SW/W London Independent Schools thread part two

[Chillaxalready]

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

Hurrah, Dark

And congrats to all the others with good news today!

We still have to wait...and I'm on a course all weekend, so wont' be here when the post comes. To dd's delight

OK, a daft but simple question: who is the envelope (of whatever size) addressed to? Child, or parents of child? Just curious

Well done all! Can I be nosey and ask how many of your children are at State schools?! Mixed bag apparently at our school so far apparently...
Anyone heard from Ibstock or Emmanuel yet?

Hello am really pleased for all of you with good news, esp Dark as that's a really lovely story to give future sufferers hope.

But at the same time I hate you all. It's so unfair that north of the river the boys schools give the results at the end of next week? Why why why? Curses.

Yes dd at state primary

Elibean dd's offers have been addressed to parents but inside was an envelope addressed to her.

Anothercant - we're at a state primary. Big tricky to say exactly how it's gone for others but it looks pretty good from what I can tell. Everyone appears to have place.

I have to say I've been delighted with the school and couldn't have asked for more. We had a v positive parents' evening the other day and, dare I say it, DD is really looking forward to doing the level 6 SATS papers.

It absolutely is possible to get into all the schools mentioned on this thread from a state primary. On the other hand I have heard on the grapevine that girls at the local non selective private primary have been disappointed by this years results.

DD is also at a (leafy) state primary and it sounds like the yr6 group had a bumper year for all the schools mentioned here.

Hi, DD at local state, KGS quite high in their state intake.
I think sending the child a letter is a lovely idea, they've got to be a big part if the decision process.

Yes DS at state primary. Took a lot of extra work though with him (by me) to get him to the standard required especially for Hampton. We've finished all the KS2 work a while ago. No wonder he wants to take the rest of the year off.

Thanks for the reassurance! We're also at a 'left' state primary and in past years they've always done really well in terms of getting them into independent schools (with of course the additional parental input, tutoring etc!). Don't know how it's been this year yet- just grapevine gossip. Great to know that lots of state pupils are getting through!
(I met an über competitive mother the other day who went thorough this all last year- her DC was at a super posh prep and she said they all had educational therapists to help their children get in the right mental frame of mind, hours upon hours of tutoring from Y4 etc etc. and that I needed to get organised...) I'd like to think maybe she was a little unhinged..

'leafy' not 'left'!

A YES from KGS for DS. Now we wait for the state school results.

DS at a state primary too.

my boss' son has had an offer from Emmanuel.

Mines at a state primary too. Not even a very good one. Two or three each year tops to private school. If that. Very few even try. She does sound unhinged . Therapy . Good grief. We had a bond english and verbal reasoning book

Raising my (except it's champagne) across La Manche to you all. Great results.

anothercantthinkofanothername, I can tell you about many such stories

Thanks, Amidai, for satisfying my curiosity

My dd is at a state primary (not too sure if it qualifies for leafy or not, but I love it) and there are only two in Y6 in a position to try for indies. There are usually one or two who do, and last year one got scholarships to all the top girls' schools including SPG (though didn't choose it) - one the year before too. The reason there aren't more is nothing to do with either aptitude or teaching - its mostly economics, with some ethics thrown in I think.

The only other child in dd's class who has done 11+ is on the waiting list for Emanuel, and heard that today - for whoever was asking about Emanuel timings? I was told he got a very, very nice letter.

Well done to all DCs for huge effort.

DS got three offers, from KGS, Hampton and St G, one a scholarship. Also likely to be offered Tiffin. He is at small state primary, is exceptionally shy and socially anxious, but bright and likes learning. Not at all sporty, far from it. We would like him to go somewhere with good teaching, especially maths, but more than anything want the school to help bring him out of himself, be happy and confident. That matters most. Grateful any thoughts from parents with DCs at these schools. Genuinely undecided.

emptycoffeepot, I know a boy very like yours who is absolutely thriving at Tiffin. Of the other 3 I'd say KGS, though it sounds like it's changing a bit.

State here. Couple go for the local 'banker' as insurance against the ever decreasing catchment for the local comp, couple go for bursary places at more competitive local indies, only 2 so far as I am aware trying for more than 1 - and we are because we seem to live in the wrong place. Economics and ethics a big factor here too, plus a bunch of adequate state schools if you happen to live right side of road/ sibling/female/ get lucky in The lottery. Half term of tutor to cover exam technique, he has had a great teacher at school so curriculum has been extended. Very happy and also relaxed I think, no one to compare notes with in real life, no playground snobbery, no competition so just did what we did and hoped for the best. Therapist- seriously??? I think we are all more chilled South and state??

My older son is at KGS. Sport is for all in terms of fitness being important but competitive sport only for those that want it and go to practice IYSWIM. For example while he was playing hockey the 'non team' people went to the gym (out of the rain ) . The maths is streamed into five groups in a year of about 110 based on class and computer tests and the teaching seems good. The main selling point for us is the pastoral aspect, they want happy confident children and he is very happy there.
DS2 sounds very like your son! But we are going to accept a KGS 10+ place for him over a Hampton one. The thinking being that a bigger school with alpha males and lots of football ( he has two left feet ) would not suit him . Have a look around the schools, if he is that clever he will get good marks anywhere so it's about getting there in the happiest way. At least that's my logic with DS2.

Sorry that was aimed at coffeepot. Not just a random stream of consciousness........

emptycoffeepot come to KGS!!!

You need co ed for him not alpha males

coffeepot My DD is at KGS already and DS will go next year following 10+ last year - DD is really happy there and I think it suits lots of different types of children (my 2 are academically similar but have different interests and different ways of interacting socially). We had a Hampton 10+ offer too and from what I've heard their pastoral care is good but we just loved KGS from the word go and are keen on co-ed. The staff at KGS are very approachable and yes sport is important and a big focus for those who want it to be but there are a whole host of other things on offer and I'm sure DS will be joining the chess and music tech clubs etc whilst his sister is busy running round the hockey field at every opportunity. Good luck with your choosing.

Yes happiness is my deciding factor too

Bright kids get good gcses anywhere. I did by buying different textbooks and bloody reading them! But it wasn't fun, it wasn't inspiring, it was a hard old slog and I never did find out what I was really good at.
I chose kgs as I think dd will be happiest there and have the best experience of all our options. Plus it's where she wants so no moaning at me if/when she hates school !!

Amida I agree, I'm sure she will love it there. I think I had the same schooling experience as you which is why it feels so amazing to be able to offer such a happy one to my kids. Reading this thread all the schools discussed are good and parents so engaged these are lucky kids no?