Is it too early to start a 2016 girls 11+ W/SW London thread?

[orangina]

What do we think? DD is sitting 11+ for various consortium schools in January 2016 and I am slightly desperate for a thread to compare notes, pat each others shoulders etc..... I lurked on last years thread, but it didn't start until much later....

Just booking up open day places and filling in my registration forms now.....

You have to remember lots of the kids are sitting 4-6 schools

Emanuel has fewer places to offer this year as they have created another Y6 form (Hill Form). They are not increasing the size of school but taking more into Y6 (10+) and less into Y7.

I think Latymer had over 1000 last year as well. I understand they didn't go to wait list at all (at least a friend of mines DD was told she was at the top of the wait list but didn't get an offer). Either they got it exactly right in terms of numbers and all who they expected to accept did or they ended up with too many accepted offers.

Mad!

My DS is at emanuel. There is about 110 in his year split over 5 classes - 20 of these were hill form (year 6 coming up) this year they added an extra year 6 class so 40 coming up and I believe they are not increasing the year 7 intake - they want to encourage people to join earlier. Initially when we were applying they said they'd offer about 250 but that might have changed. But I know people who weren't offered a place otherwise it would be daft to make everyone sit an exam!

Anyone reving up for Latymer tomorrow?

We did it last year and it was one of the most enjoyable exams for him despite it being our aspirational one! It was very well organised and overall not as difficult as he was expecting (it was his last exam and he went in thinking he had nothing to lose so was fairly relaxed ... he got in so must have done ok!!).

Good luck - hope your DC does well.

DD is doing the Latymer exam tomorrow. Fingers crossed it goes well as she seemed to think that her last one (G&L) wasn't great. Good luck to all those taking it tomorrow.

We are - feels like the numbers are against us though. Almost to the point of wondering why we are putting DD through it...

Was anyone else's did at WHS today? Without giving specifics, dd thought the NVR was ok but the VR was hard. She enjoyed the creative task

DYAC - "dd" not "did"

Shirleycantbe, that is exactly how I feel! Also added horror of others she knows getting through to interview and not her.. Feels like my 10 year old needs to be superhuman to get into one of these schools!

Good luck to all the girls sitting Latymer tomorrow. Not one for us, but hope it all goes well for you. Did anyone interview at NHEHS today? We did and found it such a lovely relaxing atmosphere there….

DrFizzio - DD said the same about WHS today. She said the verbal reasoning was "different"

Thanks Shirley, glad to know dd wasn't the only one. Just shows you can never prepare for the tests. Dd left a few out, which I was disappointed to hear but if it was "different" then that's understandable

Ditto DrF & Shirley - same feedback from my DD at WHS today.

Seems to have been a lot of hanging around. 3.5 hours to do 2hours-ish worth of papers?
Couple of weeks and we'll know, although with big transfer from junior school chances are slim.

best of luck!

People were still arriving at nearly 9am so I reckon they didn't start till 9.30 or so. My dd said there was a long break after the first paper and a short break between the NVR paper and the creative paper.
Crowds of the world today so I think you are right about the chances. The dad in the queue behind me at drop off was talking at the top of his voice about the St Paul's exam, not sure if he was deliberately trying to put everyone off

Does anyone think it is wrong that some of these schools have no cap on the numbers they will allow to sit the exams? I just keep thinking of all those registration fees. I know everyone should have a chance but a thousand applicants for Latymer......kerrrchinggggg!!!!

that's a tricky one, because what if you decide late on/get an unexpected windfall/move house and want to apply? I know that Emmanuel set a limit on applications but that might mean they miss out on good candidates.
I'd be gutted if I applied and was told that a school had reached its limit 6 months previously or whatever. It's particularly true for schools near the grammars where you get some indication in October of whether or not your child's score is high enough to get a place. If you discovered your child wasn't likely to get a place, you might then do private school applications.

It does seem that the number of applicants has rocketed though, although I think a lot of it is due to multiple applications (have heard of several children sitting double figures!)

It is a really stressful time and the waiting is hideous however as someone else said everyone will find their right place and waiting lists generally do move a bit. I couldn't believe last year how awful the whole process is but people now apply for 6 or more schools and they can't go to them all so everyone will find s spot. Try to relax about it (wine helps) and when you get an offer it will all be worth it. Getting them to work hard and appreciate the opportunities they've got once they're there is the next hurdle! Good luck everyone

Emanuel have always had a cap on registration numbers, because they interview every candidate and say they attach importance to that.

For 11+, it's set at 600, and until the last two admissions rounds, that number wasn't reached (either at all, or not until about Oct/Nov when the registration deadlines are anyhow). But the last two were in July 14 (for Sept 15 entry) and in April 15 (for this entry).

This obviously favours the organised parent!

But you could see it as just introducing another variable into a process that is stressful enough anyhow.

I'm not sure that schools make that much profit anyhow on registration fees, once you take out the costs of the admissions process and the staff who run them.

I think the schools must make a profit. The registration fee times 600, 800 or even 1000. That adds up.

Any feedback on Latymer today? DD said the maths was ok but the comprehension was really hard.

Has anyone heard about KGS interviews yet?

On Latymer I just got a "it was hard".

Pleasemakeitstop - if I remember rightly, KGS interview all the girls before the boys so can be about 2 weeks before boys are called to interview.

Dropping of DD at HABS this am. Good luck to everybody doing it, there seems to be about 700 girls here.