Anyone got child at ST Johns Leatherhead?

[timeforsomethingnew]

DD been offered place for Sep 2014 and interested to get feedback from anyone with child there.

Please PM me if you'd prefer, but would love to know more about school. TIA

[JAK101]

I do wonder where all the kids from schools like Downsend/Manor House etc will go after 16. Surely the 'usual' schools will be full after in takes at 11 & 13.

[tink07]

"I believe you have to have done the entrance exam at 11+ to get on that list for 13+ entry"

Yes you do the 11+ pretest to enter at 13+. It is the exact same test as the 11+ entry test , is sat at the same time and I believe more boys do sit it.

[JAK101]

"At 13+ they now just take a further 3 forms"

I believe you have to have done the entrance exam at 11+ to get on that list for 13+ entry.

I heard they are still taking more boys than girls (at 11+) - they aren't spreading it evenly but still more boys take the test.

[tink07]

A lot didn't get a place this year particularly if a boy and if 13+ entry. It is based on the assessment tests (admissions policy is fairly clear). At 13+ they now just take a further 3 forms.

It is a different case for 11+, with the lower school opened there are more places at 11+ (They take 4 forms of 18). So is probably easier to receive an offer (currently).

That might change as the school is increasingly becoming a more attractive option for academic all rounders due to its pastoral care, increasing academic (new head and deputy head ex GHS/KCS) as well as just wanting a comparatively smaller year group so they can get involved in sports teams/drama etc.

I suspect those who are concerned about 13+ competition may start going for 11+ (if they haven't already), academic all rounders will be increasingly attracted to the school and with the south London bus routes opened up, I expect it will get harder to get into at 11+ in future years.

[JAK101]

Definitely. From what I saw at the Epsom College exam days they were equally over subscribed (if not more so). Prep schools are having to adapt as well to the 11+ entrance and are extending education until 16 (previously 13). All in all it means, in my opinion, the sooner you can get your child in the system the better.

[Sunshine5050]

For St. John's at 11plus it's completely different to before because the Lower School has had 2 years to settle, they are selling a full package many people want, for example everyone gets in a sports team, if you send a dd to Surbiton High only a tiny % of the 160-200 Girls in the year get in competitive sports team and play on a regular basis.

[sazzy5]

You're right JAK101 lots will miss out on a place. I was more meaning the level of test was slightly easier. Many took the St J's exam from our school, got scholarships and didn't go but went to Hamptons or RGS.
I didn't hear of any not getting in but of course many must not have got in just not in my 'group'. Sorry!

[JAK101]

hundreds didn't get a place this year:-) I am told there have been quite a few smaller schools being bought up and closed for land ££££ so demand is really high. Personally, based on my discussions with admissions , it really comes down to the tests/exams performance. Those who have been prepped well and are already at the level they are looking for will be fine.

This notion that interview/personality and extra curricular activities somehow can trump a good test score is outdated. Sure if they have 10 kids all scoring the same metrics they will use that as a deciding factor but other than that you need to do better in the tests than the next kid.

[sazzy5]

I haven't heard of anyone not getting a place at St John's but I am guessing due to its popularity recently it will start to turn away those that would normally have got a yes. I know several that were turned down at Reeds who got a place at St Johns but who knows how they make their choices!

[JAK101]

Andplus....or you could just be in the top 10% of the 300 people applied for a place.

[Wobblypig]

Heavens above. At least post your misery on a current thread

[andplus]

Yes. It is easy to get into St John's Leatherhead. Simply follow the brochure photo guidelines:

• be white
  
• be sporty
  
• have a traditional name
  
• avoid foreign family links unless you are loaded
  
• be well connected to the school stakeholders

[NearTheWindmill]

My Godson isn't sporty and it hasn't been an issue. My DC were both at school doing activities of some sort until 5 or later. DS for sport; dd for drama/singing usually.

[timeforsomethingnew]

Thanks for the additional comments. Sorry to hear about your nephew anniesw.

.The gossip site definitely worries me ... Definitely cyber bullying, but suspect could find similar on public and private forums for many schools. So really just want to check this is not ingrained in culture and that as ex boys school that it has made its transition to accepting and welcoming girls. I definitely want an established coed school.

Achickencalledkorma. Good observation re sport but sport angle doesn't worry me and probably could be said of all the schools on our short list. She loves her sport which was starting point for all schools we picked.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

With respect to sport - I do observe that the time commitment for sport seems quite steep. There often appear to be matches going on all day Saturday and the day students don't seem to leave school till after 5pm Monday to Friday.

Don't know if that's an issue for you - maybe it's par for the course at a school which has a lot of boarders. If it was me, I'd want to ask whether they still have prep etc to do after school or whether everything is done when they leave.

[Loopytiles]

That "little gossip" site is really horrible. Cyber bullying.

[anniesw]

My nephew was there a few years ago and was subject to unpleasant bullying/

[timeforsomethingnew]

Thanks Janacek, Achickencalledkorma and nearthewindmill. Feedback seems consistent re pastoral care, friendly staff etc. And sporty is good in case of my DD! In fact, one of the things I hope about the school is that she'll get to do all the sport she loves but will also be able to do some art and some other things too. She'd like to, but the way it works for her right now, it's just sport and difficult for us to do other stuff other than in holidays.

Thanks for taking the time to respond ... short skirts and thick make up very scary but suspect part of our future anyway ... eek!

[AChickenCalledKorma]

fair point. Perhaps I should have said even shorter and even thicker than the girls at any of the other local secondary schools .

[NearTheWindmill]

You have just described the entire adolescent population of SW London and Surrey achickencalledkorma

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Only anecdotal, but I know someone whose grand-daughter has recently left St John's sixth form. She had some issues with anorexia and I gather that the school was extremely helpful pastorally.

I live in the area and see the boys and girls around town. They look happy, although possibly a tad over-confident when in a big crowd (i.e. need reminding that the whole town is not, in fact, part of their campus LOL) Slight tendency towards extremely short skirts and extremely thick make-up among the older girls .

[Janacek]

We went to the Open Days. Was impressed with the staff. Too sporty for my son and bit too posh really. Parents liked it bpys didn't! "Too posh for the likes of us" my 11 yr old said!!!

[timeforsomethingnew]

Thanks Absolutmum. Good to hear. We had a good visit in the summer but school had already broken up and we only got to meet the Head and tour the empty school. DD will get a chance to visit properly in Feb.

Anyone have thoughts or experience re girls?

[Absolutmum]

My son has a place for 2015. I know lots of people with older children there, I've never heard a bad word about the school!
We've viewed it a couple of times and have always been impressed.

[timeforsomethingnew]

Thanks Nearthewindmill. At this point we've pretty much narrowed down the selection of schools. We've got a few other schools in mix too and she's going through the exams etc.

St Johns is first (maybe only!) to confirm a place. For others she is on wait list, awaiting exam results or waiting to do exams.

St John's does seem to hit the mark ... But now they have confirmed place I just wanted further feedback specifically on St Johs and anyone's personal experience . Really just do g my due diligence to check I'm on the right track.