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

BTW, is anyone's dc going back to school after exams? Dd was slightly put off by the number of children in uniform, including some of her own class mates, who she assumed were going back in.

We've given her something treaty/substantial for lunch after each exam (usually sushi - probably would have been better off having it beforehand!) and made sure she has had quite a bit to drink (she has been a bit headache-y after a couple of them - nothing major). Most exams seem to finish about 12.30'ish, so I suppose technically I could get her back to school abound 1.45'ish, but I think she fully deserves an afternoon on the sofa watching rubbish tv.

I took mine out to lunch last week instead of going back to school. Tomorrow pickup for us is 1.30 so not worth going back in my opinion!

Don't be put off by the uniforms on show, I think some prep schools insist they wear their uniform and it won't necessarily mean they are going back to school.

When dd sat the exams I remember being quite intimidated at one or two schools by the preponderance of fancy blazers and prefect badges (we are at state primary). Try not to be - i do think the schools make some allowance for state school pupils, as they should if they are looking for potential rather than the finished product. Between my non-stellar dd and ds, they sat 9 schools and got 8 offers. It still doesn't make me any less nervous this time round though...

DD1 did WHS today and reported same as others: NVR easy but VR bit different to the norm. Agree that this can only be a good thing. She had to sit the exam in her classroom (here in France) with normal lessons going on around her! Don't want to come across as diva ish but is this something I should mention to WHS?? What do people think?

SonorousBip, it was standard practice when my DS sat the exams 2 years ago to go back to school afterwards. Personally I am in favour of the rest of the day off but then I am far too nice according to DH.

DD has gone back to,school after exams, hence her wearing uniform. But on Friday I'm having her and her exam buddy over after NHEHS assuming we'll be home too late to bother. She is very excited. there goes my peace and quiet and they deserve it.

MertonMama, don't! I'm going to have nightmares tonight. It's not my first exam cock up, but luckily I managed to wriggle out of- creatively problem solve the other issue.

We didn't go back in even though dd's teacher had told them she expected them back.
Rebel.
The fancy prep stripey blazers adorned with badges make me cringe and think "sucker" which I know is very childish of me and does make me wonder why we are not staying in the state system which has served dd perfectly well to this point.

Yes Beingfrank lots of recognisable blazers kept appearing at every school DS sat for. My friend who had a son at one of those preps said they all used to go out for a long lunch after exams with their kids and not go back to school! The prep schools apparently "advised" children to wear their uniform.

Oh and Castles I really and truly hope you are right about taking into account state school pupils. Even though we have done a bit of maths tutoring and some six weeks of
English, there is no way on this earth we will be anywhere near the private prep school. Not in a month of Sundays.

amidaiwish, I thought exactly the same esp about those stripy ones

DarkBlue how big is the year group at st Catherine's? 60 plus the junior school or including them?

And if it helps lots sat st Catherine's from dd's primary and they weren't heavily tutored if at all.

Amida I think it's either excluding junior OR the total,numbers sitting includes junior school iyswim. The lady nodded when I said 145 sitting for 60 places?

That's not bad odds, I am sure they will significantly over offer too

We were advised to send dcs back to school as it normalized the day - dcs were only going to the schools to work, hence uniform & then back to school. No need for a treat as nothing special had happened. It was also suggested that parents did not tell dcs any news outside school so as not to have some children smiling & others in tears.

DD feeling confident about WHS and finished both papers with time to spare ( hopefully not at the expense of accuracy). Weirdly she found the VR easier than KGS, but she could just be saying that to ease my mind!
Not too long to wait now...

Re Eastpoints comment
But it's not normal, is it 600-1000 ten year olds studying for months and then doing the rounds of schools looking tired and exhausted competing with each other for places. It's horrible, tiring, stressful and I imagine a bit confusing, especially if as my daughter is you are the only person in her year going through the palaver. On return from a test last week she told the teacher where she'd been and the teachers response was 'I'm sick of that excuse'!
So I think a treat and afternoon off school is quite correct in the circumstances

As if there is any value going back to a Primary school for a couple of hours in the afternoon...

As if there is any value going back to a Primary school... not going to learn anything useful for the next six months!

anyone heard (or know anyone who has heard) from KGS yet re scholarship? the exam is on Wednesday

Haha! The stripy blazers. I thought it was just me! You ain't seen nothing yet.Wait for the interviews. I sat outside with crewcut haired DS in an old school sweatshirt with half his lunch down it. And in they came ..... Stripey blazers, blazers covered in badges, portfolios of who knows what under their arms. One even had a trophy. Full of confident handshakes and loud voices.

It matters not. He still got in and it amused me lots while sat in reception waiting for him .

We haven't heard from KGS but I guess 10+ will be late. The school website said Sat was another 11+ 10+ sitting so they'd be turning it around very fast to call today?

Its the number of badges on the stripy blazers that got me giggling.

Saturday morning and they were all decked out for a formal parade!

I'm sure they were appalled by our scruffiness....

I deliberately took DS2 on Sat in really nasty Tesco tracksuit bottoms with a hole in the knee ( 'they are so comfy, I love them') and a faded t shirt with a lion in shades. Does that out me?

Dinocroc - are you waiting for 10+?
they were really late last year. got called for interview after the supposed date had come and gone. I had lost all hope!

the thing is i have a work meeting on weds, dh not around, nor my parents. if dd does get invited to sit the scholarship exam this weds i really can't find out late tomorrow! (would be a wonderful problem to have though!)

I am waiting for 10+ . A long shot given the numbers but worth a crack for the feedback. Thanks! They've said 24th for interview, I'd definitely have given up hope by then.

The school opens very early , about 7.30 and my son often goes in early and gets breakfast. They are very nice I'm sure they'd let you leave her in the library early before the exam if you asked. I work full time and plans like that usually come together....

if he got the Hampton 10+ i am sure he is in with every chance! DD got it last year and it certainly has made this year less stressful. of course i could have eliminated all stress by not sitting any exams but i couldn't do that, oh no of course not. [slaps head emoticon]

Not so sure, think that one was more mathsy and suited him. It must be lovely to have a place in the bag! We humans love stress though right?

Eastpoint - I'm afraid I am with Condemned on this. It really isn't a normal day, no matter how hard anyone tries to pretend! Is this the line the prep schools take? I think they need to credit their children with being a bit more savvy than that.

I'm glad some of you have said what you said about the fancy blazers and shiny badges - I was wondering if I had a primary school-sized chip on my shoulder about this, but I don't think I do!