January Entrance Exams

[MalbecMummy]

I can’t even begin to think of NYE as it just means it’s January tomorrow which mean entrance exam hell! Anyone else stressed?! Good luck everyone!

Both journeys are decent - a few tube stops on one line. So easy enough either way. I really love the idea of her going to school in the heart of the city. Still waiting for the others so maybe there won't be a choice!

We live in a fairly urban area so I think I liked the idea of her travelling in the other direction more.

Well done her getting an offer to CLSG - I met a girl being interviewed for a scholarship at another school who hadn't even got an interview at City.

very happy over here with an offer from our first choice for our DS which is Whitgift! Good luck when deciding

We have our second choice offer in with an academic scholorship! First choice one comes next week so lets see. But DS is feeling much more relaxed having this under his belt as coming back from being abroad from many years he was so concerned he was behind the UK standards. So feeling happy today as he's happy and thats the ultimate goal!

If you want CLSG, I’d respond quickly. They’ve had exploding offers for at least three years now. I think they probably ought to consider some sort of computer pre-test to whittle the numbers down. Great school but a poor admissions process which isn’t kind to the children. They need new strategies to cope with the numbers.

Never really heard of exploding offers, before. That must make life difficult, especially if you are waiting on March allocations as well. Do the schools that do this make it known? I.e. Is it communicated to the Parents' of DC that have been offered places, so they know the urgency of their responses? Or do they just get a shock if they've responded too late? I think the pre-test is probably a better idea.

Interesting comments earlier about rejections in one school / while having scholarship interviews at others which are very selective. I guess the numbers of spaces, whether there are people coming from junior schools and just plain performance on the day all count. My DN who also sat JAGS, didn't get an offer at all, but is on waiting list for Sevenoaks. ( I've always thought of Sevenoaks being a lot more selective than JAGS, but I don't know why, we've never been to Sevenoaks). DN also got offers with scholarship from 2 other schools and passed the Kent grammars. I guess also the schools know what they are looking for.

I would think they would tell you if it was an exploding offer...I've never heard of this and would think totally unfair if not pointed out! My DS offer letters have a deadline of 5th March so as far as I'm concerned he is entitled to that place until that date.

AFAIK CLSG and Highgate do this, but it's explained in the offer letter. Haven't heard of it being an issue at any boys schools.

KGS are doing it this year, see other threads.

CLGS already expiring apparently

Yes, CLGS is already full so offers are going to waiting list if you haven’t accepted.

It seems a number of people still get caught out each year, with the exploding offers, even with them pointing it out in the offer letter. I agree it’s not fair and the schools should have a better way of controlling the offers and numbers of acceptances.
Other schools manage it, so they should be able to as well.
As for notifying parents as they get closer to their capacity, this only creates a state of panic and God help you if you don’t have access to the internet at a pertinent time.

Personally, I think its a ghastly way to conduct school admissions - the process isn't particularly kind to children as it is, although some schools do go out of their way to try and minimize the stress.

Its also a sign of the times, I guess. A shortage of secondary school places in West London? An increasing level of anxiety and panic amongst families?? Not sure, but it definitely feels wrong.

I have successfully prepared many children for top independent senior schools' maths exams (having taught maths at several independent junior schools). If any of them had used a pen to complete a maths entrance exam paper, I'd have been most annoyed.