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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:
DIN2K · 21/01/2016 11:13

Good for your DD, 2serious. Good luck for Saturday.
God does that mean the wait's not over for me and Botters yet? Already dreading next year.

SlightlyJaded · 21/01/2016 11:14

We have only one left now - Ibstock Place on Saturday. Does anyone have any useful/anecdotal/historical advice that they are impart for the exam?

We are doing general prepping but it's actually really hard to find anything specific about this particular exam e.g. where the emphasis lies, what to expect - that kind of thing.

Thank you! goes back to chanting 'it will work out in the end' mantra

mummyinatizz · 21/01/2016 13:11

That was us with the no from JAGS notatigermum999. Am keeping it quiet from DD until we have a few others, w/c 01 Feb. We didn't do the pre-Xmas interview as there weren't any more dates available.

If you did the pre-xmas interview, I'm guessing you'll have to wait 'mid-Feb' to quote their website.

Good luck, no news could be good news!

sydenhamhiller · 21/01/2016 14:25

Following with interest, even though we are deepest darkest SE London. Anyone know anybody with children at Sydenham High? I know it's not the premier league of my other locals of JAGs and Alleyns, but DD1 is a lovely, shy, quite bright girl - not sure Alpha enough for the afore-mentioned. We loved SH, loved girls we met, know it might not get the results of others, but think it would nurture DD and work on her confidence. But a friend is taking her DD out after 7 yrs of Juniors to start Y7 at local state girls, as she does not believe it is worth the fees at secondary level.
Have been through this already with DS1, and it was all so much easier and straightforward for him. All feedback very appreciated.

FoxesAreFabulous · 21/01/2016 15:11

Hi all, I went through this horrendous process with my DD last year - reading this thread is bringing it all back! - and it generally does seem to all work out in the end! I would like to say to any parents waiting for Latymer Upper interviews - our experience of their interview day was nothing at all like the two previous posters have described. It was certainly the busiest interview day we went to so in that sense, it could have felt slightly overwhelming to a 10/11 year old but it was supremely well-organised, all the staff we met were very friendly as were the sixth formers who had been drafted in to show people to their interview tables and sit and chat to them. They have a table set up in the waiting room for each interviewing member of staff, so you are taken to the relevant table to wait and then that member of staff comes to collect your child. It does mean that they know where everyone has sat and can find them easily, rather than having to stand in the doorway of the room and shout the child's name (which is what happened at SPGS last year).

The other interviews my DD and I thought were very well run were the NHEHS ones - again, very friendly staff, not as many children in one go as they interview over several mornings and a nice, calm atmosphere.

BOTTERSNIKESandGUMBLES1971 · 21/01/2016 17:22

Rejection letter from KGS 10+ received today. I feel quite peaceful now. It's over (until next year).

mummyinatizz · 21/01/2016 19:37

sorry to hear that BOTTERSNIKES, hope your DD is OK too.

argyle1234 · 21/01/2016 21:10

Agree with you foxes are fabulous that nhehs was a very well run affair .staff were friendly and very genthe with the girls.hope for the best since we live just 5 minutes away

Ashers40 · 22/01/2016 18:10

Anyone feeling nervous about getting the post tomorrow? Do you think Surbiton High post the letters on a Friday on purpose so you can't call them until you've calmed down?

Ancienchateau · 22/01/2016 18:35

Just read the last couple pages and it has brought back a few memories.

I've been through it twice before so courage to you all going through it now. It's a massive cliche but it does all work out. I can tell you all sorts of horrendous dramas including that of my own DD got NO offers last year Grin. She is of course somewhere (selective) and is happy and doing very well.

Nice to see a few familiar names from times past too and I hope everyone's DC are happy.

DIN2K · 22/01/2016 18:44

We got the letter on Thursday too. Thanks for all your support everyone. Good luck for al the interviews tomorrow

DIN2K · 22/01/2016 18:44

We got the letter on Thursday too. Thanks for all your support everyone. Good luck for al the interviews tomorrow

IHeartMarmite · 22/01/2016 19:02

Ancienchateau- I think we might have corresponded about this last year under different names. If so, that's great news about your dd! It wasn't my turn last year but it is again this year...

IHeartMarmite · 22/01/2016 19:17

Ashers40 - yes, feeling nervous here. Haven't told dd yet that we are likely to know tomorrow, although other classmates took the exam so she would find out on Monday anyway. Here's hoping for a big fat envelope for all of us

RascarCapac · 22/01/2016 19:54

Ah ancienchateau, I think I see who you are. I remember last year - I was on that thread a lot under a different name ( this thread feels a bit tame after the squillion a of posts we all did last year). V glad to hear that everything worked out for your DD.

Crazy2016 · 22/01/2016 21:01

I have got to the stage where I just can't see my DD getting in anywhere... And so dreading all those thin envelopes coming through the letter box on 12 feb! Hideous. There just seem to be so many children i don't know how on earth they decide who to take and who not...

TeddTess · 22/01/2016 21:12

by the way the surbiton yes letter last year was A5 thin iirc. just want to save you heart failure...

Shirleycantbe · 22/01/2016 21:23

Very glad to have read that TedTess!!

Original poster
orangina · 22/01/2016 21:27

Crazy2016 you have just perfectly described how I feel at the moment….. Shock

OP posts:
Original poster
orangina · 22/01/2016 21:28

Ancienchateau, so glad to hear a happy ending to what sounded like quite a turbulent journey for you and your dd. I just hope I'll be able to dip into this thread next year and dispense charm and reassurance to the 2017 crowd…..

Smile
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IHeartMarmite · 22/01/2016 21:33

That's really good to know, TeddTess, as I'd heard on the grapevine that one year the waiting list letters were A4 and gave false hope, so this is the opposite!

TeddTess · 22/01/2016 21:34

ah ancienchateau !! so glad it worked out.

Ancienchateau · 22/01/2016 22:37

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

're SHS, one of DD's friends last year didn't make the wait list, or was so low on it that there was much scurrying around sitting for obscure schools and then in the early summer she was offered a place and is very happy there. So don't despair if it's bad news now or in next few weeks ... I know how horrible it is at the time though.

IHeartMarmite · 22/01/2016 22:45

I've PMd you, Ancienchateau, not sure if that shows up in the new look MN!

V interesting about SHS. I know that last year there were some real shocks about girls not getting offers who'd been expected to do well. OTOH I also heard that the waiting list moved a lot, and your post bears that out. Still, a horrid limbo to be in and a good likelihood of losing not only a deposit but also a term's fees elsewhere

Ancienchateau · 22/01/2016 22:54

Got it IHeartMarmite! And have replied Smile