Starting late for independent - where to start!

[MongooseOUT]

Thinking to try some schools in our area of North London/West london but very late to the game. Are we mad to bother? Looking at the likes of Channing, South Hampstead, Francis Holland, NLCS and SPGS. Any advice from parents who started later in the day.

Find a local tutor who knows the schools and can give you an honest assessment of your child. How late are you talking?

what do you mean by ‘late’? If you are thinking of exams at end of this year, I don’t think it’s too late for some of the schools for a bright kid (FHRP and Channing and possibly SHHS) but probably need a bit more effort for NLCS and SPGS.

Do you know your DD’s CAT4 score as that will give you a good indication of how achievable the schools are / what could be a good fit. Based on experience if your child is 120+ then for FHRP / Channing / SHHS then I think prep over summer will be ok and you won’t be too late. Atom in our experience was fine. It was little and often for us and then at start of Y6 did ramp a little with Mocks to hone into where the weaknesses are.

NLCS and SPGS are much more academic and competitive so speaking to a tutor now to see where your child is and what’s achievable in the time you have is a good idea.

If your child is in Y4 and just going into Y5 you have LOADS of time for all the schools mentioned.

Is this for 7+ or 11+ ? Are you considering single sex or just girls schools?

11+

Would be kind of bananas to go to SPGS from North London! You're talking over an hour commute at least each way. Have you looked at Highgate if you're looking at coed? More on par with SPGS and NLCS than Channing or Francis Holland..

For the less academic ones (relatively speaking) like Channing or FH you'll be fine. For the others you have to start yesterday and go hard sadly. Many (most?) families going for the academic ones have been working on it for at the very least a year, and will have gone to preps, etc.

if your daughter reads voraciously, she can potentially make it. But needs hard work, dedication, and most likely a thorough tutor who knows the system.