13+ entrance exams

[montclair]

Hi, Hope people can help. DS in state middle school. Options for upper school look quite bleak. Neither do we have pots of money. Are there spaces at 13+ for bright state pupils? Or have we missed the boat looking at 2013 entry? Complete novice but going to view some schools and would consider boarding. He is an all rounder with some extra ability in maths and science. Is it worth registering or is the competition so fierce we don't stand a chance?
Thanks again

Dear EdithWeston, I went through the list that manic gave and many of them have already closed their lists. Some of the others state that they give state children an alternative exam to the CE. I will get all the practice papers. Probably still a long shot to hope for a bursary of any sort.
Will have a look at Merchant Taylors - Aldenham looked lovely too. The Warwick School was another possibility. Thanks again for the advice. Appreciated

Most independent schools will take into account if a child hasn't been at a school that prepares for the Scholarship/Common Entrance.

OP before even practising any papers if you need a bursary then you need to start off by having an honest and frank conversation with the bursar. Also most independent schools will expect you to have visited them with your DS. This information is recorded on your DS's file because if you are looking for a bursary they need to se that you are really desperate for a place keen on the school. Where you can it is better to actually meet with the head let him see that you and your DS and are a lovely family you are with such a nice DS, get him on your side I think most people will say that this will influence bursar decisions.

I'm glad you're finding some possibles on the availability front. Are many of them schools you know, or know people who have DCs there, or are you now girding your loins for a round of visits?

Looking at a round of visits! Again - really appreciative of people's input. He is a nice child and would do well and contribute. Need to speak to some bursars now!

The other thing I meant to say is if you like a school give them a ring even if the deadline has passed. They may well have some scope to deal with a late registration from someone outside the ususal prep school route (the may be less forgiving for prep school pupils because the school will have told them well in advance when the deadline is).

Well, filled out an application form, paid a cheque of £75 registration, completed a bursary application form and received a letter today telling me that they couldn't offer a full bursary (hadn't asked for a full one) and wished DC well in their future studies......Am I entitled to ask for £75 back? Am not wealthy and feel a bit aggrieved. Should I? No point DS taking exams as we couldn't afford full fees.

You can ask but you probably won't get it back. What you could do if you are looking at other schools is ask if they could give you an indication before you register.

I didn't pay a registration fee when ds did his scholarship entrance exams. I didn't pay a registration fee even when he was accepted. All I paid was the deposit.

Most independent schools expect you to pay a deposit £200 is not uncommon. In your situation you really need to speak to the bursar before proceeding with any kind of application. If I was you I would tell them exactly what your looking for if its 100% say it and ask them if this is possible explain you don't have enough money to pay deposits etc. The reality is that I suspect few boarding schools offer that many 100% bursaries and most will be attached to scholarships.
Have you contacted Christ's Hospital they do have a very large bursary pot children there will be on 100% bursaries and an intake at 13+ although I know nothing about the admission process.

Ive just looked on Christ's Hospital website closing date for entry including bursary application into next years yr 9 is the 10th of Jan and a child has to be working at at least SAT level 6/7. I tried to copy it for you but the bloody computer wont let me and I don't know how to put the link on here!! (can someone please tell me how to do this?)

Happy cut and paste the URL into double square brackets like this

link here

www.christs-hospital.org.uk/prospective-parents/apply-for-a-place/

You could try for Boarding Entry to Cranbrook which is a state boarding school - you only pay the boarding fees - nothing for tuition (around £10Kpa)

You would need to apply by the end of this month.

will have a look. Thank you :) Just annoyed; they said they would not be able to offer a full bursary, although on my form I had said we would try and raise about 10k and they wished my DC child luck in their future studies, indicating to me that DS wouldn't even be able to sit the exams which I thought was part of the process.

I think OP that's it's better to know that you wont get a bursary before your DS sits the exams looks at the school likes it meets house masters etc. Common entrance and probably its equivilant for those frs not sat until June I suspect that neither you or your DS want to wait till then.

I think OP that's it's better to know that you wont get a bursary before your DS sits the exams looks at the school likes it meets house masters etc. Common entrance and probably its equivilant for those from state schools is not sat until June I suspect that neither you or your DS want to wait till then.

www.cranbrookschool.co.uk/

Forgot to put the link in my earlier post

many thanks. He is currently at Level 8 for maths and levels 7 for english and science, but not yet level 6 for the foundation subjects. Guess we will be practising from now to the entrance exams!