City of London boys - the ten plus entry, has anyone been through this?

[Mummyinthedark]

We are preparing our DS for the exam, which he will have to sit in January next year.

School only make one sample paper available for literacy and one for maths.

Has anyone else been through the 10 plus entry hurdle?

If you have any advice for us, or any recollection of what was in the papers your DS sat we would be very grateful.

Any general thoughts about experience you have had with DSs at the school would also be fantastic. We like what we see but don't know any boys there very well, have met two who are both very nice chaps and seem bright but first hand insights would be lovely.

Thanks for any thoughts

MITD

Experience with this school is that they are disingenuous - unfair in the application of their admissions policy vis a vis students with SEN. Head talks the talk about academic apartheid but does not walk the walk. Astonishingly close minded about anything out of the ordinary. Attitudes encountered reflect an actual ethos at odds their written ethos. No doubt there will be parents with good experiences - ours wasn't.

Sorry to hear this, sounds bad.

I hope you found a good solution elsewhere and that your son didn't feel any impact personally.

Did you ask the school why their policies and actions weren't aligned?

We engaged in frank exchange of views. My DS has had a spectacularly good experience elsewhere which exposed how poor our experience with CLSB was. The Head and Governors were all aware but rather than consider that their policies might need greater flexibility they circled the wagons. The hypocrisy was (and still is) breathtaking. I heard the Head on the radio this week and listened with astonishment at his comments in light of the school's actions. I must reiterate however that there will be many parents and sons satisfied and indeed happy with their experience. If there is any chance your son might have SEN, reconsider this school as a choice. By the way, SEN is not a measure of academic success - DS has had great academic success at the school he attended.

Well done for holding the school to account.

I hope some of your points have made them think hard about this issue and what they can do better.

And thank you for telling me about this experience, it is very helpful.

Many moons ago DS had 10+ offer withdrawn, despite test performance, after his Headteacher 'advised' his SEN. When they offered the 50%scholarship place at 11+, DS had plenty other better offers. Since then, we've met several boys with SEN, who'd been rejected outright. They went on to Oxbridge after attending schools all better performing than City. Yes we think DS was very lucky not to have gone to City.

As Thereitis says, there are many who suit City. It seems City know what they do not want, and will err on caution. DS said he was asked why he leaned to look out the window when discussing a question on directions. DS was pointing out landmarks. but interviewer worried he might fling himself out the window...

Incidentally we also know a boy who joined at 10+ and left for a better school at 11+. So they're got experience of that if you'd like to try them out for a year.

Thanks Chrchrch, DH and I appreciate the insights.

Beginning to worry that no one has come along with a positive point of view!

DS sat the 10+ last January and started at the school in September this year. So far his experience of the school has been all good. DS has no SEN so I cannot comment on the opinions above, but have found the school to be extremely inclusive with regards to race and religion. As I understand there are some boys in his form who are supported by SENCO but I don't know to what extent and what the issues are.

The examination day was a long one, 9am until 3.30pm I think. They did a maths, an english and verbal reasoning paper. Plus a group interview within a classroom setting. DS had done no preparation and hadn't had any tutoring (as it was a bit of a last minute decision) he came out feeling it was very tough and he didn't think he had done well.

A few weeks later he was called back for an individual interview, which was quite in depth and a bit of a grilling in maths from what he said!

Best of luck to your DS, IMO its a great school !

Takeonboard, thank you, your experience sounds very positive and comes as something of a relief!

Lovely to hear such a happy account, and very helpful to have the detail about the exam day and selection.

All the best

MITD

I looked on here last year when DS was about to sit the test and there were lots of positive threads about the school - try searching the past couple of years for more info -sorry I can't do links etc!!

I will, thanks again.

Anyone else out there got views of City of London boys?

Saw an open day this year and liked what I saw. Our (second favourite - the first favourite was a state school). Will probably put DS in next year (one year behind you) for the 10+ test. At the moment, though, will certainly consider moving him after 12 months if a better place (the state option) comes up at 11+, though.

Thanks ODC. We like a lot about the school, which is one of maybe three we think would suit our DS.

Fingers crossed we all make the right choices.

A boy from our local primary school did 10± entry. He is now in Year 8 there and loves it. A friend's son left there about 5 years ago and he says he had a great time there. It is academic but all the boys are clever so that really isn't surprising. There is quite a lot of sport though most of it tends to be indoor - swimming, fencing etc which isn't surprising, though they do get an afternoon a week to run around playing football, cricket at their South London playing fields. Definitely would consider it if you want a bustling, energetic school for clever boys of a wide variety. Having said that, I must add that a clever boy I know, but with SEN, did not get in so that may chime with other comments above.

Would University College School suit you maybe?

Dusty, thanks. Funnily enough UCS is one of the other schools we like. It's a nicer campus than CLBS, although the City location and its associations has different pluses too.

The head's public comments were about racial segregation in london schools I think, don't think he claimed to be inclusive re SEN. Think they're setting up scholarships for sixth form for DC with good GCSEs, so perhaps they're interested mainly in bursaries for v academic DC who have already done well "against the odds".