Pls help - school selection - Wimbledon

[MommyG]

I've been offered a place for DS1 in Dundonald school, which I know is a good one. But for DS2 to Year 1, we have an offer from Merton Abbey, for which the reviews dont seem to be good.

Am totally confused - should I go with Merton Abbey until I get a place in Dundonald, or should I go private until then?

Do you know if there is usually some movt in September in schools for Year 1, so that DS2 also gets into Dundonald. Am worried about how long it will take to find a place !

Hi there, I live very close to Dundonald school although DS1 goes to Wimbledon Chase, which is also very close.

There is always a fair bit of movement from Wimbledon schools and I personally know of some who are leaving Wimbledon chase at the end of reception, but cannot comment about movement at Dundonald. Sometimes, unfortunately neither the council or the school do not hear as soon as someone has made the decision to move. Often the places only become apparent at the end of term, or once the schools go back in september.

There will be movement but it depends on just how close and how far up the list you are.

You could also consider Merton Park which has a good reputation.

Do not be put off over lack of spaces now - it can change any day!

Best of luck.

Merton Park is a good school, but it will also have a waiting list for year 1. Worth a try though if you're close enough.

If I were you, I'd take the place at Dundonald and get your other child on the waiting list for Dundonald. They jump up the waiting list if they have a sibling.

There is usually some movement. Some people in the area are only in the UK for a few years for dad's job or people move their children to private school. Or people just move away.

DS2 is in reception (not at Dundonald) and there are 2-4 children planning to leave at the end of this term (2 definitely and the other 2 if they can get places at other schools).

The waiting lists changes all the time. You just need to make sure you're on it.

That was I have done. Am taking the space in the waitlist, and hoping that someone moves by September. But the question is - if not, what to do...

If kids are leaving Wimbledon Chase, then maybe I will give a shot there too! Merton Park, I will have to see, I dont think I have a chance to be at the top of the waitlist - I am much closer to Dundonald and WC.

So much movt in schools within Wimbledon is a bit worrying - dont you think. Why would ppl move from good schools to other schools within Wimbledon?

The move is often to the independent sector. Wimbledon has some good primaries but not such great secondary schools. People have discovered that its not as simple as saying 'we'll go private' at secondary because competition for places is fierce and state primaries do not prepare children for entrance exams. Therefore many make the moves to independent as 'occasional places' comeup.

Also the people leaving DS2's class aren't moving to other schools in Wimbledon. Two are moving to completely different areas of the UK and one to Surrey. They're all happy with our school; they're just moving away.

I'm wondering, if funds are an issue, is having dc privately educated for just y3, y4, y5 and y6 in the hope that they then enter a good grammar, a good strategy?

bump?

It could be a strategy but I'm not sure it works better around SW London than simply staying in the state system and getting a good tutor for the 11+.

Most, not all, of the papers children need to sit for Tiffin, Nonsuch etc are VR and NVR which a prep school wouldn't prepare them for. DS1 is at a prep school and we haven't got to year 6 yet but it was mentioned on an open day that the school would not prepare for 11+ state grammar. Prep schools for boys are focused on 13+ (Common Entrance) which is an entirely different exam to 11+ for state grammar.

Private to YR6 might work better for a girl if you were focussing on a grammar that did more than VR and NVR papers. You need to talk to someone familiar with the exam for the school you are considering.

OMG I actually need to research pretty much everything you've just mentioned as I have no idea what you're talking about! How can I be so utterly clueless??? What is VR and NVR?

(Thanks so much by the way!)

VR is verbal reasoning - ie big is to small as tall is to short

NVR is non verbal reasoning - identifying the next shape in a sequence

If you're thinking about grammar schools in SW London you need to identify the ones you are interested in - Tiffin Boys and Girls in Kingston and the Sutton Grammars (Sutton Grammar, Nonsuch, Wallington, Wilsons). Google elevenplusexams and you'll find a helpful (very scary website) that will inform and terrify in equal measures.

If you are seriously thinking about going for the 11+ you then need to organise yourself a tutor. My DD is in YR1 and we have booked a tutor for her from YR4. This will sound bonkers to anyone outside SW London but the tutor we've booked lives round the corner and has 'done' friends children this year. We're not even sure that DD will go down the grammar route but we're hedging our bets as it is either that or private.

Welcome to the madness of SW London. Wouldn't it be easier to move down the A3....?

Well! I am beginning to think that moving altogether would actually be cheaper! Okay so I'm definitely going to do some serious research on everything but one more question, how does one go about finding a decent tutor and how much do they charge? Oh and also, how often would a child need to see the tutor and how long for?
Thank you!

11+ exams are done at the beginning of YR 6.

Most people go once a week for about a year - maybe 4 terms - starting in Year 5.

An hour is about £30.

The best tutors are normally found by word of mouth and don't advertise. Get friendly with Year 6 parents who have been through it to find out. It's notoriously difficult to find a good tutor and you'll often find people are cagey about whether they are using one and if they do admit it who they are.

I can probably help you find one if you're in Wimbledon but we should discuss offline I think...

"My DD is in YR1 and we have booked a tutor for her from YR4."

How can you plan so far in advance?

Because I have three children, one of whom has already been through an entrance exam. The tutor is good, very local and gets very booked up.

It doesn't cost anything to put a child's name down with a tutor so why not be organised about it? We haven't decided whether we will tutor and what school will be right for her (although we have a good idea). We know we do not intend to leave the area so why not be organised? It is a long way off but it makes sense to have all options covered.

I don't know how to discuss offline but this is my email address if that's what you mean. Any information at all would so much appreciated. Thanks so much. [email protected]

Hi there. I am bumping this because I'm still very keen on the information but I haven't received anything yet. Really hope to hear from you. Thanks. [email protected]