I'm a weeny bit cross that there hasn't been a SW/W London Independent schools thread this yr.

[SonorousBip]

Every blinking year there is one - and I read, and nod, and note. Sometimes they go on for months and pages. But this year, when I'm actually doing it - pah, not a sausage.

If anyone wants to do a last minute SPGS/Latymer/Godolphin/ KGS/LEH/WHS/PHS thread, please do! (disclaimer - I'm not doing all of those.). But views welcome. Because I've got several days to form my final views

Really do you think so amidaiwish?! I thought given that they don't even want to interview her, that wouldn't be an option, not that I had thought about it ... yet!

Did she sit Surbiton High?

Castles - that's great news! Will you come over or Skype? If you're in Wimbledon I suggest a bit if retail therapy in Elys. Lots of pampering opportunities there these days as well!

i don't think you've got anything to lose, i would fight her corner about the french classroom etc... if you think she is up for sitting it again? that has got to be grounds. plus your ds is in. and you're abroad. honestly i would try.

i am sure they have a second paper - for clashes etc. afaik there was a second sitting on saturday after the thursday.

Ok thanks amidaiwish, I will see what I can find out. She didn't sit Surbiton High, only KGS and WHS. Feel a bit foolish now.

Thanks mertonmama, WHS want to do the interview by Skype. A pity to miss out on retail therapy but hopefully there will be plenty of future opportunities!

well Surbiton have increased their intake to 200, and the exam was a lot easier than KGS by all accounts, and it is a really lovely friendly school. Close to KGS (on the way to surbiton just out of kingston) so good logistics for the two kids if in different schools. i think it is where dd2 will go

Might be worth contacting them?

i don't mean the SHS exam was easy
just that KGS was very tough. some from DDs school said some bits were tougher than Hampton/LEH.

Castles, it's probably worth going back to KGS. Nothing to lose! Best of luck with it.

Also thinking about the advice on comforting your child when rejected given below. Is anyone happy to share numbers?

Eg I was told St Catherine's was 145 for 60 places. Which I make as a 12 in 29 chance (sorry my maths is rubbish) so if you round up to 4 in 10 so almost half the girls will get a place.

Does anyone have any other figures? I heard LEH was 1 in 5.

Castle - that's really hard. Fingers crossed for WHS tho'. Surbiton is lovely and they may be helpful (can't hurt to ask!).

Dark - I presume most places at St Catherine's go to girls already at the school so I fear odds for us newbies may be worse.

WHS had 500 applicants. There are usually 84 places, of which around 40 will go to Junior School girls. So 500 for 44 places. BUT bear in mind that loads of those girls will have sat the grammars, PHS, G&L, SPGS etc so the ratio will actually be better than it sounds once offers are made.

Yikes the numbers are rather frightening.

Of to practice my 'oh well darling...it was worth a shot' in a cheerful voice.

Thanks for words of sympathy. For what it's worth, I do think KGS has upped the ante since ds sat 4 years ago. He isn't the brightest, declared it was easy at the time and got an offer which we rejected. Can't help wondering if that rejection has counted against us? My ds's are both predicted level 6 maths, secure level 5s in English and if anything are brighter than their brother. The one with two rejections has gone to bed tonight thinking he won't get any offers, despite our attempts to tell him different. What am I doing to my kids?

Different exams too for KGS and WHS - if your DD is strong at VR and NVR then have a good chance to shine at WHS, if stronger at English and Maths than these, KGS style exam may suit (although they also did VR...shame for DD as her NVR is far superior to her VR!)

KGS has always traditionally been tougher to get into than Surbiton High, but they have far fewer places available they can afford to be more selective. Surbiton accept four times as many girls as KGS, so clearly better odds there for daughters.

Castles - you have nothing to lose by following up on your DDs behalf. Good luck finding her senior school.

Similar situation here Beingfrank. DD1 is every bit as clever as DS is/was 2 years ago plus she has gained fluency in a language which is still very prominent in English Curriculum. I thought these things stood for something. Harumph. Fwiw, I very much doubt your rejected offer of 4 years ago counts against you. Very sadly I think KGS is going the way of all the other schools now (it has to because of numbers applying): first past the post and nothing else matters. Courage to you and your DSs.

Castles, I think KGS and other selective schools value the children who speak foreign languages fluently, who play instruments etc. However, I realised that there are a lot of children like these. Half a year ago I contacted the mother whose daughter attends very selective SW London school and I asked her if she thinks my DD who speaks 1 European language totally fluently and the other to a very high level, plays the piano, will stand out amoung other applicants. She was very frank and responded that there are a lot of children in this school who speak foreign language fluently and play an instrument at a very high level.

Oh I appreciate that Alana1975, I don't think my own DC are better than anyone else's. I just mourn the fact that KGS has gone the way of all the other selective secondaries in the area. Only 2 years ago it was one of the few schools that saw past my DS's special needs and the fact that he so obviously hadn't been tutored. Not the case for DD sadly.

I really feel for you, Castles. I hope WHS goes well for your daughter.

I'm a lurker on this thread - my DD is going through admissions for secondary but in Paris, not London (lots of similar issues however!) and just wanted to say hi and commiserate with castles. We briefly thought we would be moving to London for September 2015 and looked into admissions to Y7 for DD, who has done her education so far in the French system (albeit bilingually) and it is clearly very tough to attempt admissions to selective English schools when you have been in the French system.

Thanks Bonsoir. I now realise I was rather naiive to think DD stood a chance. Also silly to limit ourselves to one school just because older DS has a place there. Oh well you live and learn. I gave up on the Paris schools because I decided my DC had a better chance in UK. Oh dear think I got it a bit wrong. Very good luck to your DD. I know how competitive it all is in Paris but I am sure she will do well.

KGS, Ibstock...they all seem to be going that way. I wish it would stop - I guess schools like Radnor House and Kew House (I think that's it name) will fill the gap once they're a bit less shiny and new.

Thank you castles and I am sure it will all work out for you in due course.

castles - you've still got time to apply to Lycée International and Sèvres.

I knew I shouldn't have started reading this thread! DD is only in Y3 but there's lots of school chat at her (state) primary. They've always got a big number into the SW Independents but now I'm in a bit of a panic! I need to step away I think!

Wheresthebeach - I think Radnor has already gone the same way because they have very few places. Quite a few were turned away last year. When ds1 did the exam it was all "take as long as you want"!

Beingfrank - Arghhhhhh really? I think our theme tune should be 'Another one bites the dust'...sigh