SW/W London Independent Schools thread part two

[Chillaxalready]

There. I've done it and started one.
1001 messages and counting!

Pop1ns

Very specific to DS. He's a little unconventional and we think it's the one he's likely to be happiest at. Were impressed by staff and children - and could see him there. More than, say, at Hampton. Still somewhat torn as both schools are excellent. DS would probably be fine at Tiffin too, academically at least.

Thanks again Emptycoffeepot.
It is a very hard decision.We too loved KGS but we are going for Tiffin.I think we have been swayed by his achievement.In our minds we think money is not a factor but it always looms large in the background.I only hope the pastoral care will be good at the state school.I do not know if we are making the right decision but we are happy with it.

Pop1ns we chose Tiffin over various scholarship offers a couple of years ago for DS. He loves it and has convinced us to do the same for DD. I still wonder occasionally what we gave up, and whether he might have been better if in any way. we will never know. He definitely has loads of lovely friends, the boys are all really supportive of one another, funny, polite, very diverse backgrounds which I love. academically ds is doing fine, he possibly still coasts but definitely being gently encouraged to ramp up his effort now. There are a few uber brain machines in his (and every) year, and a couple of boys with very driven parents who do all their homework but most of them just work and play and it's a joy! DS not taken on much sport which makes me sad but those that do can get a lot out of it.

Thanks MC a great post.

... And didn't mean to imply that Tiffin's pastoral care was bad. It is a great school. Wouldn't have had DS do the test if we didn't think so. We know of children there who are having/have had excellent time. Very stimulating, lots of things to do, fast paced, music strong, excellent teaching. Everything you could ask for in a school.

Thank u emptycoffeepot

I can't believe this thread could be all over sobs

I'm grieving...

I'm not sure it will be any consolation but I'm in SW London with a y3 DD and I've found this thread a real insight into where we might be in a couple of years. I've been delighted to see how supportive you've all been of one another and your DC. I think this thread is a great advert for what mumsnet and its members can be!

I miss it too! Hellish as the whole process was, it's a bit of an anticlimax now!!

me too... have just logged into eadmissions and declined waldegrave offer.

am i completely fricking crazy?

feel slightly sick.........

so who is going to be back here in Jan 2017?
or even for KGS 10+ Jan 2016...

I'm missing it too but even more so as I'm still going through the whole fiasco. Alone.

are you coming back castles? we're still here if you want to chat or wail!

Ah thanks TT I really don't know what we are doing. It's all a bit tricky.

castlesintheair you're not alone! Are you in wait list limbo still?

And for any gentle readers who are going through this again next year (or who are lurking because they'll be tackling it for the first time then), you might like to be aware of what has appeared on Emanuel's website for 11+ entry 2016:

"Please note: We cap registrations for 11+ at 600 and are already nearing that figure for 2016 entry and early registration is strongly recommended. Once the cap is reached we will operate a waiting list.

"We appreciate that some parents may wish to look around the school on our Open Afternoon on 28th April, 2015. This may, though, be after the cap has been reached. We can therefore advise that if parents wish to register first and then look at the school on 28th April, that is, of course, fine. If any parent who registers between now and 28th April then wishes to withdraw their registration thereafter we would be happy to reimburse the registration fee."

ok that is all the confirmation we need that this process TRULY HAS GONE MAD.

AnotherNewt, not wait list just trying to decide what to do generally.

And yes I agree, that is clear evidence of the process getting very out of hand! Did any of you see a post recently about DC being asked to leave Claremont pre year 7? Crazy!

yes - 20% of the prep didn't get places in the secondary or something. i mean you'd think prep to senior was a pretty sure bet at claremont. i'd be furious.

Do we need to reconvene with a new heading of some sort? Create a little, ongoing, support group?
Castles...we are thinking of you

Castles what was this about Claremont? I have a friend at St George's (moved in year 5) and her DD was at risk but bless her did brilliantly. Other junior school kids did not make it through to senior....

And Castles could you bear to give us an update? I'd love to know where you are at.

My DD ended up with Putney and Notting Hill and Ealing offers after we had paid the cheque to Surbiton! So proud of her and to be honest, more than a little surprised.... she got 4 out of 5 offers! (eventually....) DD2 is quite another story - very underwhelming parents evening last night (Yr 3) so I'm stressing already....

Yes please can we have a First Day and Support for Year 7 in SW London Independent Schools thread?

The one where we all look to see who's wearing a leopard print garment of some sort and we pop over and ask if they've read anything interesting on the internet lately.....

well done everyone for getting through this process. I read somewhere that Wimbledon High didn't even use their wait list in the end, is this still true?

I don't think Latymer went to waiting list either...

Lovely you are all still there. Turned down state place too Tedtess with an OMG am I crazy?! It would have guaranteed sibling entry! Will not relax until I know dd is happily settled in say...November!

Castles thinking of you and your DD - really hope it's one of those "terrible at the time but didn't things turn out for the best" kind of stories!
Already drawing up list for DD2, perhaps I had better register her too! Can't bear the thought of doing this again with a more...unpredictable child. Honestly will be either or both the size of a hippo/alcoholic after another year of chocolate stuffing downed by wine!
Called LEH where DD on waitlist. Basically it's not going to happen with the never say never caveat- so flippin close but yet so far! DD still slightly gutted, said but mummy that's probly the difference of TWO questions!!! Ahhhh!NOOOOoooooo. Whimper, whimper.

Out of interest did Godolphin go to waitlist?

And finally...speaking of anti-climax, when after all that toil and overthinking it, shouldn't there be a celebratory band playing when you arrive with your deposit? And senior leadership reception line clapping and whooping, high fives all round kind of thing? Rather than just a "great, I'll need to photocopy x"....

Good luck to anyone still waiting and those doing it again next year or the one after, I salute you! And thanks for the support in my lonely quest. I don't have much of an update at the moment (other than having no school for next year ), but when I do, I will let you know.

DarkBlueEyes there was a thread about children being asked to leave Claremont a couple of weeks ago. I will see if I can find it.

said thread