Moving on age 11 or 13?

[shouldbecleaning]

Whats your view. Would you leave your child in private school for a few more years and then apply for ind sel seniors at age 11 OR more to private prep school now and apply at age 13?

Girls are ready to move on, boys may think they are, but I think ds has benefitted from staying put until 13. Got all the silly boy things out of the way, so went to senior school and behaved - and maybe was more ready to work!!

Yes and boys do mature more slowly than girls, but are there as many places still available at age 13 I wonder.

I suppose it depends where you intend to move them on to.

I know that ds's prep school were concerned about losing so many boys at 11, because parents were concerned that the places might not be offered at 13. They seemed to 'do deals' with several schools, so that those offered a place at 11 were guaranteed one at
13 also.

Some of the senior schools only start at 13+, so I suppose it depends which school you think might suit.

I'm glad these decisions are behind me now!

Have had a look at Haileybury in herts

We're in the Midlands, so I don't know it. Is there a lot of competition for places? We did chat the decision thru' with the Head of the secondary school that both dd and ds now attend, and he sort of said that he didn't think there would be a problem with a place at 13, although there were no guarantees. So dd went at 11 (her prep school finished at 11) and ds at 13 - it's worked well.

Is there an open day coming up? You could perhaps go along and chat to other parents and kids there.

I think it depends on the child and the school. Some of the selective independents don't start until Year 9, and of course other independents also add another form at Year 9 as well. I think that there are advantages to be had in having those extra 2 years at prep school where you are the eldest, and missing out on 2 years being the youngest, but of course it is a personal decision. If anything the trend here has seen a slight increaase in palces at 13+, as the local state grammar school has now announced that they will take in some pupils in Year 9 (though I'm assuming that these are aimed at late developers it he state sector rather than prep schools.

Looking at the results of the dcs prep, most of the 13+ candidiates got into the selectives of their choice. Of those who didn't many were candidates who had failed the junior entrance exams and came to prepare for 13+.

i'd be worried that everyone else would have made friends and them being the "new kid"

sorry to hijack but fairyjay i am trying to arrange a meet up so come over here