Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

Original poster

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

836 replies

orangina · 07/07/2015 11:39

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.....

OP posts:
TeddTess · 19/01/2016 18:36

an interview before the exams sounds like a selling exercise to me!

i think it is St George's in Weybridge who stopped interviewing. They looked back on the interview notes and the head teacher reports and realised that if they had just used the head teacher reports they were a far more accurate insight into the child than the impression from interview.

Surbiton don't interview either - just the personal statement to get a flavour of the character/extra curricular interests.

argyle1234 · 19/01/2016 18:48

Hi all just got called for nottinghill and ealing high school and saint helens in northwood. Any tips on what kind of interview it is

DIN2K · 19/01/2016 18:52

Hope you're all getting the interviews you want.

Anyone out there heard about Kingston Grammar 10+? I can see the 11+ interviews have come out. DS sat the 10+ as a practice for next year. But of course, it would be lovely not to do it all again next year. He keeps on asking me but we haven't had a letter, email or a phone call yet.

BOTTERSNIKESandGUMBLES1971 · 19/01/2016 19:05

DIN2K - DD also sat the Kingston Grammar 10+. Not heard anything either, which I take to mean no interview. The interviews are this Saturday aren't they? Surely we would know by now.

DIN2K · 19/01/2016 19:09

BOTTERSNIKES. Thanks. I fear the same. Slightly hanging my hat on the fact that they say that it can take up to two weeks (i.e. this Friday!!!!) to contact us. Ah well. Next year.

BOTTERSNIKESandGUMBLES1971 · 19/01/2016 19:13

DIN2K - Like you though, I was praying for a positive! Make next year so much easier! Suppose there's still time, and they do say 2 weeks. And looking at last years thread they seemed very late with the 10+. I want it over really. Can't concentrate properly. DD appears to have completely forgot all about it.

TeddTess · 19/01/2016 19:22

in 2014 they were really late with the 10+ outcomes
you could always email the registrar and ask.

the call for interviews iirc was the day before.

DIN2K · 19/01/2016 19:28

Thanks Teddtess and Bottersnikes. It does seem like the new Head has organised them all a bit more than before - what with the 11+ coming out in just a week. I shall remain jumpy until tomorrow evening, and then abandon hope. Haven't heard from any of our mates either.

BOTTERSNIKESandGUMBLES1971 · 19/01/2016 19:30

We didn't know anyone else that took it - so please post here if you hear - that way I'll know it's game over for us! Knowing either way will be a relief really.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 19/01/2016 19:38

Slightlyjaded - the Ibstock interview is academic, prepare for mental maths questions etc. I think its nice that they interview everyone, I think there's nothing worse than getting through the exam process and then being rejected at interview - it makes the rejection seem very personal particularly if a child thinks the interview went well.

DIN2K · 19/01/2016 19:55

Bottersnikes, will do. Fingers crossed for your DD.

mummyinatizz · 19/01/2016 20:12

I'm with you Ashers40 my DD is lovely girl but can be shy at first. Most of her pre-exam interviews were group with between 5 and 9 girls. Sounds like the teacher tried to get them all to talk/contribute, but how much can they glean from 9 girls in 20 minutes?

I'd love to know what the Head writes in the references, of course I don't have the guts to ask him.

Still waiting on a JAGS interview invite, anyone else? They have a certain number of interview slots pre-Christmas, but once they are gone then post-exam interviews are only for those worthy!

Almostdone2 · 19/01/2016 20:13

I think you are right Cake. If everyone is interviewed it is less personal. I hate this process.

2serious · 19/01/2016 20:35

Botters and DIN2K - we also still waiting for 10+ result... dd asked today when will we find out. Best of luck!

Ashers40 · 19/01/2016 21:18

With KGS 11+ they emailed first to say you had an interview and to expect a call within 2 days to confirm the time. But it might be because of the sheer numbers at 11+ (800 apparently, I asked) that they emailed first.

SlightlyJaded · 19/01/2016 21:24

I agree cake. We have a couple of friends who are doing interviews at KGS and I can't help thinking how horrible it would be to fall at that post. At least if you don't make the mark in the exam, you can accept that others did better. But to be rejected post interview? Aged 10 or 11? Horrible.

wheresthebeach · 20/01/2016 08:41

We did 11+ last year so just popping in to share what we said to DD re: interviews.

We said that they will be grouping the kids - arty, sporty, science/math, humanities so that they get a good cross section.

If you are interviewed in a year group that has a lot of arty kids then they may like you a lot but you may still not get in as the other kids may do well in the interview as well, but have scored higher on the exam. We said the interview was just to weed out kids who clearly can't manage to present themselves well i.e. behave...for 30 minutes, or who are over competitive with potential classmates.

Clearly we have no idea if this is in any way true - but we wanted to present it in a way that made rejection 'less personal' IYKWIM.

minoula · 20/01/2016 09:31

We also went through this a few years back. In the case of KGS, "lore" had it that a "general interview" almost certainly led to a place - unless the child was swinging from the chandeliers or something! A subject interview was also likely to lead to a place, or at the very least a waiting list place. The waiting list there does move too.
In the case of dd, the interview took all of 5 mins in which the teacher read out her school ref to her (!!) and then told her about the coach routes! Not scary at all. I don't think they over-interview too much there.

Shirleycantbe · 20/01/2016 10:37

In limbo land - the waiting feels endless! Does anyone know when the Surbiton results will be posted?

mummyinatizz · 20/01/2016 12:16

Just opened the post to a 'no' from JAGS. Didn't really ever think it was the right place for DD, but still not nice to get the letter.

Hope you're having better days.

Shirleycantbe · 20/01/2016 12:27

Sorry to hear that mummyinatizz. This whole process is so hard on everyone. Even when you deep down know it isn't the right school it still feels personal somehow.

MaeMobley · 20/01/2016 13:10

Just got a NO for KGS 10± 2serious, Botters and DIN2K.

2serious · 20/01/2016 14:00

MaeMobley- I am sorry to hear. :(. Thank you for sharing, not knowing if they started processing is like being in limbo. nothing here yet, postman been already.

MaeMobley · 20/01/2016 14:08

2serious, I got a phone call. It may be because DD is a sibling, ie DS is already at KGS.

I am being philosophical (or trying to be). This was our only 10plus.

BOTTERSNIKESandGUMBLES1971 · 20/01/2016 14:13

MaeMobley - sorry to hear that. No news here at all. I guess at least we know we'll be put out of our misery soon.