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

mertonmama I am also starting to doubt myself about the JAGS journey (from Fulham for us), particulary as DD is likely to want to do afterschool activities. The coach would be yet another expense, while public transport could be crowded / stressful / unreliable.

Hopefully WHS or Lady Margaret will give us a nearer option.

Kingscote - likewise! Thameslink still messed up today! If she were at PHS I'd grit my teeth and drive her if the tube was down. At Tiffin she could bus or train it - and I'd happily drive to pick her up late. Maybe current train chaos is a sign? And she could walk to WHS!

I honestly think you have to have a critical look at the transport. We were v serious about a school for DS which had a school bus which went from very nearby but the public transport alternative was almost non-existent. When DH and I went for an open afternoon, we both went directly from the office so afterwards went home on the train: 15-20 mins walk to the station to find all trains cancelled due to problem further up the line, so we had to get a very roundabout bus to somewhere else then a train on a different part of the line. Took us 2 hours to get home. Sure, we were unlucky, but it was an eye-opener.

FWIW, and this is a completely personal view, I'm not a huge fan of school buses, particularly if they are the only realistic option. I think they are great for lower down the school, but I suspect by the time students are in Ys 11, 12 & 13 that mode of transport will start to grate a bit and are a bit infantilising.

Poisonwoodlife you're completely misreading the Westminster thread. I asked the question, why don't even more secure Oxbridge places, because to me as a state school parent it's an interesting one. I went to a South London independent myself, albeit as a direct grant pupil, and find the whole London day school thing interesting too - there seems to be so much pressure on parents these days, far more so than when I was there taking the entrance exam for schools. But I couldn't be less angsty tbh, I'm out the other side of the Oxbridge thing and hugely relaxed :).

FWIW I'd counsel strongly against long busy commutes.

Yes I second that, I would really not go for anything that involved multiple changes. DD has a 20 min train ride to KGS, due to SWT being totally incapable of running a decent service that can be delayed/cancelled quite often. If so it's a bus to Richmond, then change and bus to Kingston. There are a group of about 10 of them that get the train from our stop in her year so they all go together. That journey is tiring enough for them after a long day, I would really recommend staying within 30 mins commute for them and there has to be a public transport option IMO.

It's worrying isn't it...the journey. Personally if you've got choices your happy with I'd always go with what's closest.

but closest doesn't mean easiest
our closest is LEH
but to get there takes is two buses. one of which is on a nightmare route. in reality i know i would end up driving her. no school bus from here and because most kids either walk or go by school coach there is little tolerance of latecomers.

The differences between these good schools are incremental and there is no point having an awful journey for seven years for a few percent more a stars. Definitely go for the easy journey. There are about five different bus routes that run into Kingston in 10 to 15 mins from us to KGS. It's important daily and at weekend sports when they are brought back to school. And can make his own way home after evening clubs.
Interestingly I have a friend still from school whose mum sent her to my school rather than a closer one to her and it was an awful journey for her. She says her memory of school is 12 hour days and endless bus journeys . She became quite unhappy until she left and went to a closer 6th form college.

Slight change of subject but just wondered if anyone's DC has an interview at Latymer this Saturday?

Don't know what to expect but I am worried that it might be a bit brutal. No one has told me that specifically but with 400 children to interview I am not sure how they can make their decision based on 20 minutes!

I had a long journey to school (rubbish country bus service) and it was hell. I spent my time calculating how much of my life was spent on that freezing cold bus. I am so glad my children have such an easy journey to primary school (three minute walk). Even at the time I swore I'd never make any child of mine go through something similar, yet parents always tell themselves that it's worth it and that the children love it etc.

There's a very small handful of children in my kids' primary going for privates. On the one hand, it's made motivating ds v hard - he quite rightly asked why he was doing comprehensions in the Christmas holidays when most of his friends weren't.

On the other hand, I think for my sanity, it's been so much better. Friends with children in private primaries or much more middle-class states say the atmosphere can become quite fevered and the children can't help but compare themselves.

Dino - it's so worth reading the chapter about the Harvard dropouts in David & Goliath isn't it? Makes me wonder why we're applying for academically selective schools at all...

Journey to school was the most important factor for us in ultimately choosing which schools DD would apply for. We loved City of London and the Hammersmith schools but for felt for DD the journey from SW11 would have been difficult and also her friends were likely to not live at all close.

Agree with all on journey time/complexity and back up options being key. We did the City commute this week...I realised that the city bike riders were more of a hazard than the central line challenges!
We have Latymer on Saturday GJH, though I have steered clear on any interview prep. Though when earlier this week DD was asked what her favourite TV programme was, her response was The Apprentice. Met with raised eye brows and questions about the swearing, she said my mum and dad watch it with me too. Maybe these interviews are more insightful than we realise

Shame they can't produce a 'best ever answers to interview questions'...it would be wonderful to read! (along bloopers lines of course!).

Didn't some girl famously reply when asked " what would you bring to our school?" "Er, my pencil case."

And was offered a place. Mais bien sûr

And another when interviewed for a 6th form place "What would you do about the Israel/Palestine conflict?" "If innumerable heads of state can't find a solution, why would you expect a 16 year old girl to have the answer."

Castles . Okay ... here's the plan. We research. We publish the book. We use money to pay our kids school fee's if they get offers!

To the question 'Who would you most like to have round for dinner (living or dead)?' DS1 a few years ago answered 'My dead cat'. And was offered a place...

That's hilarious! Love love the book idea, a friend and I were also thinking what a great read it would be! DH was advising DD on what to say at LEH interview this week:
What kind of books do you enjoy? Romance.
Why is X your favourite book? It's short.

Why do you want to come to this school? My mum promised me an iPad if I get in.
What could you contribute to the school? Erm...my dad could buy you a new library?

Also really worrying about LEH journey. School bus there straightforward but really we would be choosing it over others (if we were in such a privileged position!) because of the sport. There is just no way I could pick her up in the evenings.)-:

I truly feel this has legs...

In some years the families have been very organized & arranged joint taxis delivering the girls back to a mutually agreed location from which they are picked up so no girl is alone in a taxi. From what I understand rowing is the hardest for parents as they have to be at the boathouse early on Saturdays (hearsay from dd's bff). Parents have arranged taxis so they can go to quiz nights & have a glass of wine. The girls are put in classes with others from their area to facilitate friendships.

Just wanted to wish everyone luck for the beginning of next week when some of the girls schools start posting results.

The waiting was much harder than the preparing as far as I'm concerned. Which is strangely irritating!

Blimey think yourself lucky - up here in the Northern wastelands, the boys school are in agreement not to send results until the 19th of February. So after all this frenzy, we've got to now completely forget about it all and then in a total panic try to visit any that have offered to make a decision.

So far, so good for us - three interviews which is three more than I expected. But my son gets more stressed about these than exams and my helpful 'if you could travel to any time in history…' type questions make him start moaning and lying on the floor with misery.

The odds are very much in favour of us getting one offer (I think each of them offers to about 2/3 of those that make the interview cut) but then how much worse if he fails on personality!

Oh Farewell the 19th! Yikes. Suddenly I do feel lucky that we'll have half term to lick our wounds and put a smile on our faces if all goes pear shaped.

Three interviews sounds very promising. Fingers crossed for you.