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

*Entrance based on interview with mothers.

Blank looks when discussing 'naice ham, elderly Korean lady and lemon drizzle cake' will be a no thank you...*

DarkBlueEyes
So sorry! Did not see your post before posting.

Sorry darkblue
It's not a 'no', hopefully that waiting list will move fast.
Where else did you apply/waiting for?

We're waiting for St .catherines, which is now my only hope. Notting Hill (snowball's chance) and putney (ditto). If we don't get St Catherine's then I will ask if she can resit.

She's just said the maths there was ok but the comprehension tricky and the story difficult to write (continuation of a story) and as her English is stronger my hopes there are ebbing away too.

Evidently I played it well as DD is thrilled to have a waiting list place and vey proud of herself.

I'm struggling to hold the tears back. And blaming myself for not making her work hard enough.

Oh God.

Fingers crossed for St Catherine's. When do they offer?

Are there any preps around you where she could do 7 and 8 and have another try at 13+?

Sometimes the maturity gained in those 2 years can make a big difference, particularly if they are working in smaller classes, surrounded by children who are all focussed on the same goal.

Oh DarkBlueEyes, I sympathise with you so much :( Waiting list is good though and I hope you will be pleasantly surprised. It also does sound positive 're other schools. Follow your DD's lead - she sounds very upbeat, like my DD, whereas I'm still feeling utterly defeated.

And well done to you for managing expectations for DD.

Castles you and I can go to the corner and rock. I just don't understand where I went so wrong. She's predicted 5a across the board so not at all stupid. It must be my fault somehow.

Her friends have offers and interviews left right and centre and I can't imagine how that must feel for her. Why have I put her through this?

We should hear from St Catherine's soon. My prayer ratio is through the roof.

If all
This isn't bad enough I suffer from seasonal affective disorder and my mood at this time of year is dreadful
Though I try to hide it. I didn't leave the house yesterday except for school run and couldn't even cook dinner. So this timing really sucks. Sorry ladies that is quite a moan.

The whole process is hideous. Fingers crossed for St C and a fast moving wait list.

Dark Blue Eyes. Wait list is not the end of the world. It WILL move.

Wait a couple of days then write a careful and constructive email explaining that you remain very interested in a place and want to be kept on the wait list. Say why you think it is the right school for your child.

Lots of people use Surbiton as a fall back. Many wont bother to tell them they want to be taken off the wait list. There wont be much difference between the girls on the WL. Writing something constructive now and confiming your continued interest, should be enough to move you up the list.

You could say that you are reasonably confident of being offered a place at St Cs, and therefore would appreciate feedback on whether it is worth waiting and hoping for SHS, as you would not want to muck other schools around.

And remember. WL means she is good enough. The system is not fool proof. We know several girls who got into different schools via WL and later were top of their class or top set.

Need more sleep that is so helpful and has actually made me feel microscopically better so thank you.

Oh Dark Hugs. Wait list will move - maybe phone them on Monday and ask where she is on the list. I know of a boy from our school that got into Emanuel last year when he was 15th on the list. And it happened quite quickly.

Your doing a great job with your DD; and yes it's about 'well done you', lets sit tight and see what happens. So much easier to say than do tho'.

St Catherine's are reviewing results next week; so I think offers out end of the week or early the week after (that's what they told us but sometimes it takes longer).

She may just have had an off day with Surbiton; it happens and they aren't necessarily great at knowing. She's clearly capable.

We're also telling DD that the school doesn't matter that much as she'll be great wherever she goes, do well and make friends. Told her we're hoping that she gets one of her top three state options as they are all so good.

Sometimes I feel like a used car salesman....

DarkBlueEyes, I totally agree with needmoresleep esp 're waiting list. I know a boy who got into Tiffin via WL as he was untutored who is now top of year in every subject. He's where he should be naturally. Take comfort that wherever your DD does go (and she will, Surbiton and St C sound very promising) she won't struggle there as she only just scraped in by the skin of her teeth after years of tutoring. It sounds like she will excel in fact - 5a's are very good. Like my DD she probably just hasn't mastered taking exams yet unlike the top scorers who might have had so much more exposure to them.

I'm keeping everything crossed for you. Look at it this way: she stands a better chance than my DD

I totally agree that regardless of where they go able pupils do well and that a waiting list place means she is of the standard. I am sure it will move given that Surbiton has expanded and I think must already have the most places on offer, plus can only recruit from 50% of the population.

I am so sorry to hear of people feeling so heartbroken by this process. As Needmore and I know when they get to uni they find themselves amongst bright pupils from all sorts of school backgrounds. Cream does rise. And I do know of one year group at LEH that ended up twenty short by the end of Year 8, with 1 pupil arriving to fill a place from Ibstock...

...GCSE,A-levels,Uni,marriage and grandkids.
The worry never ends and there is no finishing line.

Dark,

I would email in the first instance. Registrars will be fielding lots of calls. No need to tell them anything they already know, but say you feel it is the right school because she has always been comfortable academically (in the top third of her class or similar) enjoys learning, mention easy transport, friends going either from previous school or brownies etc. Read the website carefully and suggest she is a "taker-parter" in music, sport or whatever. Be positive rather than gushing. Ask about the chances of the list moving.

Then speak to her current school head on Monday. If they send a number of children to SHS they should be able to make a call confirming "this one is alright". SHS want a stead flow of good applicants from feeder schools, so should listen. If it is a prep, getting them to an appropriate next stage is something you are paying for, so you should expect help. SHS are more likely to be open to them than you.

Then hold fire. My guess is that SHS, having recently expanded, may be erring on the side of caution, as they wont want to have to add a bulge class. In about a week or so they will know whether the list is moving. From then on in it is not about your child, but about other people's decisions and tactics. If they think they are going to need to go to the wait list they will encourage you to wait. If things look tight they will probably tell you.

Then phone the day before the deadline for acceptances. Depending on whether it is before or after state school places are announced they should be able to give you a much better steer on whether it is worth holding on.

The next movement will be just before the start of the summer temr when people, still sitting on the fence deciding on a state or indi place, need to pay a terms fees. If you are willing to lose a term's fees your chances of getting a place then should be good.

Most registrars are approachable. Their job (mainly) is to sell the school and ensure places are filled. Keep checking by phone or email every two weeks so they know you remain interested. As time goes on most people on the WL will have made other arrangements, so a place is most likely to go to someone they know will take it.

Lots of people get in through wait lists. Though obviously it is a horrid wait and important to remain as emotionally detached as you can.

The deadline for acceptance of place at SHS is 3rd March 11.30 if that is helpful

State offers (in Richmond anyway) are emailed evening 2nd March. Expect a lot of movement that week !

DD (now Y7) was at Surbiton juniors where all girls are guaranteed a senior school place. About 12 didn't go on to the senior school last year, most moved to state. These parents only have to give one terms notice, the first day of the summer term. There is still a lot of movement after the March cut off.
Good luck with St Catherines. Did you look at Marymount? I don't know much about it but a friend is very happy to have her DD there and it apparently has really small classes in the early senior years.

Hi. Does anyone know what the criteria for offers at KGS is? My DS has a 'general' interview this morning and came out happy. I shook the teachers hand but she gave nothing away in far as I had no idea if it went well from her side. I have chatted to DS and subtly (as far as any of us can hide our desperation to know how interviews go) inquired about the questions and cringed at some of his answers!! There were so many teachers interviewing so many children so I am not sure how they assess them. Has anyone experience of how they determine who gets offers after interviews at KGS? Thanks.

Dark, I second what everyone else is saying about waiting list movement. Lots of places will come up and I'm sure you'll be successful, it just makes the whole process more drawn out and stressful. Make sure the school know you really want a place and check in regularly. The year group there is huge, I would think it is one of the best waiting lists to be on in terms of a place coming up (maths again...)
GJHmum1 My son had a general KGS interview last year. I think the accepted wisdom is that that usually results in an offer, it did for him. DS2 had a general interview (10+) this morning so hoping that is true. I think they are just going on feel to be honest as my son was talking about going shopping for a glue stick as soon as he was finished (!). Its like those adult interview studies that show you make your mind up within the first minute, which is strangely true whenever I have sat on panels. Not much you can do really, let them be themselves and then sit and wait. And wait. And wait.......

Thanks Dinocroc - would be so thrilled with a KGS offer. Wish I could fast forward to Feb 13th - the waiting is going to be torture!

Unless DC beats the interviewer around the head ,a general interview is an offer for KGS.iF DC can string a sentence then the bumf is on its way.My DS talked about super cars ,somewhat childish I know.He has a 10+ KGS place.