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Secondary education

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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.

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whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 16:36

They're both private. Doesn't make schools any more accommodating in my experience – far from it. (Kingston Grammar isn't a grammar school – just to be really confusing...)

I'm working on establishing a link with a school in Canada. Ahem. backhanders FTW?

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sayyatiddaknini · 06/09/2018 16:40

My DD sat the KGS exam abroad. They were incredibly helpful.

whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 16:42

OK Surbiton has an alternate exam date, but it means DD won't be in the running for an academic scholarship. Frankly that was a long shot anyway, there's only a handful of them and more than that many tiger parents around...

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sayyatiddaknini · 06/09/2018 16:42

I'd see if there's a British School wherever you are staying. Another one of my DC took an exam at a British School where we were living at the time. Imo, they are very accommodating.

whycantwegoonasthree · 06/09/2018 16:43

Fingers crossed sayyatiddaknini. It'll be a case of finding a school there willing to help us, I suspect.

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sayyatiddaknini · 06/09/2018 16:45

One of my friend's DD took the exams later on for both those schools, when she found out she didn't get into her first choices, so in Feb I presume.

wurzelburga · 06/09/2018 16:59

When were you planning to fly back? Have you spoken to the airline? How much more would it cost for you to re-book for DD and one parent? Difficulty is you need to return at least 3/4 days before the exam because of jet lag.

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree · 06/09/2018 17:16

I'm confused. Is it 11+ for grammar or indie?
If its indie/feepaying I'd be surprised if there is a problem re another date. They want the brightest kids for their business model, after all
You've mentioned a scholarship - is that not worth more than the costs of date-changing?

practicallyperfectinmyway · 06/09/2018 21:05

They're normally the first week of Jan IME for London indies. Will you be near a school in Canada?

Don't despair, schools can be be understanding and accommodating in situations like this. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted.

KnotsInMay · 06/09/2018 22:45

You and Dd fly back early?

In the end 2 single flights from Canada, compared to all the money you will spend in fees over the years, isn’t really significant, is it?

lazydog · 06/09/2018 23:46

I wouldn't hold out too much hope of finding a school in Canada to help you. Don't know about other Provinces (or even other school districts, I suppose) but I do know that around where I live (in BC) they're all shut for the Christmas break until Monday 7th Jan.

OlennasWimple · 06/09/2018 23:50

Yy to exploring the British Council option

BritInUS1 · 06/09/2018 23:56

Can she fly back early and get a family member to take her?

meditrina · 07/09/2018 07:28

These are the exams which the British Council facilitates overseas:

www.britishcouncil.org/exam/uk-boards-overseas

Independent schools' individual entrance exams are not on the list. There's no harm in asking, but you might need to be realistic about the likely response

whycantwegoonasthree · 07/09/2018 11:40

Well, Surbiton haven't set an alternate date yet, but will do, and I'm guessing therefore it will be a bit later.

Theirs is the day we fly back, so even if it's 2-3 days later we'll be ok. DD is the energiser bunny and doesn't seem to be massively affected by jet lag, thankfully. (Child appears to barely need to sleep, and never has done... I used to think there was something dreadfully wrong with her as a baby, now I realise it's just how she is… Envious? Moi?)

WindDoesNotBreakTheBendyTree and KnotsInMay we'll end up paying fees either way – there's no saving to be made by flying back early. (Kingston Grammar is an Indie, not an actual grammar...)

And frankly we'd have to fly back four days early, which means only four days there, which means cancelling the trip in reality, it;s too far to fly for four days. As a blended family we don't get many opportunities to be away just the four of us, so I'm kind of loathe to. It may be what it comes too though.

I think the scholarship would be a massive long shot anyway. DD1 is dead bright, but I'm determinedly NOT a tiger mum, and haven't had her tutored to death the way a lot of parents will have. I don't think it's sensible therefore to weigh up the financial impact of losing out on the chance of a scholarship against the cost of flying back early, in other words.

Still waiting to hear about whether Kingston will allow DD to take the exam invigilated in a school in Vancouver. There are several international schools there, and most are open from the 3rd January, so let's see. With exams on the 4th and 5th, I've no idea what they do if a child is ill, for example. They're so over subscribed it's probably just "tough shit".

I may get her headmaster to weigh in if I have no joy though. He's worked in prep schools in the area for decades and knows everyone. It may be he can do something...

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SheRaTheAllPowerful · 07/09/2018 11:46

Do you have holiday insurance? Maybe they would be able to help you change the dates?
I think I would prioritise sitting on the correct dates if you are keen on those schools rather than the holiday :(

myrtleWilson · 07/09/2018 12:11

Op - you've named your DD in your last post - you may want to get MNHQ to edit?

KnotsInMay · 07/09/2018 12:17

That’s not what I was saying, but in the end you will find a solution or have to choose between sacrificing your hol, re-arranging and sacrificing the cost, or sacrificing your chance of those schools.

Good luck!

whycantwegoonasthree · 07/09/2018 12:34

myrtleWilson thanks – I've reported myself for being a eedjit. I may be losing it slightly. I blame the entrance exam season...

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whycantwegoonasthree · 07/09/2018 12:35

KnotsInMay well KGS have said she can sit it remotely if we can find a helpful school. So fingers crossed. And yes, I know something probably has to give...

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whycantwegoonasthree · 07/09/2018 12:39

So Kingston now know that i am a parent who is a tiny bit disorganised (ok, ok, a complete shower) but ALSO that I am pretty bloody inventive and determined when it comes to rectifying my fuckups.

No idea if that will help or harm her chances.

"Mother's a nightmare, avoid this family at all costs" or

"Seems there's some ingenuity in the family and they're pretty enthusiastic about our school" or

"Poor kid clearly needs all the help she can get with a mother like that"...

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BerriesandLeaves · 07/09/2018 13:47
Grin
FlumePlume · 07/09/2018 13:47

I don’t know if you’re considering any other schools, but I know that WHS has no flexibility (because of the new creative format this year), while others (like Emanuel) advertise their back-up dates.

I hope it all works out for you!

whycantwegoonasthree · 07/09/2018 16:24

There are others in the mix - probably not WHS because DD has taken against it, but Putney, Sutton, St John's etc. None of them pose problems over exam dates though!

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whycantwegoonasthree · 07/09/2018 16:24

Thank you all - I'll let you know what insane solution we manage to rig up - if indeed we do…

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