As the Tiffin deadline looms, is there a girls SW London grammars / indies thread yet?

[FlumePlume]

I just realised that I need to get the Tiffin Girls form in ASAP, and wondered if anyone else is in the same position? I could do with company in this process!

We’re not yet decided but probably applying to Tiffin, WHS, SPGS, Sutton High and maybe one of PHS / Emanuel / KGS.

Yey! Great news TheExtra, best of luck to your DD!

We got the email.
unfortunately it is no :(
I am rather disillusioned over the whole process.
I didnt realise how difficult it is for a top performing state school child (top of class) with tutoring to get into these selectives. I will rethink everything for my DS.

These schools are tough for state, prep and independent kids. Don’t get down on the process. There will be another school which is right. They are all so different.

Did anyone do the G&L exam today. Queues round the block!

Re- KGS, it may have all changed in the last five years, but they used to offer either a “general” interview or a “subject” interview if you were a bit borderline in maths or English. Everyone offered a general interview was offered a place, unless something very odd happened in the interview. They also used to interview all the girls first. Not sure if this is still the case?

Sorry to hear that Richmond. What are your other options?

Richmond001 don't despair. Kingston is notoriously tricky - it's co-ed which makes it harder, I know children who are really bright, some got in, some didn't (it's hard to call, apparently, and throws up some weird outcomes),those that didn't went onto to get offers at really good selective schools. how many others are you applying to?

Re KGS interviews, last year they were all general interviews, it became very chaotic as the school didn't email the Saturday interview time slots as promised and in the end most people had to contact admissions directly to ask the time to arrive. I hope that this year they are more organised. There are A LOT of dc at the interviews but you will begin to recognise faces and realise it's the same dc popping up at all the schools. Good luck to all and whilst today may be a "no" email there are lots of other schools out there waiting for your dc.

Last year there were both subject specific and general interviews at KGS. Maths or English specific or a general. I assume it will
be the same this year.

I genuinely think schools are not telling the truth when they say they don’t consider previous schools, although their policies on the issue tend to vary in my experience. Any piece of info they ask for is relevant, or they wouldn’t ask. A parent or sibling having attended the school is relevant too. It won’t get you in but it helps!

Last exam done. Thank goodness. Now it’s the waiting game....

Does anyone know when you hear about interviews at LEH, LU or SPGS?

SPGS is an email on Wed saying whether it’s a no or an interview. I don’t know about the others, I’m afraid.

LEH interview notification goes on 17th, don't know if that's email or letter x

Thanks. It's a long drawn out process.......

Richmond I only just caught up on the thread properly, so sorry for your disappointing news. It’s so tricky when you’re only told that your child is ‘exceeding’ and nothing else - it really doesn’t give enough information about the standard that’s needed, which schools are realistic, which are a stretch etc. I do hope you’ve got another option that your dd is happy with.

Richmond try to hold your nerve and keep telling her it's a lottery. I am doing that with my DD x

We admittedly are finding it much easier this time round but with DS years ago it was harder. I just kept telling him, and myself, that we would eventually end up with the school that was right for him and we did.

I always want to teach my children that we have agency and choices along the way and we do - those choices may be more limited than we would like but they do exist.

Do SHS interview or is it a letter with a yes or no?

If SHS is Surbiton, last year it was a offer (or not) letter towards the end of January. No interview.

No interviews at SHS, letters are the first week of Feb x

Sorry winter yes i meant surbiton

thank you guineapig xx

Just remembered that last year we got an email saying that letters had just been posted. It was a few days earlier than they had originally said the results would be out.
SHS were probably the best of all the schools we sat in terms of communication etc.

Hi all, thanks so much for the encouraging words.
Yup, agree for state school pupils and their parents it is really difficult to know where your child exactly sits compared to the highly competitive cohort out there.

For me the frustration is that the gap for my DD is just timing, she knows all the answers but second guesses herself and then doesnt finish. In life, one doesnt get timed unless you are an ER doctor LOL.

We are also waiting for LEH which she did say she felt she did better in. She said VR, nonVR and english was good but once again she missed out some maths questions due to timing. So, we are doubtful but still hopeful if that makes sense.

I do think the schools are misleading in what they say. For tiffin everyone knows all they care about is marks and they pick the top x. But for the independents they all say they look at various other things, whole child, if you do strong in one area blah blah, but suspect it is very much the same. Top x and then whole child.

Good luck to all of you out there waiting as well.
Either way it will all be over soon ;)

Hi all, my dd got an interview for KGS. From reading earlier posts I get the impression the interview could either be general or subject specific (based on weaker subject).
Our email on Friday did not mention either way and I was wondering if that information will be sent in the week. Would anyone know?

Dropped dd off at WHS (queue initially reminded me of Tiffin, but it moved much faster) and that’s it - no more. I can see why WHS aren’t keeping them for lunch, there were so many!