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

Chillax they sent me an e mail with a linky thing to info about 10+ saying they would send all results on 12th. Did they not do the same for 11+? That's mean. At least I know how long I have to wait ( more time)

Level 11 , is that spinal tap level?

Dino - of course!

And the 11+ girls results were sent on 3 Feb...quite a few PPs have already had their news.

Completely unrelated matter, but we are getting close to 1000 posts - that is when MN closes the thread.

I will miss you all...comiserators, encouragers, advice givers and hand holders through this process.

Well, I gave good friends with later interviews at the same school as much info as possible but it turned out the questions were entirely different... so my goodwill probably backfired if their DCs were prepped for something and then surprised. With hindsight, it is pretty impossible to "prep" kids for interviews and that's a good thing. Not being super-nervous about them (or at least trying hard not to show you're super-nervous about them) is probably the most helpful thing you can do for your DC. I downplayed the whole 11+ thing by pointing to viable (but in really not great) non-selective alternatives and allowing more junk food being more relaxed about some rules.

Having said this, I was so nervous I promptly fell ill after the last interview... but luckily DD is unfazed. Just doesn't quite get why we're back on the stricter rules regime

Why don't you ring or e mail Chillax? Maybe your post has gone missing? I think I would have to know. I'm sure they'll tell you if you ask

Farewell I think greasy naked children might be hard to explain . Say they chose a playing card from a pack and stared at the group thinking of said card looking for latent psychic ability.

I'm wasting the end of this nice thread right?

Not wasting at all, Dino - I need a good laugh!

Have sent an email to the Registrar this afternoon. Would ring but I don't ever get a free moment at work and by the time I get home, the school is closed...

Cross fingers!

Work gets in the way doesn't it ? Everything is crossed for you x . I may start a new 10+ thread . I think I'm here for the duration . If he doesn't get in it can run seamlessly into next year's 11+ thread......

Or I can open my own boys school and set my own unique admission tests.....

Replacing the toilet roll or putting an empty juice carton in the bin rather than back in the fridge = instant scholarship

Dino, you'll have the most exclusive boys school in the country - not many pupils though..

Oh god saw some friends tonight and they were unanimously in favour of me finding out and giving as much info as possible. Argument being that the disadvantage to me is negligible while possible benefit to their boy great. I felt like a real meanie for even questioning it.

Still going to opt for hadron collider...

Farewell: don't beat yourself up. Their argument is double wrong:

1. option - the information is potentially useful for the interview / group exercise and will give their boy a real benefit. At which point the disadvantage is not just to your DS, but to all other candidates who did not have that information. Say a quarter of all candidates have useful advance info, clearly this skews the bit of meritocracy that is left in the selection process.

1. option (much more likely IMO - see previous post) - the information is useless / detrimental to their boy's chances, either because he is clearly over-prepped or because he's expecting the wrong thing. DPs may even blame you if things go wrong!

Having said this, this is all wise hindsight; I did tell friends as much as I knew, so I should probably shut up.

farewell - it'll all be over soon and you did nothing wrong in being vague, I agree with the likelihood of option of 2 from theintrepidfox, you can't win either way!

For all those that have had the results they wanted, congratulations! And really hope the waiting lists clears to give the right responses for all the other DCs with results out.

To the rest of us, keep sane for 1 more week (this is the hardest bit so far I think!) but I may be eating my words if the clearing frenzy is as manic as previous MNetters have warned

...I forget, even longer wait for those waiting for results from all sectors!

Its unfair of them to ask IMO. If they think its so important then they must admit that..well its important and helps their child. If you help their child do better at the interview because they are more prepared than your DS how is that not doing your DS a disservice?

Although I agree that the questions may be different so it won't help them anyway.

Don't feel a meanie. Its rather the other way around.

Farewell - friend's friend teaches at one of the school's mentioned in this thread. FWIW she says she and other teachers use interviews to try to understand child's personality and if they will cope / fit at school. She says they can spot over-prepped child within seconds and they really hate this. Her advice - do talk with child about what they like, enjoy, favourite subjects, etc., so they understand they will have to talk about themselves & interests but don't over-prep so they sound like robots or have pat answers. She says teachers have been doing interviews (some of them at least) for years and also know how to change subject to get children out of these pat answers!

just tell them the obvious stuff!

• favourite book and why, favourite subject, what you like to do at the weekend, sport/music/drama/chess etc activities. what they always ask! I don't think dd has ever been asked much out of the ordinary.

The sensible level of interview prep is to make sure your DC knows which book or hobby they'll talk about (if asked), but not trying to manage what they'd say about it. So that means they shouldn't have a 'rabbit in the headlights' moment, but they won't look over-prepared.

Normal conversation with a variety of adults (not just parents) about a variety of subjects is possibly the most useful thing. If you want to do something more structured, try a subscription to First News and talk about a couple of articles from each edition.

(Too late for most posters on this thread, but I thought I'd post it in case there are lurkers girding themselves for applications for future years).

a top tip i wish i'd known to prep dd for was to have a rough response to the opening question "so, tell me about yourself"
that was definitely a "errrr........panic panic" moment for her!

Just reporting back that I did speak to the registrar who was very helpful about scores and scholarships etc. They won't give absolute scores and I understand why that is but it helps to know where they are relative to their cohort in the various areas. In the end though it didn't really change our decision on which school to choose. We went with the one which had been at the front all along because when my daughter came back from her taster day there she said "all the teachers just seemed really happy to be there Mum"!
Good luck to all - it's such a horribly stressful time here's hoping you can all relax once those offers have been accepted.

I vote for 'Part II' if we hit 1,000 before all results out and decisions made.

second that vote.

Thanks again for all your affirmation re the interview-detailing-sharing dilemma.

As luck would have it, ds has come out utterly comatose and mute 'I don't want to talk about it'.

So no lying required. Though to be fair they haven't actually asked me for the details yet (but I'm not going to offer).

And yes to another thread. I know I'm an utter interloping outsider (boy and North London), but I have two weeks of waiting to get through.

Anyone get Halliford result today? A friend was expecting it (probably, not 100% sure) but alas no post.

LOL, farewelltoarms and interloper status. I've even gone over and looked at the RGS thread - they seem to have a bonkers system whereby the borderline candidates get interviewed but not the top or bottom end, so unless you are borderline, you don't know where you are!

those i know waiting for Halliford expect it tomorrow. posted today.

def yes to another thread, this has been great! although it has "outed" me, people knew it must be me. good job i don't post anything i don't mind people knowing... generally...