7+ 2024/25

[Caps0218]

I haven't seen another thread similar to previous years, so thought it would be beneficial to start one as exams are now 1 month away.
I think SHHS, UCS, KCJS and WUS are all in October.

Also - Curious to see if number of applicants are down this year, with Labour's VAT raid.

For dictation in the SPJS exam, will the speed be the same as EPP dictations? These are quite quick….

Nope, way slower...

Anyone sitting Dulwich next Saturday?

EPP dictation is mind-boggling. We tried it many times but never reached their level and eventually gave up. It’s way too fast.

The dictations are fast....my DS does ok, but once he can't catch up he panics and that causes problems. So glad it will be slower!

Someone also mentioned that comprehension, which is MCQ, has also in the past had continue the story in 5 sentences..is that right?

Too far for us, we have SPJS, City, Highgate……and then UCS (hopefully it doesn’t get that far).

Anybody with a DD for 7+ here#? Thanks:)

This was in the past when they incorporated creative writing into the first round, this is no longer the case and all creative writing comes in the second round

DS is sitting DC.
Anyone with experience of the Junior School ? Haven’t been able to get much information about it. Understand pastoral care is quite good but is the academic rigour comparable to the tier 1 schools ?
DC overall on paper, looks like a good school with excellent curriculum, extra curricular offerings and reasonably comprehensive assessment process but exam results are mediocre at best, well below grammar school options in the wider area. Unable to make sense of what the school is about other than maybe SEN support ?

@user1493044974 @dvp2021 are you going to the registered parents evening tomorrow?

The DC academic results can partly be explained by the fact that they very much share they don’t manage children out. If you get in at 7+ you stay all the way through. That’s a large number of boys. Grammar schools or schools like wus require boys to sit the 11+ and 16+ successfully to move on in the school.

You to look at exam results critically. In that are you looking at GCSE or Alevel results?
How Many of those children that scored the highest grades were there from the start?

You can ask lots of these questions tomorrow.

This is the theory I’ve heard as well but the numbers dont add up.
Even if we say tier-1 manage out the bottom 30% , which is around 18 kids from JS, its10% of gcse cohort. This cannot explain the difference of 30%+ of 9s in tier-1 vs DC/Emanuel/Eltham/st dunstans/Colfes etc.
A level destination is even stark - 6.5% Oxbridge vs 40%+ at tier-1.

would like to hear from existing parents on their experience.

I think the numbers leaving Kings before the end of school are tiny. One teacher traditionally was taking a photo with boys after their first year in Junior school and then with the same boys 10 years later at the end of their 6th form - 99% were still there.

Quiet for girls isn’t it! I just replied as no-else had - we did 7+ for my DD but just for one school (LEH) so doubt I can be much help but shout it so!

Hello!! I would love to grt advice on 7+ for LEH. We are hoping to sit it next year. My DD is June born so obvs concerns about readiness. And hence the prep we should commit to. Would also like to try for Bute and City and not sure how tough they are. Any advice welcome!! X

So let’s take Westminster and DC.
They are not really comparable. They are schools with different values and ethos’s.

Westminster at end of GCSE has 128 students. They have 200 students in the 6th form. If all students progress then rest come from external schools. A school like Westminster will not enter pupils for exams if they are not going to pass the exam. DC has 200+ at the end of GCSE and takes a small cohort on into 6th form.

WUS takes 22 students into year 3. DC takes 54.

For sure there are differences in the outcomes but what is it that a parent wants for that child? A child that is academically strong will do well regardless of whether they are in Westminster, Dulwich or a grammar school. And parents that want something specific for their children will look to for the best school that offers that e.g Westminster does a lot of work on international applications for post 6th form.

What’s the phrase ‘horses for courses?!’ But isn’t it such a minefield and level of stress that’s not in any parenting and educational manual?!

Certainly. It is not appropriate to compare Dulwich with Westminster as they have different intake criteria influenced by various factors such as selectivity, number of seats available, catchment area, competition from grammar schools, affordability of fees, and endowment to support exceptionally bright students through bursaries. Additionally, the Under School is highly selective for the same reasons, which explains the large number of its pupils who secure scholarships to Westminster. Dulwich is an excellent school, and although it was too far for our older son a few years ago, we did consider it. Your child will undoubtedly reach their full potential at Dulwich, just as they would at any of the top three schools.

PM’ed you.

Is there usually a lot of movement in the waitlist for WUS/SPJS/KCJS?

I imagine 15-20 of the boys will have offers for all 3? I know 1 boy who has a WUS offer, but would drop it for SPJS.

Or do they simply over offer by 10-15? WUS don't over offer, believe they simply have a waitlist of 5 this year.

Anyone on this thread waitlisted for WUS?

The schools always over offer and they over offer a certain amount as they have historical records to show the number that will accept.

I think the feedback is that wus waitlist is unlikely to move by much and definitely not by 5 as this waitlist is tiny!

@Holidayissues I could be wrong and I have only heard this indirectly, but I don't think WUS over offered. They simply have a waitlist of 5. I think someone on the waitlist called and asked.

The other 2, simply due to the larger numbers are likely to over offer....just curious to know by how many.

KCJS took 130 boys to the 2nd round, SPJS last year took 95....

WUS has over offered. In their own words slightly more than 22. I assumed it will be around 25. They have kept 7 on waitlist. This is the first year they issued results ahead of KCS and SPJ so they are anticipating more movement compared to previous years

DS is on the WL at WUS and has an offer at King’s. I emailed to ask for numbers and they didn’t respond. He is sitting for St Paul’s as well.

Your numbers sound plausible. There is a chance for the waiting list, all they need is 4 kids to choose KCJS / SPJS. Fingers crossed for you @Choberia

@Caps0218 I called them after their results to know about waitlist. They confirmed 7 but for firm offers they just said “slightly more”. My DS also on waitlist. At least they have 7 in ordered state.

At Kings they have 20 on waitlist but is not ordered

@jhaakshay - Thank you, very useful!

When you say ordered state, do you mean no1 on the list gets the offer if someone drops out etc...while not ordered means that the Head will choose?

Do you happen to know how many over offers there were for Kings, just trying to gauge numbers for SPJS?

20 on the waitlist is mad, would they have over offered as well?