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Secondary education

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Original poster

Arses - we're abroad when entrance exams are taking place

55 replies

whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 12:19

Eldest daughter will be doing 11+ entrance exams in the coming months. Turns out the exams for her top two choices are incredibly early in January - and we're still away (Canada). Holiday has been booked since January.

I'm trying to get hold of the admissions teams to find out if there's a way around this, but are we just fucked, do you think?

It's our big/only family holiday this year – her school doesn't go back until the following week - so we never expected an exam on the bloody 4th Jan.

Anyone know if schools typically offer alternate dates?

ARSE.

OP posts:
OlderThanAverageforMN · 06/09/2018 12:31

Oh dear, it has certainly always been the case locally that entrance exams take place before term starts, you need an empty school for entrance exams, so always first week of January, they also all pre-book with each other, so they don't clash. Definitely check if they offer alternate dates, but don't hold your breath, I know lot of schools don't do this, as it would be open to abuse, and also it would put back their offer process. Could you and your daughter fly back a bit early??

Somerville · 06/09/2018 12:47

Around here they’re all Saturdays, rather than before term starts.
Have to say, though, that we wouldn’t book main family holiday for just before important exams - mine have tended to want time to revise with few distractions/no risk of jet lag on return/holiday to look forward to during next school hop after the exams out of the way.
Any chance of transferring your flights to Easter, or I guess other options would be one parent and DD1 returning a few days earlier than everyone else?
Fingers crossed for alternate option from schools.

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 12:52

No way we could afford to rearrange/fly back on a different day at this point. FUCK. FUCK FUCK FUCK. I never imagined they'd be so early in the year… 4th Jan?

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whenwillsummerend · 06/09/2018 12:57

DD had one on 2nd Jan this year but she also went back to school that day!

PatriciaHolm · 06/09/2018 13:04

Ummmm that's pretty normal - most of those around here are 4th/5th - as others have said they are normally the weekend before schools go back as it's hard to fit them in otherwise.

All you can do is talk to the the school. Some will be more accommodating than others.

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 13:05

Oh god. I've totally fucked up haven't I. Sad

And we've been so organised up to this point, viewing schools, taking advice, when we bookd the trip in January last year I never imagined this would happen.

Do you think we might be able to arrange for her to sit the exam in a school in Canada? It sounds extreme but I honestly don't know what else we can do…

OP posts:
BerriesandLeaves · 06/09/2018 13:13

When were they held in previous years for the schools?

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 13:31

Second/third week of jan in the main…

OP posts:
Michaelahpurple · 06/09/2018 13:36

They have started that early in our area for some time now - Sw London. I can't imagine them allowing you to sit elsewhere or late

Michaelahpurple · 06/09/2018 13:37

Are they particularly competitive - which general area are they?

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 13:44

The main one is - our first choice, v competitive. We hadn't looked into it particularly this time last year as we thought the bar would be too high for DD1 - but her head and teachers think otherwise (she has come on a lot in a year…).

We're in SW London.

Currently investigating sitting it remotely in a school in Canada. Jesus wept.

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AuntieUrsula · 06/09/2018 13:44

Talk to the schools and see if she can sit the exam later. After all, they must have some contingency for candidates who are ill on the day of the exam, for instance. It might also be helpful if the head from your DD's current school has a word, particularly if your DD is a strong candidate. Even if they are totally inflexible you'll be no worse off than you are now!

One of DD1's friends couldn't sit the entrance exam to her school on the right day so they let her do it the following week but said she wouldn't be eligible for a scholarship even if she did really well.

One of DD3's friends' parents somehow forgot to put in application for their chosen senior school - they thought the junior school would do it - and didn't realise till Christmas! Her mum pleaded with the school to add her to the list but they wouldn't until her current head got on the phone on her behalf. She ended up sitting the exam and even got a scholarship.

Sometimes things can be done, but it will very much depend on the individual schools in question and how competitive it is to get in.

LIZS · 06/09/2018 13:55

They often clash so there may be a second sitting.

whenwillsummerend · 06/09/2018 14:00

If you don't mind saying, which schools are they? Some are notoriously more helpful than others..

Bellie99 · 06/09/2018 14:02

Entrance exams do vary last year in our area they ranged from 3rd Jan to 13th Jane, and I am surprised that you were not aware of the dates as most schools publish them as part of their admission process - usually 12-18 months in advance.
As pp say, they do tend to need empty schools to house the numbers sitting the exams.

That said, all is probably not lost - there is usually a back up day for illness/emergencies although less likely to be advertised and also depends on whether they are highly competitive and/or over subscribed. Current head ringing is probably the better bet - although be prepared to have eyes roll in the admissions office and be 'on the list' of parents that can't comply to process that has been advertised for a while. (Every year we had at least 5 parents on the list and even when you are part of the school you will be remembered as one of 'those' parents 😉)

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 15:19

The most difficult and the one which was/is our first choice is Kingston Grammar. Their only other option is the following day (5th) so that's not much help, really. I don't know what they do for people with the flu...

Good idea to get the head to help though. Got a meeting with him anyway... And I suspect he'll be keen to assist a girl with a good chance of a place - looks good on the 'leavers destination' newsletter if she does get in…

I'm totally going to be one of 'those parents' wherever we end up.

I try so bloody hard to get stuff right and be organised - but between the girls living between two houses, an ex who thinks all this stuff is "my job" (because he's far to busy and important) plus the fact I have my hands full with my own business as well as being naturally a bit forgetful, I always seems to stuff things up one way or another.

Gah.

OP posts:
Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 15:20

The other one is Surbiton High - who I'm hoping will be more accommodating. But dunno yet. Didn't make me feel like a total loser on the phone at any rate...

OP posts:
cloudtree · 06/09/2018 15:23

our school certainly has a second sitting since BF's DC was unexpectedly in hospital in the day of the exam.

SoupDragon · 06/09/2018 15:23

Do they have options for “overseas” candidates?

Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 15:37

Couldtree - they do - it's the following bloody day. And we're still in Canada.

Soupdragon -– that's my current hope – that they'll let DD sit the exam in a school in Canada, if we can find one who will help us. They do it if you're currently resident overseas. It seems ludicrous, but it's looking a lot like it's that or we write it off altogether...

My DD had dreadful flu this time last year - I wonder what on earth they do in cases of illness?

OP posts:
Original poster
whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 15:39

I love this line from the email:

'We do not offer an alternate date for entrance examinations, provisionally the 5th January is set as an alternative date.'

ie. "We don't offer alternate dates - except when we do."

WTF?

OP posts:
foldingtable · 06/09/2018 15:45

Try the British Council in Canada? Some UK Universities (used to) let their overseas students sit exams in their home countries so long as it was at the British Council...

AnotherNewt · 06/09/2018 15:55

It means the only two dates are the published ones. But having them back to is poor practice. It allows deconfliction with other schools' dates, but is useless for candidates who are ill.

I'm afraid I wouidn't hold your breath about an overseas sit. Candidates resident abroad can sit the exam in their current school. So unless you already have a link to a school in Canada, such that you can persuade them to host, it looks rather unlikely.

MissWimpyDimple · 06/09/2018 16:03

Surbiton High is private though isn't it? They will probably accommodate your daughter. But if you are relying on a bursary you might not get that if she can't sit the exam.

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 06/09/2018 16:07

hmmm, no direct experience of London but round here they have a secret/sneaky emergency second date lined up around 10 days later for disorganised types people who missed the application deadline/were sick etc.

I'd ring them and beg tbh