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.....

Thanks for your words of wisdom re envelopes. I definitely would have panicked at a thin envelope. Now I'll just panic regardless of the envelope size! 😄 All this talk of the seeming randomness of who gets offers is making me feel slightly sick

I definitely agree that Surbiton threw up some real surprises last year but that the waitlists moved quite comprehensively. I know in Dds class nearly all girls applied and they only had 3 offers on offer date. However when the school circulated the final list showing numbers of offers and acceptances it was up at 9 or 10 offers so a LOT came off the waitlist. So hold the faith if you get a waitlist place.

We had an offer from SHS which we turned down quite early on and we had a very charming email back from them. I told them where DD was going and they emailed me back to say that was a very good school, we had made a good choice and they were sure DD would do well there and they wished her well. I thought that was very classy.

Last one for us today and it's hard not to hate myself for thinking DDs naturally strong, all round ability and a few Bond Books would see her through.

As KGS rejection proved - she is under-prepared, which is entirely my fault

But she has bounced back and trotted happily in this morning. So good luck to anyone sitting Ibstock today. Drop off was like a masterclass in 4x4 cars

Surbiton offer for us in post this am
(A5 envelope)

Congrats to your DD Shirleycantbe.
Our post doesn't come til 11:30. The suspense is killing us!

Oh good news Shirley. Hope others on this thread who went for SHS also get good news.

Slightlyjaded - please don't beat yourself up about a rejection from KGS. My son was rejected last year but got interviews/offers everywhere else, including schools considered higher up the pecking order than KGS! As others have said it throws up strange results.

Shirley - congrats to your daughter on the Surbiton offer

Thanks AlwaysFrank. I am scared she will get nothing. We haven't sat loads...

I also feel I didn't get my DD prepared enough and we carried on living our lives! Does anyone know the kind of numbers there are at Francis Holland sloane square and how many they taking this year and roughly how many they offer to?

Congratulations Shirley!!

No post here yet. Does anyone know if the rejections are in a smaller envelope? Dd want to open all the envelopes herself (not that she knows one is due today) as as this will be the only one arriving when she isn't at school I thought i might let her, but only if I know it's good news.
Thinking about it, a waiting list letter might be in A5 too so maybe I need to open carefully and re glue if that's what arrives.
Aaaaargh

Apologies for typos - nerves!

Congrats Shirley, still waiting here, post comes quite late

It's a yes from Surbiton and what a lovely letter

Well done Shirley DD. Best of luck to everyone else waiting for the post. SHS is a great school - know lots of very happy girls and parents there.

I've answered my own question- waiting list comes in an A5 envelope too. Gah. I know there is a decent chance of movement on the list but I hate the uncertainty.

Just remember IHeartMarmite that a waiting list offer is a "yes we want you but we need to work out the numbers"... judging by last year you'll get in

Thanks TeddTess. I'm new to all this and now wondering what the next step should be. We are still waiting for other replies but I don't hold out much hope as they were more 'aspirational'.
Should I call SHS on Monday to find out where we are on the list? Also, they have invited us to some open mornings in Feb so would it be a good idea to show keenness and go?

yes do call on Monday/early next week - lines will be busy.. and yes do go to open morning etc.

How many a school takes from the waiting list varies enormously year on year. Sorry to be a bit of a doom merchant, but thought it might be worth saying that some schools last year took none, or only one or two from the waiting list.

If on a waitlist as only offer, or you have waitlist from a school you'd vastly prefer, then best thing you can do (assuming you are at a prep) is get on to whoever is head of school transfer and ask them to find out how the numbers are working out, and is appropriate to press your DD's case as a desirable candidate. Unfortunately it's going to take several days for the initial accept/reflect responses for those holding offers to come in.

a) most people on this thread are not at a prep - hence why we're here helping each other and sharing experiences

b) SHS wait list DOES move. every year.

Well done to all with offers and waiting list. Has anyone had anything from Latymer upper?

Can anyone tell me when SHS replies need to be in by? Presumably as that date arrives that is when the list is likely to move, if at all.
I also assume that once some of the other results come out in early Feb, people might decline SHS in favour of those

From recollection of last year, LU got notification out today/Mon for those invited back for music auditions (for coming Thurs/Fri), and the letters for interview only hit the doorsteps by weds (for the end of Jan Saturday interview date).

So hang in there...still not out if same pattern this year...

OMG its an acceptance for our DD for Surbiton. She is SO chuffed Really weren't expecting that.
Now just got to work out the commute. Does anyone know if there are currently any girls there that travel from Ewell/Epsom through Tolworth on the 406 bus route?

Point taken, TedTess my apologies and I'll leave the thread.