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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Surbiton High 11+ 2017

36 replies

Keepcalmandcarryon2017 · 25/01/2017 21:32

Anyone got any insight into when the offer (or not!) letters go out from Surbiton High. DD did 11+, and it's her first choice, so the wait is becoming agonising! i heard there were 550 girls sitting this year - not sure how many places they will offer (including their 'over-offering')? Views, thoughts, or just continue drinking wine as have done since 6 Jan...?!

OP posts:
Richmondmumofthree · 29/01/2017 08:37

We Haven't heard yet but was told all offers will arrive before end of the month
. Didn't realize over 500 this year... fingers crossed . Are you set on Surbiton for your DD..? It's very academic and a lot of homework. Do you know their policy on wait lists?!

amidawish · 29/01/2017 09:36

letters were posted on Friday so assuming you didn't hear yesterday you should expect it tomorrow. good luck

is it really very academic with a lot of homework? I had heard it was very sporty and a good range of academic ability - ie a B is not a disaster!

Richmondmumofthree · 29/01/2017 12:22

Found envelope buried under old post.. can you believe it? DD
Got an offer but not the scholarship we were hoping for!
Does anyone know if these get offered again once people with offer +
Scholarhip reject SHS in favour of another school?
Ever heard this happening?

amidawish · 29/01/2017 15:41

no it doesn't happen. they over offer on the scholarships.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 29/01/2017 16:40

Richmond - I know it has happened with scholarships to the junior school, it was given to someone else when the original recipients decided to go elsewhere, but this maybe because a certain number of scholarships are guaranteed to the junior school. It may not be the same for external applicants. If you can't accept this place without some form of discount phone up and explain your situation, they give out a lot of scholarships/bursaries and you have nothing to lose by asking.

Good luck.

amidawish · 29/01/2017 16:42

my friend asked about this 2 years ago. dd1 got offered a scholarship and we had turned it down, she was hoping it might mean her dd would get offered it as a "back up". (she was just as bright as dd imo)

Ealing12 · 30/01/2017 08:24

We had some friends over for dinner and their daughter who is an internal candidate received 2 scholarships. They mentioned they do not re-allocate Scholarships once awarded.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 30/01/2017 11:00

Ealing I disagree - DD was at the junior school and I know girls received re-allocated internal scholarships from a couple of years ago. The academic scholarship girls mother decided to send her to Tiffin instead and gave up a pretty decent scholarship which was then awarded to a different girl. Someone else with an art scholarship also decided to move to state but I can't remember who got hers. There was a lot of haggling over scholarship amounts and pushing to get them increased, I was so glad DD was going elsewhere for seniors.

There are probably some scholarships which can only be given to internal applicants and if they don't take them they are awarded to someone else. Probably not the same externally but one thing I did learn from that year group is that its worth asking.

Thisdoesnotgeteasier · 30/01/2017 11:19

Cakeisalways

As a matter of interest, can you give some of the reasons why you chose another school for your DD after being at the junior school, please.

Our DD is on the 11+ waiting list this year (so may not get an offer anyway) but I am always interested in why people don't choose a school as much as why they do.

Thanks

nocampinghere · 30/01/2017 11:25

Does anyone know how many scholarships SHS gives out? I know they can be huge % discount, non means tested.

DD has an offer, not sure I'm willing to pay full whack when so many others don't have to. am i being ridiculous?!

amidawish · 30/01/2017 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

amidawish · 30/01/2017 11:54

sorry realised i sounded a bit ridiculous!

Ealing12 · 30/01/2017 13:36

Well I heard this from the school directly too as our daughters attend the senior school and this is the case now, maybe it is for certain scholarships.

re: Comment you are not prepared to pay full whack 'no camping here' - all the others you refer to that don't - it's because they work very hard or talented to receive their schloarships, it doesn't come easy. SHS is a school well worth paying for, anyone who gets offered a place is lucky as your daughter will have a great education in an all rounded environment, if you feel that doesn't deem paying the full amount then it may not be the school for you. When you compare to LEH, KGS etc the fees are lower than either of those schools.

cakeisalwaystheanswer · 30/01/2017 13:39

Thisdoes.
It all got a bit too girly in Y6 and DD wanted to move to a co-ed. Nothing specifically against SHS as all of the girls schools seem very similar to me, but having been through single sex schools myself they don't seem to have changed since I went - and the world has changed a lot. I know other people will argue it the other way round and claim that girls schools are empowering but I disagree, each to their own, DD is extremely happy with her choice.

nocampinghere · 30/01/2017 13:43

Ealing12
the other schools - LEH, KGS etc give 10% scholarship discount. SHS give 40, 50%. not means tested, i'm not talking about bursaries here. why?

nocampinghere · 30/01/2017 13:47

ps i said "not sure I'm willing to pay" not that i wouldn't pay. I know SHS is a fantastic school hence our application despite a great state option.

Ealing12 · 30/01/2017 13:57

Well I'm not partial to why those schools offer less in terms of percentahe but SHS Scholarships are not always that high.

If you look at like for like school fees which is the only comparable I am talking about here SHS is the 'cheapest'.

If you can afford it and it is right for your daughter then you won't regret it, I would never choose a school just because it was cheaper but appreciate we are in a fortunate position financially.

Richmondmumofthree · 31/01/2017 17:13

Is SHS that much 'cheaper'? Fees look roundabout the same
To me without their v big reductions for scholarships

Kora · 31/01/2017 19:33

Speaking of costs. Are the trips compulsory? At their open day they mentioned v impressive trips, but eye-watering cost, e.g. Icelandic experience over £1k. Also similar for New York art trip. Even the Spanish language trip was some £800. I wondered if girls who came from families who could not support those trips, over and above fees, would forever feel like outsiders...

Cath2 · 31/01/2017 21:44

Hello, you definitely don't need to take part in the trips, there are 150 girls in Year 7, only a few places on each trip. It's a great school with amazing academics and opportunities.

amidawish · 31/01/2017 23:27

150 in yr7? Is that bigger than usual? How many forms is that - 6 of 25?

Cath2 · 01/02/2017 18:15

They normally have 6 classes but went to 7 for the 2016 intake. It is large and means it hard to get in a sports team or school production. But there is so much going on at the school, it's a great experience.

Ealing12 · 01/02/2017 20:42

Will let you do the maths, LEH is at least £900 more a term

amidawish · 02/02/2017 07:26

KGS is similar to LEH

Richmondmumofthree · 31/05/2017 22:14

Did anyone not take up their offers at Surbiton 11 plus?