Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

Reeds 11 plus for 2015 entry?

68 replies

Contessa28 · 07/01/2015 13:03

Hi anyone out there have a ds planning to sit the reeds (Surrey) entrance test this weekend? Would be good to share experiences with others in same position... Look forward to hearing from you

OP posts:
Original poster
Contessa28 · 12/01/2015 06:34

Anyone out there to hand hold?!? Ds found it ok

OP posts:
Teddingtonmum1 · 12/01/2015 08:03

My DS is currently in year 7 , many mums netters will remember the stress and state I was in last year going thru this process. But we made it and despite DS moaning as his a weekly boarder, we got a good school report and he is doing well in his class of 16. Not going to lie it has been tough as he was used to coasting along at the top where now there's a lot more clever kids and his been pushed into the middle of the pack and his actually having to work for once. any questions school wise ask away or there is always mums netter Betty who's son is further along ... Fingers crossed for you .

Original poster
Contessa28 · 12/01/2015 11:09

Thanks for replying teddington! Honest opinions always gratefully received! Glad your DS is happy and yep, can totally see the same for mine - such a big change compared to small primary! Don't suppose you can recall how many take the exam for how many places? Can't seem to glean this info anywhere! Just trying to break down stats to waste time whilst waiting!!! Cheers!

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 12/01/2015 11:34

Hi - DS sat this also. Found it easy compared with Hampton and KGS, though sounds like maybe his composition wasn't as good as he would have hoped.
I think there will be a little over 200 sitting, another record year. The intake at 11+ is about 40 and they have to offer around 2x or slightly less.

Original poster
Contessa28 · 12/01/2015 11:45

Hi! Thanks for joining! Wow only 40? I thought it was more like 100? Must have misunderstood! Yes ds found it ok, interview questions could have been answered better IMO but then he is only 10!!!! How did he find hampton (was was a bit out off by kgs 10plus last year and was never sure about City centre location so just went for the 2 as really like them both) Good luck! Not heard anything yet from hampton.... Fingers crossed, and toes... Hope we hear something from someone soon!

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 12/01/2015 12:03

Yes c.40 at 11+ and 60 at 13+. Unless they changed something but not that I know of.

Hampton - seems a lifetime ago now! As hard as expected I guess, the compreh was ok, maths tough but he thinks did ok, just about finishing but leaving a couple out, and the reasoning paper was tough also - probably his weakest part. KGS slightly easier, having to guess the last 2 VR in order to finish, and couldn't do the very last maths question so had some time for checking. Reeds VR had to guess the last 2 to finish, maths v easy - actually did it twice as a way of checking, and the compreh was fine.

The waiting goes on, the phone remains silent for now, though it can be a couple of weeks even if positive.

Original poster
Contessa28 · 12/01/2015 12:19

Sounds very similar to my DS. Found maths at hampton tricky but ok, comprehension fine but not sure if his creative writing was up to scratch, whereas seemed better for reeds... DS also had time to check for maths at reeds and found all ok so am hoping for best! Great to have another person waiting... Keep us posted if you hear anything from either! Out of interest which would be your/his first choice?

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 12/01/2015 12:29

Hampton and Reeds are a close first and a sports scholarship could swing it either way. Don't expect academic scholarship, I guess Hamptons has now gone and KGS I would imagine the scholarship recall was almost all on that last question that he couldn't do!

Original poster
Contessa28 · 12/01/2015 17:02

Yes guess hamptons academic scholarship now done (well it's a call back for just 30 or so for 550+ sitting! Odds aren't great on that!!!) so will just be a case of waiting for the letter which is sent 'as soon as possible' (not soon enough for the impatient like me!) and reeds either hear back by 22 jan for a scholarship or the regular letters sent on 30 jan .... Roll on the next few days. DS keeps asking if I've heard anything so tho he has taken in his stride so far and I've kept mum (excuse the pun) about my frustrations and impatience, he is a chip off old block and just wants to KNOW!!

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 12/01/2015 21:10

I believe call backs for interview are usually by phone and not letter.
Older son is at Reeds. When he say it a few years ago there were 160 sitting and they offered 75 for the c.40 places fyi.

Teddingtonmum1 · 12/01/2015 21:44

My DS had his interview the same day as the entrance exam not sure if this is the norm. There are 56 in the first form this year , over 4 classes Reeds is a pretty small school which is also why I was attracted to it as they only have 600 pupils in all I think.

After biting my nails I just got told it was 'fine ' after the exam a standard answer these days. IMO he gets loads of work but maybe that's because he came from state primary where he literally got nothing. But the teachers have no problem emailing the parents DS was off sick and prep got emailed to me ( he had a bug but was fine and didn't want to fall behind !!) good luck on the exam keep the fingers tightly crossed. Time to get that bottle of wine ....

Waitingandhoping2015 · 12/01/2015 21:52

Yes I/v same day at Reeds I meant re others that they phone rather than write for I/v.

56! I didn't realise there were that many! Any idea if that was a conscious increase in number or because more than expected because a greater percentage of those offered accepted? Older sons year had 42.

DS said this evening that Reeds is his first choice now, he felt that there was a lovely feeling about the place and Mr Balls was a genuine chap who connected so well with the boys.

Teddingtonmum1 · 12/01/2015 22:17

I think they had a surge in acceptances so presuming they can go up to 60 ish ? My son has 15 in his tutor group I think hampton has 20/25 ? . Mr balls is my sons housemaster he has the patience of a saint if you ask me but runs a tight ship there's no messing around. It was a rocky start as my son had no organisational skills totally my fault as I done everything for him but we are getting there .... Though he lost loads of his stuff in the first term ( no sense of responsibility !!! ) all of it came back in the end. Will say the uniform was pretty expensive dropped £600 in the school shop in one sitting ...

Original poster
Contessa28 · 14/01/2015 20:49

Don't suppose anyone had a call re academic scholarships? Nothing like a bit of optimism!

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 14/01/2015 21:14

Call for that is 'by Thurs 22nd'. Knowing Reeds comms as I do I would expect those to be made Fri 23rd...

flowerlindsay · 15/01/2015 11:16

My son sat the Reed's exam too....have been looking for someone to chat to! He also sat St George's and is sitting St James' today. He said the Reed's exams were ok although he does struggle with comprehension so I'm thinking he probably didn't do great in that. I'm hoping if he's done well in maths and VR that his 'general' overall mark will be decent but not sure it works like that.
He's at a state primary at the moment and, by the looks of it, many of the other boys are from prep schools so an immediate advantage.
We'll see.....

Original poster
Contessa28 · 15/01/2015 11:35

My DS is from a state primary too. How did your DS find St George's? I have friends who sat there. We did hampton and reeds only. Best of luck!!!

OP posts:
flowerlindsay · 15/01/2015 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Teddingtonmum1 · 17/01/2015 11:01

just remember that reeds do Saturday sports sitting in my car freezing while DS is out in the rugby pitch so no more Saturday lie ins :( for me , its enough to push you over the edge.

Original poster
Contessa28 · 17/01/2015 11:39

Ooh and its properly cold today! Can you leave them there and go for a coffee somewhere?!?

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 17/01/2015 11:51

Get yourself out of the car and on the sidelines! If they have to brave the cold then so do you! Though I do prefer the summer days watching cricket...
The parents' sandwiches and cakes afterwards usually make it all worthwhile... Smile

Teddingtonmum1 · 17/01/2015 14:24

I did get out in the end but boy it was cold some parents drop and run and as its 90 mins I guess you could do but it feels a bit mean !!.

Original poster
Contessa28 · 23/01/2015 13:42

has anyone heard yet about academic scholarships? Just wondered if calls/letters had gone out in which case we are ruled out!!

OP posts:
Waitingandhoping2015 · 23/01/2015 14:02

Not us but I notice someone has done on the elevenplusforum... Hmm

Hoping to hear from them about the sports scholarship now...

inthename · 23/01/2015 15:23

is the timing the same for hearing from them if sat 12+?