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

Pity this years' cohort - they'll be under the cosh to get results back up.

Another Newt. Yes I think you're right -anomalies happen. But I do think its quite scary how schools that used to be considered an "easier option" are becoming increasingly selective and pressurised environments. Where will Ibstock be in another 7 years?!
Where are the indie schools for a child who is academically average (at best) in SW London? If you don't fancy a coach ride out into Surrey, that is!

That discussion just reminds me of something I'd like to share! I have two friends I play sport with - they are sisters. They both went to SHS, and one left for LEH in the sixth form. They both ended up with exactly the same results.

Go figure!

My point exactly minoula. It is a real worry.

Totally agree DarkBlue, a bright child will achieve well in any of these schools. It is "horses for courses" - whilst one child may thrive in a highly competitive environment, another (with the same academic ability) may completely loose their confidence and be better off where the variation of ability is wider.
Aside from the identical results, the sisters you mentioned may have preferred to be in different schools and not be associated with their sibling. Additionally, one may have chosen LEH because she wanted to swim or play lacrosse, and the other may have chosen Surbiton due a preference for hockey.
It is important to keep in perspective that a child attending any of the schools mentioned on this thread is hugely privileged!

Anyone elses DD interviewed at FH today?

Also re a level results - somewhere like Westminster will filch the cleverest girls. Loads of girls I know are desperate for co ed by 6th form.

Anyone read Malcolm gladwell David and Goliath? Argument that most people do better in a more mixed ability setting.

NW girls - that is very interesting, and I think backs up what I said. Our head warned us off one v high end school for one dc, and told us honestly that we didn't need the banker we had thought about for the other, as a different school was banker enough. So for each dc we had our expectations very clearly managed - in those circumstances, doing 7 would be bonkers.

I'm letting you off as you did a consortium, so you did not do 7 exams. Muses - I personally think more consortia are the way forward, which I think points more to a common entrance style approach.

Challenge with consortium is one bad day ditches a lot of schools...

Farewell I love Malcom Gladwell! He writes a lot of sense and always backs it up with evidence. I read David and Goliath and remember a whole chapter about how bigger class sizes are academically better - more debate and more likelihood of finding a contemporary to bounce along with. I also liked his chapter about people who just 'scrape in' to Harvard (ie bottom quarter) being much more likely to be demoralized and drop out. Hence my kids are in a (very) mixed primary of 30 and I didn't tutor lots for the entrance exams. DS1 is well away from the bottom of the class at a selective secondary now.

I think there is a danger in overprepping / tutoring that when kids get to school they realise they are not nearly as smart as they were told they were in relation to the rest of the class which must be massively demoralizing. And they don't have the option of dropping out do they

Oh and 'Blink' explains my Stripey blazer and badge prejudice right?

Fascinated (as a Gov in a Richmond Borough state primary) at the numbers of kids in some primaries in this area going for private places....it clearly depends a lot on the individual primary. We're on the very edge of the Borough, and dd is one of only two children in Y6 applying for an indie place.

No silences in the playground, no gossip, but I suppose a tad lonely at times just because she's going through something no other girls that she knows are going through.

Well said dinocroc.

'Blink' explains a lot. Brilliant book. I've just read Office Politics, different writer can't remember who off top of my head, but recommend it: can be applied to any scenario playground politics is one that springs to mind

Cross post Castles! Wish you were here. How's dd?

Me too Elibean. I do like the sound of your school (and dinocroc's amongst others). I'm reluctant to return and put DD2 back into Bonkersville Primary. DD1 is great thanks. Totally over her disappointment (lasted about 4 hours ), claims she always wanted to go to W anyway!!

Good for her, wise child

Bonkersville primaries are definitely best avoided if possible. But sneak over for a long weekend sometime and meet me for coffee on a Monday morning!

In retrospect now I realise how having a sensible head teacher to advise you through the whole 11 plus circus is so crucial. Well it was to us, at least. Lots of parents at our very mixed ability prep got the hump in Year 5 when told that they should not apply for KCS or LEH or whatever. The head simply refused to write references if parents' expectations were considered out of line with performance in CAT / SAT tests, etc. So everyone did 4 schools with at least one "back up" option. I can honestly say, I was not aware of any playground gossip at all (looking back that sounds quite unbelievable)! Everyone was doing different schools and few had chosen the same 4. Then I can only think of one case where a DC didn't get into his first choice school -and that was because they chose to go against the head's recommendations!

At the time I wondered if the head was being over-cautious re- school choices for some children. But I guess this is what they do year in year out. They know the schools and they see all types of children, whereas we only know our own dc and have very little to gauge their ability against.

Without the kind of advice that (I realise now) we were so very fortunate to get, we would probably have applied to more than 4 schools tbh.

I avoid the playground politics mainly by being at work and also by being an introvert ('quiet' by ? Susan something) is another good book. Come to our primary I think my kids are almost the only ones sitting these exams! . It's not lonely its quite nice . I remember my dad saying don't tell anyone the date of your driving test or you'll have to tell everyone when (!) you fail. Same thing applies

Good policy

ha ha my dad said that too.
then when i did pass no one believed me. had to bring in the certificate to shut the boys up in the end !!

Sensible Dad, Dino

I do mostly find it peaceful, but I know dd has felt a bit lonely being the only one....its a tough age to be doing something wildly different to all your friends (they've been together since Reception). Especially when you feel diffident about talking about it, because they don't have that choice.

Back to the journey question....

Had a horrible journey for DD JAGS interview. Thameslink messed up again (another burst water main!) and Southern Trains delayed as well. It's unusual for two lines to go down but it did make me want to be in SW rather than SE!

HM confirmed 500 girls sat and remarked she once interviewed a girl who'd taken 13 exams - can you imagine?

Elibean I think we do what we think is best for our kids which may well not be what the crowd is doing. It's hard but I think ultimately confidence building to be different ( says the mum with the son either in gymnastics with lots of girls in shiny leotards or chess with boys in bow ties ). You regret the things you don't do ( full of long departed dad truisms). Though obviously I don't regret not sitting him for 13 exams. Insanity!

13??? How is that even logistically possible? A few years ago my dd sat for 4 schools and 2 of the exam dates clashed. The first school we contacted said that that wasn't a good reason to move to the reserve date but luckily the second school obliged. Goodness knows how you'd do it with 13! The girl must have spent the whole of January doing tests and interviews poor thing.

I'd be exhausted by 4! The stress of waiting for an answer too...argh.

Can't imagine finding 13 schools that seem right for my DD