Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Flip

1 2 ··· 35 36 37 38 39 40

Original poster

I'm a weeny bit cross that there hasn't been a SW/W London Independent schools thread this yr.

999 replies

SonorousBip · 03/01/2015 21:46

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

OP posts:

DarkBlueEyes · 07/02/2015 14:59

Thanks all, yes I do have until 3rd March but really feel like I have to make a decision before then (obviously flexible) but really need to have my thoughts in order so I can respond quickly and not get floored by an unexpected offer or rejection!

Just going round and round in circles at the moment! in fact it might be better if none of the waiting list places turn into offers as then I won't have a decision to make at all and that will be a LOT easier!

Bonsoir · 07/02/2015 15:13

I don't think it is always possible to work out your feelings about your decision tree in advance of having a real choice (offer of a place) as opposed to a hypothetical one (application or even waitlist place).

I can't, anyway!

castlesintheair · 07/02/2015 15:43

Wer die Wahl hat, hat die Qual.

Better than no choice

theintrepidfox · 07/02/2015 17:41

Genau!

DarkBlueEyes · 07/02/2015 18:20

Castles you are SO right! I am so very grateful to potentially have a choice I can't tell you!

Elibean · 08/02/2015 12:12

Did you get that letter, Castles? Or still waiting?

I had a fun chat with someone in RL yesterday whose ds tried for same school as dd 'as backup' (which, as its unproven, I think a lot of people are seeing it as) but who ended up liking it so much they might choose it over the others, given the choice. I seem to have a track record of choosing schools for my dd which go against the tide, but so far no regrets so fingers crossed the same is true this time!

It must be a hellish time for school admin offices at the moment, I can't help wondering if they'd have an easier time if they all offered on the same day....

DarkBlueEyes · 08/02/2015 12:52

It wasn't the rather new school quite near the river and a swimming pool by any chance? I've heard people say it's quite impressive but didn't go to see it personally (though why not I have no idea, as it would be WALKABLE! I'm such a dufus.

Elibean · 08/02/2015 13:33

Yes it was!

I just really liked the Head. He didn't take any nonsense from angsty parents, was nice to the kids, and really really knew his way around both education and the latest in child development theory.

dd liked the emphasis on design and on technology, and felt 'at home'. And as I rather like the buzz of the unknown, and the potential to make a difference to something that is new and unproven, I don't care about the lack of GCSE stats...call me a rebel

castlesintheair · 08/02/2015 14:09

Yes Elibean I can believe you have a good nose for these things One of my friends whose DC have had and will have offers from everywhere including the mighty echelons of academia, is very tempted by that school. She too really liked the HM. Go for it!

Sadly DD got another big R so we are currently rethinking our lives and I am desperately trying to work out how to tell the DC that we (probably) won't be doing what we thought we were doing Hey ho things could always be worse.

Original poster

SonorousBip · 08/02/2015 18:16

Really sorry things aren't turning out the way you wanted, castles. We're having a pretty smooth run of it this time but we had a pig of a time with it last time I did it, with unexpected rejections where we had been told we were right on track and some really stressful wait list shenanigans. It was very bruising for all of us at the time.

Have you thought of doing years 7&8 at a school that extends and prepares for exams at 13? You would then be able to slot back in in Y9. (That was our plan B).

OP posts:

Chillaxalready · 08/02/2015 20:27

Am fascinated to know what school Elibean has discovered!! Is it up the road from a certain super super super selective girls' school??

DarkBlueEyes · 08/02/2015 20:53

Nope Chillax think you're on the wrong track there... unless up the road is about half an hour's drive!

Castles I am so sorry, what a bummer. Good for you for having such sound perspective on it. Big hugs from here.

Chillaxalready · 08/02/2015 21:47

Lol...completely wrong track!!

New mantra to self : one school's loss is another school's gain! Castles - have you considered another international school but in the UK (am I right you're currently in France?)

Pop1ns · 09/02/2015 07:04

Castles-have you considered Marymount in Kingston?

wheresthebeach · 09/02/2015 08:42

Castles

castlesintheair · 09/02/2015 09:46

Thanks for the tips and sympathy! Marymount is a consideration. Anyone know anything about it? Is there something similar for boys?

DarkBlueEyes · 09/02/2015 10:31

Castles my friend applied there - it's a beautiful school and it must be all right for her to have applied! She also did Claremont Fan and Notre Dame if that is any help to you. Best of luck to you sweetie. There is also St Catherine's in Twickenham which I utterly love, but it IS very small. It's a comprehensive intake so they don't cream off the top 2% of applicants, which I also like, as it's all about added value there. PM me for more info if you like x

Original poster

SonorousBip · 09/02/2015 11:13

Also, you could try speaking to one of the educational consultancy services - they do a lot of work in placing children returning to the UK, I understand and I think it would probably be very valuable in your position. I looked at both Gabbitas and the Good School's Guide's own service and they both seemed to know what they were talking about.

OP posts:

jeanne16 · 09/02/2015 12:41

There I s also Radnor House and Kew House School. Both are new so have a limited track record but I have heard good things about both.

Bonsoir · 09/02/2015 12:47

castles - two sisters from my DD's school (one in CM2 and one in 5ème) are leaving Paris this year and have got places at Marymount for September 2015. They had to take entrance examinations. I know the younger one secured a place very easily (sometime in October?) for Year 7 entry but the older one, for Year 9, didn't find it quite so straightforward.

mary21 · 09/02/2015 13:56

I was also going to suggest St Caths in Twickenham or Knew House. Thames Christian College also sometimes have space. Newton Prep take for 2 years so resist at 13+. Or rent very close to Waldegrave/Coombe girls /Orleans Park/ Teddington so you are top of the waiting list. There are several kids at Orleans that have moved from France

amidaiwish · 09/02/2015 14:24

as this thread is nearing a close just want to say thanks for the hand holding, wish you and your dcs the best of luck.
Anyone going to be here doing this all again in 2 years time?

hope you get everything sorted Castles, lots of nice schools in this part of the world and they must be used to people coming in from abroad (not everyone can plan their life a year in advance to fit with school admissions, surely?!)

hope the waiting list moves fast at Surbiton for you DarkBlue although St C is a lovely choice too
thanks for starting the thread SonorousBip

and good luck everyone else. until the next thread part II..........

Afrodizziac · 09/02/2015 14:26

This is going to be a very slow week waiting for the KGS 10+ offers posted on Thursday 12th. Anyone else biting their nails?

Waitingandhoping2015 · 09/02/2015 14:28

1000 !!!

Flip

1 2 ··· 35 36 37 38 39 40