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.....

and over 500 at Putney this morning too! Good luck to all the lions, seals, robins, giraffes.......

Anyone know any more specific details about the court case at Queens Gate (girl expelled because of a rumour spread by her mum). I am looking at the school, but already had some reservations due to slightly disorganised approach to the admin of open days and exam/interview. Would be interested in any other views

Did anyone get any news on the applications for St Catherine's at Bramley

Any feedback from Putney? DD said the maths was fine but the English very long and she nowhere near finished it. She has major issues with time so it wasn't that much of a surprise but a bit disappointing.

Similar feedback on Putney here....Maths ok long English.
Also, what do you make of the Wimbledon email about some girls (not) seeing the test before?

Same here shirleycantbe. Didn't have time for all of the comprehension questions. I've given up asking too much.

Did hear one dad quizzing his daughter on way out, how many did you get right in the maths? poor kid!

DD did say (of WHS) that when she opened the VR she thought it was the same as the JAGS one, but soon realised it wasn't. Didn't quiz her much further to be honest.

DD didn't mention anything about the WHS paper but we didn't do JAGS (or any specific tutoring) so it was all fairly unfamiliar to her.

Hi how did it go at HABS. Anyone take that paper yesterday my DD said English was easy but Math became difficult in section B

Interviews starting next week. Any tips? Are they meant to wear their
school uniforms? Not feeling great as dd tearful and exhausted.

Yes my DD is very anxious and I feel for all of us

Mine is very tired and so hard to motivate and is am finding the logistics of all the dropping off and picking up and interviews much more challenging than I could have anticipated! Any tips on keeping spirits up! ?!?

Feeling for all of you. We left all that behind years ago but will never forget!

Crazy2016 promise a small celebration when everything is over. I never gave too much importance to the outcome but to the experience itself. I said I was proud of all he had done and that out of this he was going to gain experience, resilience and maturity which would come in handy at any secondary school.

"Are they meant to wear their school uniforms?"

It doesn't matter what they wear, but in practice most people will be in school uniform. It can be quite fun spotting whose there, and seeing uniforms you usually don't (especially if they involve capes or velvet). Depending on how the school runs the interviews, you might not see many other girls; others can be a complete scrum.

"Any tips?"

Don't really try to do much preparation now, especially as you say your DD is feeling stressed. Don't try and script her answers, but do help,her think before the interview what she is going to talk about if she's asked questions about what hobbies she has, what she likes doing in the holidays or what she's reading at the moment. These are all fairly widely used as gentle ice-breakers, and it'll help avoid a rabbit-in-the headlights moment if she knows which activity and which book she might talk about.

AnotherNewt thank you. I think I will tread softly.

Have you heard of interviews where the children are handed
an object and asked to come up with an original use for it?

I think I would go blank!

Almost...yes! G&L used objects last year. Again though, no point in prepping for what may come if objects used, as it may be any random type of question...place in what you think is sequential order, by materials, texture, etc...

On the uniforms, we didn't wear uniforms unless school was going from/back to school on the day. Most schools will say wear what you are most comfortable in/recommend not to wear, but you will always find the many children that turn up in uniform, regardless, armed in full badge regalia. Even on a Saturday

Try not to be intimidated..it makes no difference.

Oh, heavens, yes. Only uniform for weekday interviews.

And something else you might want to think about telling your DD is that this gives her a chance to see what some of the school staff are like, and decide what she thinks of them. Are they good enough for her? This can backfire, if she decides she hates the interviewer, but I suggest it because it can be a reminder that you/she have choices too.

Good luck to all girls sitting the Group 1 consortium tests just now!

DD again volunteered to help at her school, Francis Holland Regents Park, rather than have a day off(!), so she will be taking your DDs to breaks/loos etc, chat with them and hopefully also calm any nerves.

Otherwise the new headmaster is in place and things seem to be going smoothly, with no major changes expected and sincere reassurances that he values and will preserve the warm and friendly atmosphere at the school. So far, so good!

Yes just picked DD from Notting Hill .a very organised and well conducted affair..just waiting for the results now.senior girls were there to support and show us around.

LEH was very well organised too but I missed any chance to ask about the numbers taking the exam/ being interviewed. If anyone knows, it would be very helpful.

Just back from NHEHS, agree with argyle1234 that it was very well organised and seemed relaxed. Dd didn't report any tears or vomiting, unlike at G&L last week……!

Yes also I think numbers were much less around 180-200 applicants .I wonder how many seats there are

They'll be 90 places (3 classes), of which around half will go to those coming up from NH junior school

So do the NH juniors sit the same exam? Are they included in the 180-200 applicants then?

They would have sat the exam today alongside the girls from outside so yes, if that's how many in total sat today...