’s what you are wandering!

So different schools have different processes. For those that have 2 stages to assessment the first stage is normally in large group of around 12 kids and then second stage is 1:1.

For those that have just one round of assessments some split assessment with group activities and then 1:1 others do solely 1:1

We have done quite a few from the North London schools and none of the 1st rounds had 12 children in one group. There were big numbers of children but they were all sorted into different smaller groups for the assessment. Agreed that within that small group some schools would then assess 1:1 as part of the assessment.

NLCS first round on their website said Children are grouped by age and there are about 12-16 children per group. Not sure if that actually happened.

Either way don't worry too much the teachers know how to get the best out of your child even if they are shy or need time to warm up.

Channing emails are out!

Channing second round emails are out apparently! @Blacklabsonly @YellowBathView any news?

No! We did ask. It was more a semi-humorous anecdote to reassure parents I think.