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

Well done mertonmama's DD!

One of my DD's good friends is at the top of the WHS waiting list, so if you do release your place it will go to a good home!

We didn't do PHS, so a wait now until JAGS, Ibstock and Roedean next week.

Ok, so those of you who have a choice, HOW are you going to choose? I'm completely poleaxed about this... What criteria are you going to use to make your decision?

Fingers crossed those waiting lists start to move fast now....

Thank you for the 10+ info amidaiwish. Hope you all continue to get what you want.

Funny you should raise it Dark - last night DD said she kinda hoped she didn't get Emanuel because then it made decisions easy! I know what she means....

Just a word of warning about waiting lists - all schools over offer, to a greater or lesser extent, so one offer rejected doesn't equate to a waiting list place offered. My daughter was close to the top of a waiting list and we had given up hope when the offer came through in June

Beingfrank - yes indeed. So if a school had 80 places and made offers to say 140 DCs then the waiting list is from 141 onwards.

DarkBlueEyes - IF we get a choice of two (have one offer already) then the choice will be made by DS with our guidance and suggestions, though he has his own views, and I suspect that the fact one school does football and the other doesn't could swing the balance!

At this point, and with two offers out of five more than we had expected and also our two favourite schools we left it to DD. However we suggested she talk the decision through with a favourite and sensible teacher. The teacher steered her towards one of the two schools, the one we also thought would suit her best. A result in that DD felt she had made the decision by being adult and seeking advice, and we felt reassured.

And how to approach it when you and DD have very differing viewpoints?! And have always made decisions in a very collaborative fashion...
One stress replaces another!!!

I know everyone's in the offers phase, but we've still got one more interview to do and I've got a dilemma.

My ds has an interview/group task before the weekend, his friend has one after the weekend.

How much information would you share? Part of me thinks you should always be as collaborative as possible because that's the right thing to do. On the other hand, I'm really fond of this family and they're generally lovely, but they are more takers than givers. I've already given them all the information I've gone to the trouble of gleaning from other parents and have nothing back. It's not that I think they're holding anything back, necessarily, but it does feel a bit one-way.

Is utterly mean spirited of me to want to hold back the details? It might not be relevant anyway...

chocfinger we chose the schools DD applied to, and then if she's in a position with more than one offer, she can choose.

farewelltoarms this I know sounds harsh but yes hold back the details or just be very vague and say DS didn't tell you much (which he may well not) . That's what I'd do in that situation given the one way help so far.

Be as vague as your DS is likely to be assuming he's as vague as mine and 90% of others after such things...

Just another thing to add for the waiting list people - in my experience, those people on waiting lists who felt really strongly that it was the right school for them and went all out to let the school know this, got offers. So if you are in this position don't despair! I think where there's any flexibility at all, schools are happy to go with the families that really want them.

Agree with the other Farewell - don't ask your DS any questions about it so that you can be honestly vague. I've just told people that we try not to quiz DD as it just adds to the stress and it's all about them being themselves on the day anyway. Fingers crossed for you.

This year seems very competitive. It must be a second "bulge" year phenomenon. I have been listening in with interest as we are 11+ next year. DS1 did 10+ exam at KGS this year but got nowhere. Congrats to all of you with offers!

Any thoughts on best SW London/N.Surrey independent schools for a sensitive, non-sporty boy?

Thank you all for giving me the answer I wanted to hear!

Actually post mortems with my boy are always grim and cringeworthy so I'll kill two birds with one stone and not ask him anything about it.

agree, just be vague "what books he likes" "favourite subject" other things he likes to do. the obvious stuff.

Beingfrank interesting point about the over offering and only then getting to the waitlist....I wonder how many Putney over offer by!
Farewell, DD would tell me a bare minimum after the both the exams and interviews! I was trying to make sure I had the info for DC2 but alas, nothing useful!

Emo, thanks. For us it's a debate between state school (with friends) or an indie and only having a very small number of hours after the state offers to make that decision that worries me most

Farewell why don't you tell them the group task was holding their breath for the longest time . Or describing how to construct a large hadron collider.That should keep them quiet
Bored still waiting for 12th , well done all with offers!

Dino - genius!

ah chocfinger I see. It's hard isn't it because age 10/11 they see things so differently, you know if she goes to the school which her friends are not she will make good friends there, but she can't know that. best of luck to her and you.

Or describing how to construct a large hadron collider
- yes please do!

Yeah I dare you! Or say it is a group fist fight until enough are left standing for the number of offers available.

My stock response to any question about kids levels blah blah blah at primary since about year 4 has always been ' level 6 in everything ' . Untrue ( sadly ) and obviously a lie but people don't challenge you , just look a little confused and stop asking. Highly recommended

ONLY level 6 in everything since Y4, Dino ??

MY DD has levels that equal her age, so of course she has recently moved up to level 11

So of course, I can't understand why we STILL have no information from KGS! Do they think she is a boy and haven't sent it?

And Farewell, 'takers' don't need givers to help them in any way, shape or form. Perhaps you could say your DS didn't actually understand any of the questions because the entire interview was conducted in a foreign language to test adaptability and ensure children could not be tutored in preparation...

Thank you so much for all these very sensible suggestions - I like the fist fight idea but only if it's with the boys greased and naked. Oh and throwing Shakespearean insults at one another.