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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

Any current SWPS parents here? Please speak to me.

26 replies

trickynicky · 11/01/2015 11:14

We are awaiting dd's results having sat for SWPS yesterday. Fingers are HUGELY crossed in our house as it is her preferred school, by a mile. However, we have also had to sit for 2 others just in case she doesn't get a place and what will be will be on that front! However, I have 2 x questions! Firstly if she did get offered a space, she would have to take the coach which would make a for REALLY long day - leaving our house at 7.10am and returning at 6pm. However, I realise lots of the girls must do this and wondered whether the school give the girls loads of homework - meaning that when they get in a 6pm they are likely to have to start doing lots of work on top of that or do they get time before leaving school to get at least some of it done??

Any other thoughts (in general) on the new head would also be hugely appreciated!

Thanks very much and fingers crossed there are some SWPS parents on MN!

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Sunnycliff · 11/01/2015 21:48

Hello there. Hope the exam went well yesterday. I have a daughter in year 7 and she is loving it. So far as homework goes, the average seems to be just over an hour a night, so this should mean that most days it can be done before the coach leaves. My dd doesn't get the coach do so I can't advise as to whether they do get it done in time. School finishes at 3.30 but there are sports available after school so it depends whether she wants to do them.
We have been massively impressed by the head, he was deputy before and seems very popular. He seems to have a very visual presence in the school.

Last year we had the results the following Saturday so hope all goes well.

papalazaru · 12/01/2015 11:26

Good luck to your DD - I hope she gets her preferred choice. It's a lovely school - I only wish we lived closer - it would have been on our list too! When we went along for the open days they told us that the bus service leaves late so girls have an opportunity to do their homework in the library at school before getting the bus home. The girls showing us around all said they were able to get it all done before they got the bus so although it is a long day they can kick back once they get home. Of course, if they have a club or activity after school then the homework will have to be done after dinner

Original poster

trickynicky · 12/01/2015 16:43

Thank you both. Sunnycliff - can I ask another question? Do you have any idea whether there is a waitlist for girls who don't immediately get offered? My dd has dyslexia and had extra time in the exams - am really hoping that doesn't go against her but the lovely lady in charge of SEN was extremely supportive so we are hopeful she would be well looked after if she did get in. However, I have no idea how many applied or how many spaces there are but gosh, there were a lot of girls there on the day!! Our current (prep) school were hopeful of her being offered a place and so we only applied for one other (which we are not so keen on) but people seem to have applied for 5 or 6 (!!) schools so I'm guessing a lot would turn down places offered. Thanks - sorry for rambling but just excited to have found someone who is at the school!! so pleased you are happy with it (and yes, results are due on Saturday I believe).

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Original poster

trickynicky · 12/01/2015 16:44

meant to say we applied for two others, not one, but not keen on either!!

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Sunnycliff · 12/01/2015 18:41

Am not sure about the waiting list I'm afraid although when we applied they did say there would be a waiting list. Not sure if they did or not but I'm sure the school could tell you if you called them. Last year they sent out about 200 letters of offer for 100 places. Do hope all goes well, I feel your pain as my son is in Year 6 so we are going through the whole entrance exam thing for a second year in a row!

wavedancer68 · 13/01/2015 12:31

Yes the school runs a waiting list and girls do get places from it. As far as I know, as soon as a place becomes available it is offered to a girl on the waiting list. If your DD is placed on the waiting list be prepared to accept as soon as you are contacted.

It used to be the case that quite a few girls were invited for an interview before being made an offer of a place whereas others received an offer letter without interview.

Having extra time in the exam will not go against her.

Good Luck

Pensionerpeep · 13/01/2015 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

trickynicky · 13/01/2015 22:13

sir William Perkins School!

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MissMalonex2 · 16/01/2015 16:06

Anyone know when we can expect to hear - a friend said there was a notice saying Friday or Saturday this week but I missed that!

NSIS · 16/01/2015 17:23

MissMalonex2 - email this afternoon saying results posted out first class this afternoon and if don't get letter by Tuesday says to email the address provided in that email to request a duplicate letter.

MissMalonex2 · 16/01/2015 18:22

Just seen that - thanks! Our post is rubbish so expecting it Monday....

Sunnycliff · 17/01/2015 18:25

Any news yet? Hope you got on ok.

MissMalonex2 · 17/01/2015 18:27

We heard and she got a place :) happy!

NSIS · 19/01/2015 08:29

MissMalonex2 - very well done to your DD. Mine was offered too, which really pleased about as it was the only one she sat (didn't go for what I gather is called a 'banker' as local state for us was that). trickynicky - hope all is working out for you.

Original poster

trickynicky · 19/01/2015 15:09

Yes, my dd was offered also!! We are delighted!! Just now waiting on Surbiton but the journey is the ONLY thing that is worrying us as she'd have a lengthy day with early coach and back quite late. I suppose they get used to it though. Does anyone know whether they put the girls into classes based on their home location so they have more friends who live near their homes? I am sure I heard that somewhere? Sounds like a great idea to me even if I made it up!!

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Original poster

trickynicky · 19/01/2015 15:11

Re-read my posting - it's the journey to SWPS that is worrying us, not the one to Surbiton which would be much easier. Anyone else taking coaches?

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amidaiwish · 19/01/2015 19:23

well done to your dds!

Surbiton group based on home location, don't know about SWPS.

MissMalonex2 · 19/01/2015 20:04

Think LEH group on home location too - not sure SWPS do. they get a wider network I think if they are not grouped with those coming from same place - as they will journey in with those girls anyway. Wide network of friends is good for girls I think.

Not sure if we wd use coach or not - although DD would be staying later she says, as likes to do every sport going (had hoped she wd stay to get homework done...) DD also took GHS exam (out Friday/Sat this week) and the journey there is part of the worry for us (no coach - so doing every sport going would mean late train journey home - with all the commuters, so think perfectly safe)?

Well done to all your DDs!

Fugacity · 19/01/2015 20:13

SWPS parent to 3 girls here.

The school day ends at 3.30pm with the coaches leaving just before 5pm. Your DD has plenty of time to get her prep done in school.

Depending on where you live, it might be feasible for her to get the train at about 3.40. It might get her home sooner, with perhaps one piece of prep done on the train.

Fugacity · 19/01/2015 20:15

The new head, Mr Muller, was the former deputy head and he is fine. His deputy, Mrs Husselbury is a lot stricter than he was.

amidaiwish · 19/01/2015 20:22

so how does it work doing prep 3.30-5
do the girls sit and do it en masse (ie one does it and the rest copy!?) or is it properly supervised with teachers, help available etc?

Fugacity · 19/01/2015 20:24

As far as I know, they sit in class rooms with a sixth former in the room and a staff member patrolling outside. It's all done in silence.

Fugacity · 19/01/2015 20:25

I'll add that the girls are very motivated and would not feel the need to copy.

amidaiwish · 19/01/2015 20:32

i see. must be great to get it all done in school.

Original poster

trickynicky · 19/01/2015 20:58

Yes, I agree. Getting prep done at school would be great. My Dd is also bound to sign up for every sport going.

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