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Secondary education

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Original poster

Grey Coat language aptitude tests

44 replies

al1979 · 25/08/2018 10:26

Hello all. My dd has a cat in hell's chance of getting into Grey Coats in any other category but the language aptitude tests. She's bright, top of the class bright but goes to a state primary so is not learning languages other than Latin which she enjoys. She has as much chance as any other bright girl so I'm going to put her in for the test. Does anyone have any advice to offer as to their format? Is there anything I can do to level the playing field with girls who are learning languages at school? Also, do Grey Coats give you the results BEFORE the submission date for the Pan London Schools Admissions Choices? If she were not successful, I wouldn't put Grey Coats as a place but if she were successful I obviously would! Any advice about the test would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
notaworrierxxx · 25/08/2018 18:07

Hi - my daughter did it 2016) along with three of her friends. My daughter (state school) was prob cleverest in her year (she ended up getting full marks on SATs, was offered bursary places at several top independent schools just to give you an idea) and she didn’t ‘pass’ - neither did anyone else we knew. I don’t think it was anything to do with her not having learnt a language, i think the test is more of an innate intelligence test or testing a certain ‘type’ of intelligence. My daughter enjoyed it, thought It ‘easy’ which I assume means she didn’t get it/didn’t have what they were looking for/wasn’t bright enough.
You can’t prep for it. I still think it’s worth a go though as someone has got to get it (someone from the year ahead of her did get a language place the year before so entirely poss from state school) And yes they do tell you before you do your admission form.

Good luck

EverythingElementary · 26/08/2018 10:11

One of my daughter's friends got in with a Languages place - eventually. She wasn't successful initially but got offered a place in the May/June prior to September entry as things had obviously shifted. They were thrilled as the school she was allocated was her sixth choice and a bit of a last resort (it's since gone in to special measures). 6 girls from school (state) including my dd took the test and they all enjoyed it. None of them 'passed'. They had been doing a little Spanish at school, but really nothing significant. The girl who eventually got the place is Indian, so perhaps had a better understanding of language given English was already her second language but she's also very bright.

She's very happy there, and her Mum is happy too.

Another girl from their primary got a place two years before that.

Go for it!

Oh, and turns out dd does have an aptitude for language anyway, as she took French GCSE in Year 9 and got a B so don't be put off if your dd isn't successful.

Original poster
al1979 · 26/08/2018 11:24

Thanks all! No I won't be put off and neither should my dd. I'm just in the same situation as the friend's mentioned, quite academic daughter and JUST a bit too far from the state schools that are academically minded. And a bit desperate.

OP posts:
Lenazayka · 01/09/2018 21:27

I hope this website will give you an idea what the language attitude test means lltf.net/mlat-sample-items/ Best of luck to your DC.😊

bangourvillagebesttimeever · 01/09/2018 22:01

I know of three girls at Grey Coats. There are only 15 places for those applying under the language assessment. The rest of the places are for church goers. So competition is tight. I would have no doubt that their will be some tuition available for the language assessment. I would be surprised if there wasn't as their is for everything else!

StopAtTheRedLight · 06/09/2018 12:39

DD got a language place albeit off the waitlist. She is very bright but not a kid who complies with parental requests eg prepare for trsts, studying generally. She got some allrounder scholarships to indies and got waitlist selective places at a Sutton grammar, Graveny, etc. Hope that helps your benchmarking.

mmj14 · 07/09/2018 13:51

Does anyone know how do they operate the waitlist for language places?
I understand they will send the result before CAF deadline. Do they tell the waitlist position as well? We are not meeting any admission criteria other than language places. I thought there was no point for us to put Grey Coat in CAF if DG wasn't given one of 15 places, but if they operate the waitlist for language places separately, a slight chance is still there, maybe? Will we know if DG is on waitlist or not before CAF submission?

mmj14 · 07/09/2018 14:02

Oops, DD not DG

princ3ssconsuelabananahammock · 11/10/2018 22:04

DD got a place in 2014 due to it, she really enjoyed the test. We didn’t accept the offer though as local school which we preferred also gave her a place. No harm in trying.

Yolande7 · 12/10/2018 23:01

I am highly skeptical of their selection process. My daughters went to a school where the large majority of children were bilingual (native speaker level), some even trilingual. Additionally, they were learning French in school. There was a large group of children who passed all their SATs with perfect or near perfect scores. None of them passed the language test. In the past 4 or 5 years at least, no child from this outstanding school has passed the Grey Coat language test. Very strange...

KiplingAngelCake · 17/10/2018 17:26

I went to Grey Coat open day the other week and the headteacher said that they give you an "indication" very quickly after the language test. By indication, she said they will tell you whether DC was in top 15, close to top 15 or far away - to help with other applications.
Hope that helps.

Pigsears · 17/10/2018 22:13

nothing underhanded. there were children that were just better at the test yolande… my kids go to a (heaven forbid) 'good' state primary (and it was 'needs improvement') and I know of success in the past 5 years. there are many children applying- and only 15 places- I am sure there are many many schools that have not had successful applicant in the past 5 years. also, just because a school is 'outstanding' doesn't mean that the children are smarter.... or more likely to pass this test..... don't be bitter and take the shine off the achievement for those that were successful by suggesting it was somehow anything but above board.

Hoanguyen · 13/02/2019 16:11

Hi my daughter is applying for greycoat. Could you advice any tutor around se16,please.

Original poster
al1979 · 06/06/2020 12:02

I forgot to update you all and anyone else reading this later - she got in on a language place Smile. If you're thinking about it, go for it!

OP posts:
peacockfeather11 · 26/10/2020 19:21

@al1979 congrats! My DD did the test last week but have not had any indication of when we will be told (no open days didn't help). Did you hear back quickly before CAF deadline? If she doesn't get a place then I'll take it off the list.

Original poster
al1979 · 26/10/2020 19:50

We did hear before the CAF deadline yes, so it should be this week (cutting it fine though, this year!?).

OP posts:
Original poster
al1979 · 26/10/2020 19:53

[quote peacockfeather11]@al1979 congrats! My DD did the test last week but have not had any indication of when we will be told (no open days didn't help). Did you hear back quickly before CAF deadline? If she doesn't get a place then I'll take it off the list.[/quote]
By the way peacockfeather11, most girls who got actual (language place) offers on offer day were only placed on the waiting list in October 2019. There is a LOT of movement on the waiting list at GCH and StM as many parents further up the list choose to go private, so if you get a waiting list place, still put it on your CAF and don’t despair, however far down your daughter is.

OP posts:
peacockfeather11 · 26/10/2020 21:22

Thank you. I live in hope.

Original poster
al1979 · 27/10/2020 06:55

March 2020 sorry, not October 2019. This year has been about a decade long, it’s all fuzzy Smile

OP posts:
marymonte · 11/11/2020 14:50

Hi everyone, so unfortunately we didn't hear from GCHS before the CAF deadline. I was told all girls are placed in waiting list for the language test in March - by rightly so, order of scores - but any idea of what a good score is? Out of 67? Does anyone remember their DD's score to shed some light? It's annoying not to know what the chances really are. Thanks!

Original poster
al1979 · 11/11/2020 15:37

Sorry, we didn’t get a score last year.

OP posts:
marymonte · 11/11/2020 16:05

@al1979

Sorry, we didn’t get a score last year.
:( They have said my DD's score is good but have no clue how good LOL
cochola · 11/11/2020 16:38

Hi @marymonte i take it you've heard back from them in the last few days confirming your DDs good score? Was that by email or a call? I haven't heard back so totally in the dark as to when I'll know either way.

marymonte · 11/11/2020 16:47

@cochola

Hi *@marymonte* i take it you've heard back from them in the last few days confirming your DDs good score? Was that by email or a call? I haven't heard back so totally in the dark as to when I'll know either way.
I called and emailed this week. You really do need to constantly chase up all these schools. It's exhausting!!!!
cochola · 11/11/2020 17:19

Thanks @marymonte I'll keep knocking that door.

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