Selective secondary school application/preparation

[Leo12345]

Hello!

My DD is home-educated and we are going to take 11+ exams for selective/grammar schools to start in September 2018. We do prefer private ones, but will also apply to Tiffin etc.

So I just want to ask if I have not forgotten anything in the checklist and not missed any deadlines (in fact we've already missed the deadline to Emanuel School :()

For now we are thinking of:
* Preferred:
City of London Girls
Putney High School
LEH

* Less preferred:
Kingston Grammar
Surbiton High
Tiffin
Nonsuch
Guildhall high girls - too far

Can anybody advice of some good selective/grammar schools?

Anything helpful for 11++ preparation?

Many thanks...

Hi, I would consider taking your dd to a tutor and having her independently assessed to help you edit your short list. Regarding your independent selections you need 3 to 4 schools on your list by September with 1 being a backup school. The results of the first stage of the grammar school process will be released before the final date for registering for the independent school entrance exams. Have you spoken to the Registrars of the preferred schools regarding the reference for your dd as she is being home educated?

This is probably so obvious that it is not worth saying, but do check what the schools say about entrance tests. Some will have reasoning tests of various types. Some just go with English and maths. That is the case with my daughters' school (on your 'not so keen' list). They genuinely did no preparation for the tests at all.

If you haven't yet been to visit all of them, do! Nothing like seeing the schools at first hand.

Finally, I wouldn't apply for more than 3 schools at most. We went to see 4 for my elder daughter, and applied for two. First choice and reserve. For younger daughter, we just went to see the same top two.

thanks!

We're looking at similar list of schools, though for a year later. Have you considered some of the other GDST schools, like Wimbledon High and Sutton High? We're still working on a getting a long list, though, so not as far ahead as you.