Pls help me decide - Colfe’s Junior (7+) offer: Accept or wait until 11+

[Tealife]

DC received an offer for Y3 (7+) admission at Colfe’s. Whilst we’ve only heard good reviews about Colfe’s, unsure whether to spend £100k+ in fees (4yrs) for an assured place at 11+ or wait and sit exams for the schools we like - JAGS, Alleyns, Colfe’s, Eltham, St. Dunstans, BH at 11+?

pros: secured place for Y7.
cons: whilst we can afford it, £100k can rather fund university / experiences.

1. Is getting 11+ place at the above schools really that difficult to justify spending £100k?
2. Specifically, do Y3-Y7 at Colfe’s add significant value to justify £100k (DC currently happy and top 3 in class at a state primary)?
3. Am I being silly thinking it’s now or never opportunity, if we let it go and DC will miss out on this chance at 11+ given the competition with private prep children?

Also, would be really helpful to know if you’ve any experience with Colfe’s juniors as my view is based on how good it is for secondary.

Thanks a bunch in anyway you could help make me an informed decision - as currently it’s becoming quite an emotional one.

Following, as also in similar position

My dc have been in private from age 3 but from what I’ve seen now they are older, dc joining private school at 11+ fit in just fine. It’s not now or never. To ease transition tho I suggest private music lessons and joining local cricket / hockey / rugby / netball clubs (as relevant for dc sex) as sport is impossible to integrate into match playing teams if you’ve never touched a rugby ball and all the other boys have been playing for years (just one example).

academics will be fine as you’ll have to tutor / prepare for 11+

dc are at one of the schools in your longer list (we like Colfes but turned it down for 2 other schools for the dc due to their particular personalities / strengths)

Do not underestimate the importance of extracurriculars at the private schools you mention. All kids will be academic - to make the most of it and for you to get your money’s worth they really need to have an interest (ideally a talent!) in music, drama, the arts, sport (nb the sports the school play. Don’t turn up at Eltham if you’re a brilliant footballer - go to Alleyn’s) . That’s what I’d spend the money on at state primary and it will be a fraction on the £100k of fees

I knew some kids from colfes. Obviously impossible to tell what’s school and what’s family/nature, but those children put me off it. Admittedly a fair while a go now.

have you looked at trinity? We loved that, but wrong sex child 🙄 she would have got a sports scholarship as well had she been a boy.

we went state in the end as private would have been too big a stretch.

My DD is at Colfe's senior school. She came from a state primary and she has settled well and is thriving. She is achieving well academically and plays on the sports teams. Colfe's junior is a lovely school (it wouldn't have worked for us financially or logistically) but I wouldn't say that you'd miss out on the 11+ opportunity if you turned down the 7+ place for the junior school.

Just to add to this, I don't think being at the Juniors means guaranteed place for the seniors at Colfe's. They still need to sit an exam and last year I think about 1/6 didn't get offered a place. Not sure if joining in Y3 changes this though.

In contrast at Eltham we were told it is a guaranteed place from juniors to seniors.

thanks and yes that was the impression we got from Colfes. We didn't go with it in the end.

For Eltham seniors - is it true that the new admissions policy (after integration of blackheath prep in 2024) require you to exclusively commit to Eltham seniors for a guaranteed place, else children will need to sit the competitive exam.

Do you know what this means in practice? can the children not even apply for local grammars or any other independent schools if they want a guaranteed place option at Eltham?

https://www.blackheathprep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Eltham-College-Pathway-Infographic.pdf