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.

DD used her school handwriting pens this morning for the English and Maths at TGS stage 2. Parking was fine, got space on a side road a 3 minute walk from the school. Luckily the morning was sunny and bright so the queuing didn't feel too bad. So glad that's over!

Dd took her usual fountain pen in and no-one said anything.

Now for Sutton High on Friday, at least that’s only a one stage process.

Good luck to everyone! Xx

FlumePlume I think we are living identical lives, at Tiffin on Sat and will be at Sutton on Friday. See you at Wimbledon High in a couple of weeks??

Jimjam Yes - WHS and (bonus scheduling for extra fun the day before) SPGS. Then no more, unless dd gets through to stage 2 of either of those. It’s the bunching of dates rather than the actual number of exams that’s hard, I think.

Is anyone trying for Surbiton High and been invited to Who am I? sessions? Do these really form no basis in selecting girls for the school? I can’t see why they’d go to the bother of arranging these sessions (and having no interviews) if they weren’t watching the girls and taking notes? Any insight from current pupils/parents/staff of what to expect? Thanks

My take on them was that it was more a marketing exercise aimed at the girls, I.e that if they enjoyed it and have a positive experience, that they might prefer that school over another, or am I being naive?

Thanks Jimjam, yes maybe that is the case and I’m overthinking things!

I wondered about it too.. I do think they'll take some notice, perhaps if someone is especially bright/ promising? But I agree that the main reason is probably to get the girls to want to go there. I'm glad DD is getting a chance to see it, I found it a hard school to make my mind up about on the tour.

I think it's a good thing. Both my dds got offers from SHS and neither chose it, i think because they had had very little exposure to the school vs other schools.

If your dd will perform well in those settings then send her, i would be hesitant however if she was very shy and quiet, or a loud dominant child!

My daughter is fairly shy and quiet in situations like this which is what I’m concerned about. However, I think I will still send her so she can get a feel of the school and if they reject her for this reason it’s their loss!! I’ll try and advise her to speak up and ask questions etc but it’s hard when she doesn’t know anyone.

Good luck to everyone who is doing tomorrow and this weekend test! It will get colder from next week, keep warm!

Well, that was startling as a comparison to Tiffin, no queue at all!

Drop and go in 1 minute flat!

Having done Sutton High on Friday, I looked up when they send the results, expecting they’d give a day like WHS. But all I can find is ‘December, before the end of term’.

Does anyone know more? Our post is awful and I’d like to know when to expect it before the end of term and an empty office that won’t answer the phone if I end up having to call to ask whether it’s been sent.

I work in a secondary school where we have taster days, similar to what you describe at Surbiton High. They are done mainly as a marketing exercise (if they enjoy the day, they will hopefully choose us over other schools). It is also done to pick out the odd very difficult character, which we can usually spot a mile off!

Can't answer the Sutton High question but last year Wimbledon sent out their letters a few days earlier than they said they would. Was quite a shock!

3 years ago when DD1 was sitting the Sutton High letters were sent out on 8 December, if that helps.

After Nonsuch and Tiffin, I'm looking forward to seeing how different the drop off process for Wimbledon High is tomorrow. I hope all of your DDs who sat Sutton and St. Paul's were happy with how it went and best of luck to everyone doing WHS tomorrow.

Well, St Paul’s drop off and pick up was very slick and relatively uncrowded. Apparently the woman in charge had clicky high heels and a no nonsense attitude and all the girls that dd saw looked happy. That’s all the feedback I got

Dd said it went ok until the end, when her brain got tired, though she did finish the papers. Apparently they were more like Bond and less like CEM (we had a mixture of books that she used for familiarisation).

DD thought it was ok and managed to finish both papers, but then I always worry she has misjudged something. Oh well only a week to wait this time. Good luck all

Same here, DD thought it was ok. A lot of questions for the time given but she managed. We're done now with exams until January.

These sort of threads really worry me:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3435228-Mental-Health-in-Grammar-Private-Schools