KCJS 7+

[Lewisbelly]

Hello hello who’s sitting KCS 7+ this week? Wonder how many are sitting this year…

We got an offer too! @heliomum do you prefer SPS or Westminster?

i think waiting lists between W, SP and King’s will have much more movement this year given the new dynamics of coed and the elimination of W/SP 8+. Have to say, we REALLY liked King’s and their IB results are just incredible…. On the other hand, SP is logistically so much easier (and it seems that many of his friends have also received offers…)

We will definitively not be sitting Latymer

Good luck to all and happy holidays

My husband prefers SPJS, but I lean toward Westminster because it’s much closer to our home. I’ll be the one taking our son to school every day, and I really don’t like the idea of traveling that far. My husband feels SPJS is more suitable for our son, especially since it focuses more on STEM and math, which he thinks fits our son’s strengths. I have to admit, I do like that SPJS has a much nicer environment compared to Westminster, which is surrounded by busy roads and buildings. What about you?

We are waitlisted at Westminster and have a confirmed spot at SPS. I like the coed element at Westminster but love the environment at SPS. We will accept SPS unless we hear from Westminster ahead of the deadline

Yes, coed aspect makes a huge difference. Another longer term positive for King’s as well as it is also in process of going fully coed.

It might just be a waiting game for you @Crazymum23 as W offered very few WL spots.

Definitely agree on Co-ed aspect of the Wus!

Big Congratulations to @Crazymum23 , @heliomum and @W11Parent. Unfortunately, my daughter didn’t get an offer from those schools, but we’ll be trying for Bute House next.

Of all the schools my children have attended thus far @Erincr, Bute was incomparably the best (at that stage in their lives). I wish it went beyond the 11+ and I wish your daughter all the very best.

Don’t let W affect your family mindset. The Bute entrance process is as close to a warm hug as any bright child could hope for

All v valid points except for the stem one. Stem is really big at westminster - they send mad numbers to read natsci at Cambridge, similar at Imperial etc. Not sure why you think that is better at Paul’s?

Does anyone know when Kings goes Coed? So if our boys entered the 7+ cohort starting next September (2026), do they take girls at 9+? The teachers were not clear at the offer holder tour.

@W11Parent thank you for your kind words!

DS also has an offer from SPJ — very relieved! It was quite tough to keep going after two rejections, so this feels like a real weight lifted. Now that we aren't sitting Latymer, I'm off to book a last minute holiday. Well done to all the boys and girls who have finished the 7+ race, and best wishes to those continuing.

Please don’t be disheartened @Erincr . I know it’s tough, but your DD will pick up on how you’re feeling. I really had to hold it together after two rejections and kept reminding myself to stay positive and believe DS could still do well elsewhere, as WUS is just a different level. And if he hadn’t, that would have been absolutely fine too — but keeping things upbeat and optimistic at home genuinely helped his motivation and confidence. Fingers firmly crossed for your DD.

Congrats to everyone with firm offers. Our DS has sat assessments for KCJS, WUS and SPJS. He’s waitlisted at KCJS, didn’t get past the first round at WUS, and didn’t get through the second round at SPJS. KCJS is now our only remaining hope, though we know chances may be slim as he’s one of the older boys.

He’s a hardworking, reflective and determined child, more of a careful observer than a quick responder, so we were surprised he didn’t even make the SPJS waitlist after leaving the second round feeling so positive. We’re keeping things cheerful at home because he genuinely did his best, but it has been tough.

Would really appreciate any insight into potential KCJS waitlist movement.

@keepgoingboy Congratulations to your son and to everyone for making it through this process.

Fwiw, I know of offers and waitlist at KCJS (at least 6 in total) who are accepting firm offers at SPJ, so there should definitely be movement, depending on how many spots they over offered. From previous years, you may not hear anything until the end of January deadline. There is definitely hope!

@keepgoingboy , Our DS is also waitlisted in KCJS. We were also surprised to see that he did not get through second round of SPJS. Fingers crossed that KCJS waitlist moves by end of January.

We are accepting an offer from SPPS and will notify King’s. Have emailed Latymer that we will not be sitting Jan assessment.

I do know other parents that hold SPPS and/or WUS offers (and almost all that have a King’s offer will not be taking it (every single one due to logistics and/or siblings’ existing school(s)). King’s is absolutely brilliant and we really, really loved it and what Dr Cotton is doing there.

I hope waitlists start moving positively for everyone sooner rather than later!!! I will be emailing our school’s head to remind parents to try and not on hold onto offers unnecessarily

good luck to all!!!

We’ve ended up with an offer from St Paul’s, which we appreciate, but being based in Wimbledon we were really hoping for King’s for so many reasons. DS got through to round 2 but didn’t even make the waitlist in the end so needs to commute to and from Barnes daily.. (No luck with Westminster either, but it was too far anyway.)
Anyway, just having a moan. This already absurd 7+ thing could really do with some way for families to swap offers between similar schools. If only!

Thanks for all the kind messages and thoughtful replies. Hope this will be a positive learning experience for everyone involved, whatever the outcome is.

Hello there! You’re not alone.
I read your post and it felt like my own words..
We are EXACTLY in the same position with our November born son. Hoping for the Kings which was our first choice. And sitting Latymer in January (please kill me!!!)
I don’t think we could have done more. He’s such a bright child. This waiting game is exhausting!
Good luck! I hope we’ll celebrate in person one day ;)

Best of luck! For what it’s worth, this experience has at least helped DS develop good study habits, which we’ll try to encourage him to maintain to some extent. It has also given us, as parents, a useful insight into what future assessments (such as the 11+) might look like.

Message removed

Any thoughts between St Pauls and WUS? The WUS 11+ requirement is off putting and I hear there is definitely tutoring in the 6 month run up to the exams. Furthermore their reluctance to let the boys have a proper tour was not great. We have offers from both and logistically WUS would be easier but the lack of green space and 11+ requirement makes me wonder. Would appreciate insight from those who have older children at the schools or other insights.

How did you prepare your DS with a 7+? Mine is in a state school today and I assume extra prep is needed to get in.

We hired a tutor because we weren’t very familiar with the exam system and we’re both working. Our younger child will be taking the 7+ this September as well, and we’ve already started preparations with the tutor. However, if you and your husband have the time, you can certainly support your child yourselves as well. What’s most important is that the child works independently. I have a sister whose son refuses to do any extra work whenever she tries to help him.