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.

I didn't intend to single you out 1ndig0, but I just felt it needed saying as the 11+ stress is the start of the arms race. Going back to Latymer, 20 this year went to North American universities, pretty much the same number as for Oxford and Bristol. For most kids, even there, neither Oxbridge nor Ivy League is on the radar at all. Vast majority left to go to good UK non Oxbridge universities and a surprising number went through clearing!

Sorry to hear your disappointing news Richmond.

In my mind if my DCs choose to do humanities at A Level it might be an expensive sixth form when much of the study may be done independently. I am also not sure this heavy nurturing through sixth form prepares them for the real world.
am quite torn on this... as i said upthread about thinking about pulling my eldest out of indie to state for 6th form...

food for thought.

re mental health in teens and all this pressure i am beginning to think our family's benign neglect may be beneficial after all

so, Richmond, silver lining!!

It was a no from LEH for us too. I'm not disappointed for us but I am for DD who was really keen on it. I'm absolutely dreading telling her!

Always - I completely agree with you and my DS was always fairly laid back through LU, but since Year 9 he seems to be in a particular peer group and he’s feeding into the hype. I do worry about the mental health aspects because how long can they sustain all this?

Sorry to hear that GuineaPig. There will be more nos received today than interviews, that’s for sure. I always said to mine that they did pass, but there just weren’t enough places for all who passed and it’s like a lottery.

TheExtraGuineaPig sorry to hear you also got a no. Yes, also dreading to see the sad face when I tell my DD. But it might turn out to be the right decision all round. It is just such a hard lesson at such an early age.

Firstly - xx to Richmond, I really hope she's not too disappointed.

Secondly very well done to those with interviews!

Yes hopefully it will be best all round. DH was very not keen on LEH, felt it was a bit too "posh" for us and he loved KGS (she has an interview coming up). I also would send myself to KGS but it's not me who has to go, and DD really liked LEH - especially the drama facilities. She has one more to hear from too.

I have had reservations all along about putting such a young child (children) through all these tests and the risk of rejection - and we also have a younger DS and have to decide for him.

I guess it is a bit of a lottery. Interestingly she thought the LEH test was the easiest and finished the maths with plenty of time.. just goes to show their feedback straight after the tests doesn't tell you a lot!

TheExtraGuineapig, for the KGS iv focus on 3 words to describe your dd - ie sporty/kind/organised. Recent book she has read and back up examples if they ask for more, why she wants to go to KGS over other schools (make sure she doesn't refer to LEH feedback). What she finds hard etc. You get a bit of an idea of how she has done when the teacher returns your dd to you after iv from their body language. Don't be put off by number of other children there, many have several other offers on their way plus Tiffin etc. I don't have a dc at KGS but know the drama is outstanding and as it's a much smaller intake ie 60 girls you have a much greater chance of taking part. LEH currently has well over 100 girls in First year and SHS over 150.

Poppyred- wow thank you for taking the time to write all that! Really, really kind of you.

She is actively looking forward to the interview which is great x

The ExtraGuineaPig, good luck and remember schools are looking for engaged & interesting dc who can look adults in the eye and carry a conversation. Banish all talk of LEH from the house, every school wants to be first choice in the child's eyes and your dd needs to project this. I think they may ask the dc which other schools they have applied to so decide at home if she is going to mention LEH so it's not a decision she has to make at the iv. I've been through the process twice and it's just simply awful and so drawn out.

I am sorry for the No, we havent received the consortium school and is likely a no as she screwed up badly with her interview xx We havent got a problem with tests so far however do so badly with interviews, she is a very quirky child. Terrifying of the next coming interviews.

Thank you poppyred, that is such useful information. My daughter has the KGS interview tomorrow and LEH (which we all are in complete shock about)
We are from a state school and its all getting abit scary now (Will a state school child adjust to these schools). Also I would love to know how well she actually done, ie was it borderline. I guess I’m get ahead of myself and I just need to focus a each interview as they come.

DD has just had a no from LU, I wasn’t even expecting to hear anything today! It’s a bit weird as, even through this was her third choice, I have other DC there. Tbh it was the only exam she didn’t come skipping out of and she said she messed up on the maths. She has an interview at SPGS next week though and she felt the Girls School Consortium exam for G&L and another school went well. So fingers crossed!

I worked in a team of 6, 5 yrs ago only myself didnt go to Oxbridge. The team devided into 2 because they are rivals to each other between the 2 univ. I felt excluded by the time(I had a scholarship to study maths in the country however only from City of London Univ). They are very hard working people, married. There is always the superior feeling however I think they deserve it. Everyone in the team isnt very extremely succesful now though and everyone has moved on, one moved oversea(Hongkong). I am now in a team which is full of French, I am the only one who doesnt speak French, the people who went to Polytechnique always the ones who work hardest and have sense of entitlement. I do think these top Univs helped with that.

Congratulations to those who’ve had interview letters, and commiserations to those who’ve been disappointed. It does feel like such a random process, though I’m sure the schools must have their reasons.

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whs-blogs.co.uk/heads-blog/

I love what she has to say but wonder how many tutors will be offering sessions on debating etc next year??

I think that’s a bit harsh, we all moan about the over tutoring and the pressure, when schools would genuinely I’m sure prefer to choose the naturally bright and able rather than those tutored beyond their true ability. Of course you can tutor pretty much anything, I’m not sure what the answer is, and I think their assessment day probably played to the more confident child, but I applaud their efforts to do something a bit different.

Agreed!
Mine completely refused practising for NVR and I had to accept it. Her maths and English foundation are solidly built up by her state school teachers. We only had to practise VR by ourself however it wasnt too bad. We felt very lucky with LEH next interview round as she did ok with maths and English however had no idea about NVR. LU wasnt a surprise because she is strong with maths. I expect a No from L&G as NVR was included.

I very much like the idea behind the new WHS approach, and I think the Head is right to try and avoid taking over Christmas with lots of past papers. I do worry that VR and NVR are quite tutorable (which is why Tiffin stopped using them) and that it just moves the tutoring earlier in the year and to a different (and less useful for most of the other private schools) topic. But dd really enjoyed the morning and wasn’t stressed about it in anticipation, and for me that’s a big win.

I am struggling to know how to react to the WHS approach. It must make it more subjective. One adult observing them. It is an interesting approach.

I think the WHS approach just underlines what a lottery the London 11+ day school selection process is. There is a surfeit of very clever girls and the WHS approach seems to be to identify all those of a certain IQ level through the verbal and non-verbal tests and then just pick the ones they think will be easy to teach.

I expect they will continue to get great results with this approach. Not sure it will have any impact on making a positive change to the whole process.

I think the WHS tests are just as stressful and also unfair on the quieter girl who might not speak up as readily in that situation as an extrovert but I guess they are going for certain types of girl. We didn’t try for WHS but I think it’s ridiculous for the head to claim she has changed 11+ as the girls still have to get through first round and might be trying for several schools. It’s interesting that all schools have such different approaches with some not interviewing at all!

The WHS process has always been slightly different so I don't think it will change the types of girls they go for. Last year DD had VR and NVR and then a group interview with various activities, they have just changed the timing of the xmas and fleshed it out a bit.
There are a real mix of girls in her year so I don't think they have a definite 'type'. A year group would be a nightmare if it was full of loud extroverts? There are definitely quieter girls, sportier, bookish etc.
I think in general though it is less 'serious' school than it's rival PHS.