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.....

Sorry to hear that, MaeMobley, but thanks for posting.
AIBU to think it all sounds fantastically disorganised? None of the four people I know have heard anything.

Sorry to hear of your 'no' Mae and Mumnyina. It does feel horrible and personal even though it isn't.

MaeMobley- I see. It's a tricky one with sibling already there :( but there is a much higher chance to get in at 11+ it seems, so hopefully they can still be at the same school. We also just did only this exam this year.

Sorry to hear that MaeMobley. It all sounds a bit disorganised but at least it will be over soon.
And we'll have next year.

I agree SlightlyJaded.
The lady on the phone did emphasize that the number they take forward at 10plus is tiny - 25 out of 215 (I think). and she did say this this should not discourage DD for applying at 11plus.

But yes, I am trying not to beat myself up for putting DD through this.

Sorry to hear about the bad news

Shirley - someone earlier on in the thread said that last year the letters from Surbiton arrived on the equivalent of this Saturday.... We're waiting too and hoping for good news

MaeMobley Don't beat yourself up. It's really good practice and will make her better prepared for it next year, having gone through the motions once before.

DD2 refused to do the 10+ and i didn't make her, regretting it now but DD1 got in on 10+ so i felt it put too much pressure on her and i couldn't even use the line "no one gets in" !

Thanks DrFizzio - I'd seen that thread but then the communication from Surbiton says "by the end of January" (I think) so I'm wondering if I'm going to spend a whole week leaping at the sound of the post coming through the door for no reason!

I know from my own and other parents' experiences that KGS will phone parents with other DC at the school as a matter of courtesy, if the current child gets a rejection
They otherwise follow the dates in the emailed notes.
Having been through 10+ twice, including last year, I agree that last year was a shambles but this year has been excellently organised. And going through the 10+ is likely to be a beneficial experience.

Thanks Tumfy. Does that mean your DC has an interview? Well done if so. And it means the rest of us will receive a letter in the next few days ...

Yes. So I think you are right ☺

KGS 10+... am I right in assuming (from the above) that if we haven't heard anything then we've not got an interview and will receive the rejection letter mid Feb? Oh well.

Best wishes to those of you who have had disappointing news. It's a tough time so sending and to you all.

wheresthebeach wanted to say hello again! Can't believe it's been a year! Hope your DD is happy at her new school. Doesn't feel very new anymore does it?

Hi Shirleycantbe & Drfizzioe. We're also waiting on Surbiton and have been told they're sending them at the end of this week. Fingers crossed x

Minoula, I love your description of the KGS interview, wish they were all like that!

Ooh - thanks piupiu! At least my nerves aren't too premature then!

Waves at mertonmama. Ah...the memories...yikes!

Hope all is good your end Merton and your DD is happy and settled - Am I right in thinking you went for Tiffin in the end?

Funny how happy both of us are now that she's in secondary. So much more suited to her than her primary.

Was thinking of starting a new thread so see how everyone is getting on!

One thing about KGS 10+ - they give great feedback about how the test went if you phone them.

You have to phone with quite a thick skin as they go through the papers giving you examples of the errors and tips on what to work on. Its very kind of them.

wheresthebeach - DD got Tiffin but we went for PHS instead. She is loving it! Couldn't be happier. Has made lovely friends and adjusted really well. Did you go for WHS in the end?

Thank you wheresthebeach. I still don't KNOW anyone that has actually been offered an interview. But I assume it's game over now as heard nothing. How soon can I call them to ask for feedback? I will put my very thick skin on for that call!

Really wishing the best of luck to all those awaiting 10 plus or 11 plus letters. I think the drip drip mail effect makes it all harder. Why not just post all the letters on the same day and be done with it!

Anyone out there going through the Latymer Upper shenanigans? They tell everyone sitting the exam to keep a particular Saturday in late Jan free - so that's about 1200 people clearing their diaries. You receive a letter on the Wed before this Sat if you are one of the 400 or so invited for interview. Then they interview everyone on the same day for the 120 places available. I remember someone (possibly on this forum) describing the interview day as a minor reality TV show - a cross between the hunger games and the early rounds of Britain's Got Talent! And that's exactly how it is.

Lol Minoula - I think that was me re the Latymer description - DD did it last year. It was bonkers; as you say, everyone was told to keep the date clear and then you heard very close to the time whether you were called. Latymer definitely was the one with the whiff of the Hunger Games about it.

The letter said in about 3 different ways "Do not bring anything with you" and we saw children with vast projects etc they were carefully carrying. All her other interviews had been quite touchy feely, we know you are only 11-type affairs but at Latymer it was a quick fire, randomly academic interview (you were warned it would be academic and random) - DD had to explain photosynthesis and then was asked some questions about Latin. She was fairly gobsmacked by the oddness of the whole process. On the way out you we handed a standard form letter which really pretty much said "The odds of you getting an offer are not that great but well done for getting an interview - consider this an achievement in itself". DD did get an offer but we didn't take it up

I did this twice in 3 years and so everyone going through it now has my heartfelt empathy. I will say that a year down the line my DD is as happy as a little clam at the school she chose, and I'm sure you all will end up in the same position.

First time to post as bizarrely found it tricky to register.

Huge sympathy to everyone going through this process. It's completely bonkers and not particularly child or family friendly. Awaiting interview letters on tenterhooks. Hoping for Alleyn's. Description of Latymer process sounds heinous.

Did I understand correctly that JAGS has sent out rejection letters already? I guess it's good to know even though it's awful news. Sorry for the DD of mum who posted. I would sit on that news until I heard from more schools.

Just surprised as it seems slightly mad to drip through the various letters through the post since we'll all be wondering which batch our DD will be in? Although honestly nothing surprises me anymore. I have never seen a market that is so smug in its decided supply/demand imbalance. Why aren't there more secondary schools being started up in London ... I know, I know it would be hugely expensive, but still there is obviously huge demand ..,.

All the mums of older kids tell me it all works out in the end ... Really hoping so for all of our children. I know they need to learn failure but really at the age of 10/11 when they had to work so bloody hard and they (and we!) have little understanding of the competition, the marks needed to get in and the non-academic criteria the school uses to make their decisions. Really??!!! Brutal. Breathe ...

Hi Botter I waited til we got the letter. They offer the feedback so they'll be ready for the calls and calling before you get the reject probably means you're calling before they are ready to talk to you. If I remember properly I had to phone several times as they had a lot of parents calling.

They also gave exam technique feedback - so we knew DD did well on VR but was let down by her maths. The maths was no surprise, but it was nice to know that she showed good exam technique (starring tricky questions to go back to, moving onto the ones she could do) and that her VR was on track.

They also flagged her spelling - I'd been arguing with her school for years about this and feared she was dyslexic. Her primary said no chance and dismissed me as a pushy mother; Kingston's feedback after I raised it during the phone call was simple - we can see why you're concerned. Get her tested and let us know the outcome.

So...we ignored her primary school and got an Ed Pysch. DD is quite dyslexic and qualifies for extra time in exams. I'm quite grateful to KGS for their feedback as it was honest and helpful.

The wait is over for us temporarily, dd had a call back for the interview for 10+ kgs. Thank you to invaluable advice re interviews, minoula. And to all of those still waiting to hear- I hope there is still good news for you in the pipeline