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Secondary education

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

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Original poster

St Dunstans College Catford - Anyone had invites for 11+ interviews?

70 replies

spacecadet48 · 12/01/2018 15:11

Hi
I know the St D exam was only Wednesday but they are usually quick at letting you know about interview or a no thank you. With the new online exam format this year which seems to have had mixed reviews I was expecting to hear quickly via email. As they don't have any marking to do apart from a piece of creative writing! Anyway anxious to hear from others...

OP posts:

citykat · 25/01/2018 17:26

Three times as many?! Wow. Where have all those families come from? Am more nervous now as had thought interview was a really good sign and odds in our favour.

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 25/01/2018 18:18

citykat interview is a good sign. People are applying now from areas who wouldn't have considered before as competition for schools like DC/A/JAGs are very had to get into from state schools and some of the preps. I still don't think St D will be the first choice for all and I have no doubt they will over offer. So I am fairly positive of an offer.

OP posts:

user1475317873 · 25/01/2018 20:19

I heard they had nearly 400 applications and they sent lots of rejections letters. Didn't know how many they were interviewing, but 200 sounds about right. Of the 100 places 30 will come from the junior so they only need to fill 70 places. Even if they over offer they won't be able to offer everyone who attended the interview. I guess priority will be giving to sibblings, and high achiever chidren who won an academic scholarship or other scholarships in music, sports and arts.

Lentils · 25/01/2018 20:33

Are there any schools NOT seeing a rise in applications? This is our second time doing this (and thankfully our last), but we keep hearing how it's been a record-breaking # of applicants this year etc etc. I can't remember if this is a "bulge" year in terms of children born...or if more people are simply opting for private over state.

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 25/01/2018 20:52

I believe they had around 600 applicants ...although nobody really knows the exact figures. The intake is usually around 120 and not all kids move up from junior. But it's very competitive wherever you apply for.

OP posts:

Luna9 · 26/01/2018 10:10

We were told at the interview they had 364 applications and that they needed to fill 70 places. They didn't say how many they were interviewing. They have 4 classes of 25 children so an intake of 100 so I guess they estimate 30 will transfer from the junior.

I feel the new Head - not so new anymore - has made improvements to the school for the better and is trying to raise standards. It is getting more competitive but not as much as Alleyns, DC, JAGS.

Good luck everyone getting the right school for your child.

By the way, this is a bulge year. I know 2 schools nearby with an extra year 6 class of 30 children.

Lentils · 01/02/2018 14:43

Does anyone know when offers go out from St. D's?

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 01/02/2018 14:55

lentils letters posted on the 8th Feb.

OP posts:

Lentils · 01/02/2018 15:05

Thx @spacecadet48! In our joy to be over 11+ forever I think I may have thrown out the letter in my big recycle of 11+ papers / bond books.

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 01/02/2018 15:24

I hear you lentils...feels all very strange now and not feeling as optimistic as I did after interviews....

OP posts:

Lentils · 01/02/2018 21:04

Same here spacecadet48...heard at school a dc expected to get an academic scholarship at a GDST school didn't get offered it in the end. I'm completely shocked - I always assumed academics pipped everything for those!

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 01/02/2018 21:26

lentils that's what I thought too! I heard that a potential scholar was declined any offer at W as he was too arrogant!

OP posts:

Lentils · 01/02/2018 21:48

spacecadet48 yes! That's what the mum said :-( that she thought dc's natural self-confidence (most confident child I've met!) can strike some as arrogance.

citykat · 09/02/2018 10:44

So it seems some lucky people have their St D's letters. But not in my pocket of SE London. How can a whole bunch of letters posted together make it to some places but not others ( rhetorical!)
Another day of waiting ........

dorris · 09/02/2018 11:29

Nothing here either yet

practicallyperfectinmyway · 09/02/2018 18:12

Received our DS offer letter today, which we are accepting. Phew & really looking forward to the end of year 6 & start of a new school.

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 09/02/2018 23:49

Got my DS offer this morning. I remember with my DD its didn't come until saturday!

OP posts:

citykat · 10/02/2018 11:00

Still nothing. Postie has been today. I expect it's at the sorting office. Annoying

Original poster

spacecadet48 · 10/02/2018 11:24

citykat thats horrible! Its a pity its a saturday as I would be on the phone...

OP posts:

user1475317873 · 14/02/2018 08:40

We received an offfer from St Dustans but it has the fees for 2017-2018. Does anybody know when they will publish the fees for 2018-2019?

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