Failed Wycombe Abbey first assessment test

[Mums1376]

All, my daughter failed her assessment with Wycombe Abbey. There were activities and a computer test. Apparently some schools do computer test too, will this result be used again or she will sit a refreshed one. She loves the school and was shattered. We have some other schools in January to try. Much appreciated if any advice on computer test or private school entrance tips for the next 2 months. She is very strong in all subjects, apparently it wasnt enough.

I don't think quirkiness matters that much - plenty able children are quirky. Good selective independent schools are an expert to spot their potential pupils no matter how they appear on the outside. Some good research and preparation for the procedure will be good but your daughter will eventually be picked by right school for being herself and that's the best way to go for. Good luck.

So sympathise with you OP and DD. WA is a fantastic school but so tough academically as you know but don't give up at this point. I so admire you for wanting DD to aim high and be an achiever. Our eldest DDs are at CLC and wondered if you would board your DD there? It is a stunning school and you might be in time to get her enrolled in January entrance exams. Keep focused OP and you will get a positive result. Message me anytime if want ideas on CLC

Sounds like WA have actually given you some great feedback and pointers which will be really helpful for the assessment process at other schools.

I don’t know a single independent school that does not interview prospective applicants, albeit this may only be after successfully passing an entrance test so your daughter needs to be prepared for this.

Even quirky girls can ace an interview so she shouldn’t worry about it. She needs to be herself first and foremost. She needs to show a real passion for things that drive her or she has a passion for. If that’s gardening or astrophysics it won’t matter. Get her to think about what makes her tick and the things she knows she can talk about confidently and answer questions on.

She will also need to have reasons as to why she wants to go to that school. These schools want to know they are your first choice (even if they’re not). She should have at least two reasons for wanting to go there and one of them could be gut feeling that she feels she would fit in there (and provide an example of something she saw or someone she met at open day).

She should also have an awareness of current affairs. Good things at the moment are the banned Iceland advert, Brexit (at a top level only), Remembrance Sunday etc. Even better if they tie in with her interests.

If she wasn’t prepared for it and deep down doesn’t want to board then WA isn’t the right place for her.

@Zodlebud and all, thanks so much. Have taken notes for the up coming ones.

My DDs at a less stellar school were never asked about current affairs. I think most schools don’t think 11 year olds know about this! Let’s talk about Brexit? No, that just won’t happen and isn’t a deal breaker. She won’t be expected to read The Times.

When you get an interview, review what you have put on the application form regarding hobbies and interests. Make sure your DD is enthusiastic about these and remembers what she does for these hobbies. If you have said she enjoys reading, be able to speak about the books she has read. Ditto with any hobby or interest.

Also try and get her to be interested about the school she is applying for. What did she like when she looked round? Did she like the boarding houses, or the facilities for a subject she likes? Think about what spiked her interest. Art, sport, space around the school, uniform even!

Interviews are always a conversation so start having these at home by thinking about what might be asked and what her responses might be. She needs sensible responses and not overly quirky ones.

In team building they will like girls who gel with others and put forward solutions to any problems, even if the team doesn’t accept them. It’s about getting on with others and showing initiative because they want a harmonious school.

These schools also like enthusiastic children so work on her interests and how she can show enthusiasm for them. Build up her confidence to work with others. Boarding schools are rarely full of quirky children. They are usually full of standard children who have hobbies, personalities and interests that makes them interesting but these children eventually are moulded into a harmonious group. It’s just how these schools work.

We know a girl who was actually asked questions on current affairs... after she'd stated it as one of her interests. Her parents didn't think the school would actually follow up but the interviewer called their bluff.

That aside, it would probably be good for a DC to know things like who is the PM of the UK (could be a non-trivial question by the time that interviews roll around) and perhaps who is the president of the United States. I think they'd look dimly on a child who didn't at least know that Brexit is about Britain leaving some form of Europe.

Exactly - they are not expected to know all the ins and outs of Brexit but they will hear the term banded about so much that they should know the basics.

If they don’t then it begs the question why haven’t they asked someone and potentially flags a weakness in appetite for learning.

They are not expecting huge amounts of understanding, just that they are aware of what’s going on in the world around them.

Boarding schools invest huge sums and money into their extra curricular so they need kids who 'will make the best of the opportunities provided'. Does your dd play an instrument, plays sports, enjoys drama or singing? Can she talk about these areas with enthusiasm? Also prep schools will practice interviews. Maybe invite a friend of yours who your dd does not know and make him start a conversation with her. Let her practice to talk enthusiastically about her hobbies, out of school achievements, and what she hopes to do at the prospective school. But if she is really not that interested in running across soggy fields with a lacrosse stick, can't hold a tune, and thinks sharing a dorm with 5 heavy snores is hell, then she might well find HB is just more her thing

All of the usual boxes are ticked(at high level for example music, couple of orchestra instruments at around G8 level and loves it), very independent and self driven since young age(more because having incompetent nanny/care since young age). We just didnt do any research about the school and thought the assessment should be only academic if so she has always been a very high performer so basically being completely ignorant and unprepared for basic information as what is boarding, why AB etc. Had I started this thread BEFORE the day I am sure we had avoided this situation. She had 4/4 on debate on the day as personally loving being keeping up at current affair in depth. Science and debate were top marks which reflected her truly but failed badly in face to face interview and team building/team work outweighted everything else.

Greatly appreciated on interview and assessment tips/advices, noted them all down, thanks so much.

Sorry if I sound a bit bitter, but your daughter reminds me a girl I know who plays a few instruments and passed G7-8 at age 10, no distinction though, and couldn't get in Junior Conservatoires. Everybody thought she would pass due to her impressive certificates so it was a big shock for many but more so for the family. Meanwhile someone who'd never taken exam or just passed G5, but distinction, got through it.

The family claimed it was purely because of the lack of preparation and would let her try again with more preparation next time. And I thought, sorry but no preparation would be enough for this girl to get through, even the first stage of the audition.

The girl doesn't know what Junior Conservatoire is and why she is trying to get in. Seriously, they were and still are being too ambitious for their daughter just because she could play the notes of G7 or 8 pieces. But really, high grades mean nothing as you can play G8 pieces with zero musicality. Instead, pure passion, potential and natural musicality mean a lot for the place they wrongly set their eyes on for their high achieving daughter.

Now, I am not saying yours is like this girl, but did remind me about her. By the way she is a lovely girl (sweetly quirky), and I am sure yours too. But, it's so important to see WHY you wants her to try certain schools/challenges and if it really is for her. Your daughter is a high achiever, no doubt, so she can flourish and achieve more than you can dream of as long as she is allowed to be in a right place. And at her young age, it's your job to guide her on to the right paths.

Anyhow, I may be talking total rubbish as I don't really know you and your daughter. Ignore me if it doesn't ring any bell at all.

No its fine, I only mentioned music because the previous question but she doesnt pursue music seriously rather than enjoying her musical social life and loves playing in her Orchestra. Grades really mean little these days, grade 8 on certificate children usually perform grade 5-6 pieces in auditions. I havent said 1 bad word about WA, no bitter from us at all, genuinely would like to learn from this failure.

Yes I can tell she isn't pursuing music seriously - you wouldn't think of WA if she was.

grade 8 on certificate children usually perform grade 5-6 pieces in auditions

Not very true... But it doesn't matter...

Anyway, good luck for the next challenges in Jan/Feb. She will be fine with a mum like you by her side.

Thank you, I actually felt very bad about this much more than her who has completely forgotten because in the family only I want her to go there and brought her on the day however absolutely zero preparation even basic info about the school. I thought there will be only tests and so far she hasnt had problem with tests. Since that day so much more research has been done to learn from this mistake.

A real bummer. It sounds as if your DD would have been really suited to WA but had a bad day at interview and no interview practice. But she is in the running for HB, which is fantastic, and you could give Westminster a shot for 6 Form, just organise some interview practice for her to get her on a level playing field with kids from preps. But do you know whether there is a seperate scholarship entrance for WA? Boys schools tend to have a scholarship round after the CE prep tests, so if a boy e.g. failed the interview stage at Eton at 11, he would still have a shot at the Kings scholarship, which is pretty much independent of interview performance. In cases like this a good head is worth the prep fees in gold. They would know the process and could have a word on behalf of the pupil if they truly think they performed below par/out of character. Is your dd at a state school? Do you think her head could have a word with the school?

Applicants to schools like WA are ALL top academic performers. There is no room for any weakness at all. Those who get accepted have top academic results AND top teamwork, debating and interview. The school can be that picky so if anything drops below the mark, there is another girl on the list who aced everything. Doesn't necessarily mean all WA girls will develop into the top in their field or do better than girls who go elsewhere but the reality is, top academics isn't enough!

Agreed, thought about it last night and this morning and we'd like to not pursue it( Thanks so much @NellyBarney for your suggestion, I didnt think of it before, I am sure there is absolutely no problem for our head to write to AB). The reason because she has completely forgotten about it(maybe deep down she truly isnt interested in boarding, we havent spoken about school choice much, we agreed to save till the last) and because my husband is against boarding in general. We will learn from this failure and move on. Luckily there are equally many day schools entrance tests and these exams/assessment are yet to come.

I am thinking about joining Whycombe Abbey in the sixth form. I’m currently 13 and missed the entrance tests for year 9 because my parents hadn’t thought about changing schools. Does WA put a lot of stress on co-curricular activities/hobbies? I play Harp and Piano and I enjoy swimming. Though i am not of an exceptional standard at swimming would they still count that as a hobby? I have good marks but am concerned about not having enough interests as I am not a very big outdoorsy person. Thank you for your help.

I'm sorry she didn't pass the test, as I remember it it was a pretty daunting experience! I attended Wycombe from 2009-2016 and there are big intakes of students at 13 and 17 (around 30 students) as a lot choose to go to sixth form elsewhere. There were definitely some who didn't get in at 11 who chose to try again at 13! But other great schools are Downe House, Cheltenham, Oundle, Westminster and so many more. Whilst I loved Wycombe I know many others who went to other girls boarding or co-ed boarding schools and loved their time there!

My son was asked, aged 11 at interview for a top boys school, to look through a copy of the Economist and find an article he might like to talk about. He picked one at random, speed read it and gave it a go. He got a place. Don’t underestimate these schools- they may very well ask those sorts of questions.

@Mums1376 Honestly, I think this is a blessing in disguise. If you get into Henrietta Barnett - that's an absolutely perfect school for a girl who is clearly highly academic. It's a day school and it's free (even when money isn't a problem it's still a bonus). I have heard that it's full of insanely smart and ambitious girls like your daughter who are constantly being pushed to achieve the heights of academic success. Maybe it's fate telling you that really Henrietta Barnett is the more suitable school. Other than that, have you considered Habs Aske for Girls?

By the way I can totally relate to your daughter. I have always been good at passing tests, but completely tanked my interview at Cambridge when asked simple questions about the university and why I wanted to be there.

@Mums1376 OP, I so sympathise with you. My DD recently went through assessment days at various girls schools ( we did not go for WA, too academic for my taste). The Downe House assessment was the most comprehensive. She sat the CEM exam ( an adaptive exam, which I believe WA also do), group workshops & an interview with the Head. The registration forms asked her interests, which include Maths, Science, Coding and Literature. She was asked about a spectrum of topics - including current affairs where they asked her about Brexit specifically. She was also quizzed on books she'd read recently. It was a very thorough interview, no room for bluff at all. I got the sense that they were looking for rounded, driven girls with something more than academic aptitude. Truthfully, it all felt like quite a lot for a 10 year old, DD did tell me some of the girls seemed to struggle with the interview (one came out in tears?) others finished the test very quickly (which apparently isn't a good thing). My DD is a bit like yours, a bright and very quirky child. She had zero prep for the assessment but did have a very clear idea in her mind about why she wanted to go - she wants to be a doctor and fell in love with the their science department. She believes (rightly or wrongly) that an independent school will give her the opportunity to achieve this ( she's at a state where a large number of kids in her class are struggling / behind so there's no focus / time on children who can achieve the min standard). My advice to her on the day was be you, if they don't want you then it''s not the right school for you... I'd recommend considering Downe House if you haven't already, I was very impressed overall. The girls I met at the school were polite, confident, rounded and the facilities are very impressive. Schools are a bit like gloves, you have to find the one that fits :-)