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

We've just had an interview letter from the school that we felt he did worst at (haven't told him he did badly, just gulped when I realised quite how wrongly he'd interpreted the composition question) so I am feeling a lot more chipper. All is not doom as it was with the two grammars.

Mind you, he is the most staggeringly inarticulate boy who some of the older generation find quite impossible to understand so I'm not sure the interview is going to help.

Anyone with bad news, I really really feel for you. This is brutal. I am still questioning why we are doing it. I feel these private schools are like hospitals that only take healthy people (and even chuck out those who later get sick) and then brag about how much better their doctors must be in comparison to the all-comers hospital down the road.

Hi all
Good luck to those sitting NHE today. Anyone know the odds? Have heard of some particuarly bright kids yesterday receiving a no from KGS)-: KGS' loss as lovely, lovely kids.

Many of you sound like you are Richmond/twickenham/Kingston based. We can def. rest assured that aside from the obvious Waldegrave and Greycourt, the local state options are really on the up. From DD's lovely state primary more and more kids going state every year, whereas when DD in reception many more went to the independents. We have two top choices for DD- one state, one independent. Fingers crossed she will get one.

LEH letters are out. I'm sure it will bad news. How do you tell your child? Just how?

I don't know

Go down the "it was a long shot" approach. 400 girls sat for 60 spaces. 340 girls got a "no". So she doesn't feel like she is alone in her pain. Also i think it is ok for them to be sad, disappointed.
And "it wasn't the right school for you, it would be terrible to go to a school which wasn't right for you" line...
i've already told DD2 she won't be applying for LEH (somehow she decided that's where she was going because they play lacrosse, been reading too much Malory Towers) - have said to her they go really really fast through the work which she doesn't like, it's not the right school.

Talking of the state secondaries in the Richmond area, can anyone tell me when the results come out for places? March?

by email evening Monday 2nd March

Just got a no from LEH. Does anyone know if they'll give feedback if you call them?

yes apparently the admissions registrar is the nicest of all the schools and spent a lot of time with a friend of mine last year.
sorry about the no

Sorry about bad news Darkblueeyes. Mine have received bad news quite philosophically - definitely a numbers game where some you win, some you lose.

Farewelltoarms - love your hospital analogy, made me

Sorry to hear that Dark - maybe worth finding out about the waiting list. There's lots of movement.
xx

And well done to your son, Farewell, securing that interview. Just goes to show how little point there is in asking them how it went!

Dark blue - sorry to hear your news. Big hug to you and your DD.

Sorry that this is a rather pessimistic post, but every school I've come across eventually gives 3 replies: offer, wait list or no thanks.

It's quite unlikely that enquiring about a waiting list will turn a 'no thanks' into a waiting list place, but no harm in asking. Occasionally there are shocks to the numbers as acceptances/declines come in.

But the general theory is that it's fairer in the long run to give a clear 'no thanks' rather than to leave people to hang on with hopes that, unless a year is truly anomalous, the school already knows won't come to fruition.

Oh...so the letter says 'your on the waiting list' - didn't realise. Yes that makes sense I guess.

Darkblueeyes, sorry you have had bad news today, I hope tomorrow brings good news. For you all.

Farewell, love the hospital analogy! So true. Well done on surprising interview, though very much deserved I don't doubt.

Feeling relieved that we got the two letters at the same time, the Hampton (positive) and the KGS (negative). Seems so much harder every year, though it does feel like many tend to apply to more schools than they used to which would imply schools having to make more offers than they used to and greater movement on the waiting lists.

Never really liked KGS anyway, was always 4th back up... paying all that money and the school has no proper sports hall and has to rent the sports hall at Hinchley Wood comp for its cricket nets just seems wrong to me!

Sorry to hear that Darkblueeyes

Anothernewt is correct about the letters stating whether you are on the waiting list. I'd have thought with a school like LEH where interviews are done after exam results, you would only get on the waiting list if you'd had the interview but not been considered for a first round offer.

Good luck for everyone waiting, it's really horrid.

Thanks for nice comments (it is only one interview though so am not out of the woods!). And really sorry to those who've had bad news. I don't know how you tell them. Remind yourself how immensely lucky and privileged our children are, mostly by blessed with loving and funny parents (judging by the posts).

Just found out from the interview school that they've had no report from school. Hey ho. That's going to compare really well with all those lovingly crafted ones from prep heads, isn't it.

I was thinking how I will tell my DD if she gets a no letter. I will give her examples of very talented and famous people who did not even apply to KGS, LEH, St Pauls, hampton and still were very happy and successful.

Farewell - could you send them a copy of his yr 5 report instead?

Yes that is an option, but I'm hoping the school will cobble something together for me (possibly dictated by me along the lines that my son is the new messiah…)

I just don't know how they can compare the reports written by a head with a vested interest and those written a head with 500 pupils of whom many have deep economic and social issues and for whom writing a poncy private school report is a low priority.

I would definitely send a Y5 report as well. It will be helpful as it was not written with an eye on a process so should be a good indicator of actual ability. The schools do know that some heads wont participate or will only minimally participate in the process.

Sorry for those with bad news :(
Castles I would defo call KGS - explain the circumstances of the test and see if she could do again
Am I right that this was the 10+?

Thanks CountessD. We've been trying to call the registrar since yesterday. Funnily enough she's unavailable! It was 11+.

Farwelltoarms, I would also advise using the year 5 report. My DCs' old primary wrote either dull or scathing reports. Very anti-private head. DS's 11+ one said "he has difficulty staying awake in the afternoons". Absolutely no idea where that came from. Or how he got any offers after reading it! I'm dying to see what DD1's teacher has written about her (french reports are depressingly negative).

I've just re-read his y5 report and it's sooooo dull and cut-and-paste that I'm not sure it's worth sending. Lovely boy and all that but it's so boring they'll want to stab their eyes out.

You kind of wonder why they have heads' reports at all since they must be so open to variation.