Waiting List - SPGS - 11 Plus 2025

[Mjoshi28]

Hello - DD has been put on SPGS waiting list and is absolutely desperate to go there. Any info on whether the waiting list is likely to move? How many girls are usually on the waiting list etc? She does have offers from G&L, City of London, NLCS and South Hampstead. But still very keen on SPGS.

copy pasted from other page,

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5152642-london-grammar-and-private-senior-school-entry-2025?page=14

" Last year there were just over 400 at assessment day and about 220 called back for interview. We were told by the school that they make about 145 offers for 120 places and they keep a very small waitlist. "

Hang in there , I know two who got in from waitlist last year. Call/email the school regularly to make sure they know it's first choice and youre reqsy to pay the deposit asap but not so often you piss them off! Once a week or so.

received mail today saying, SPGS WL is unlikely to move. But still they would hold it for another couple of months.

Hi - thank you for your replies. Good news, we were given an offer

Ah, congratulations! Also - thanks for updating the thread.

Congrats, Mjoshi28

Thanks all. @Mayday0, am sure the list will move soon, best wishes.

@Mjoshi28 congratulations! Have a friend still on the WL. Were you told DD’s position on the WL prior to getting the offer e.g. she’s towards the top so hang in there?

No, we weren’t told the position despite repeated enquiries….

Mjoshi28 and anyone else who has been offered a place at SPGS - May I ask which prep or state school your daughter attended and if they recceived any tutoring? If so which companies/ tutors were used and which areas did you specifically cover i.e creative writing, comprehension, maths. Specifically interested in anyone from a state school who has managed to get in to SPGS.

@Mjoshi28 , do you mind sharing some tips on what you had done from getting the waitinglist email, till receiving an offer? Our DD is facing the same situation this year as well. (i.e. waiting list on SPGS but receiving offer on all others, and eager to join her friends to SPGS) Much appreciated for sharing any tips or moves.

Hi,

SPGS testing regime is like other schools, just a little more advanced.

In particular, the mathematics sections are a little more abstract (for Section C). It is useful to do more Maths Challenge style questions as students will need to think 'out of the box' and be familiar using algebra and more novel ways of viewing questions which are not immediately clear how to solve (unlike Sections A and B).

Comprehension is also a little more advanced. The state student I prepared this year (SPGS waiting list 2026) was scoring consisently well on 13+ papers so I think this gives a good indication of a rough level to aim for.

First experience of student on SPGS waiting list - when might family expect any movement if any?

Thanks in advance.

Luke

I have gone through this process twice for my daughters (with one at SPGS and the other at G&L) and I would just offer some supportive advice. The chance of getting in to SPGS on the waiting list is next to nothing maybe 1 offer per year. Therefore for the sake of your daughter’s confidence I wouldn’t wait. SPGS is great but the top 5 London day girls school rotate in regards to ranking. Look at this year how the table has got G&L on top so just remind yourself that the top 5 girls schools are all amazing.

Yesterday was the offer holders event; my sense was that it solidified the thinking of quite a few families.

Almost all of those we knew who'd been on the fence (to be fair, it's SPGS - and our cohort is West London indie prep - so 'on the fence' should be read as '95% certain but seeking confirmation of an existing inclination') decided to accept - but that was not a universal thing.

In light of the same, there may be some movement on the waitlist in the next few days - though, of course, that's contingent upon how many places were offered beyond the target cohort number (rather than the number of families with offers declining in and of itself).

That said, from the experience of a friend whose daughter was offered a place from the waitlist last year, the timing on waitlist offers may be more closely related to grammar results coming in (which I believe is very early March).

Wishing you luck.

Thank you.

Just for provenance and future parents searching the forum: SPGS rang the parents today to make her an offer! So they can come as late as 4 March!

Question is now SPGS or HB? Fortunate dillema to have!