Latymer Upper 11+ exams 2019

[Whyisitallsostressful]

I was wondering if anyone’s child took the Latymer upper exams today and if so how they found it?
My DD was in the morning session and thought it went reasonably well, but said maths was harder than the English, but we don’t really have anything to compare it to other than past papers.

@Needmoresleep That sounds really positive! Tks. Is your DD enjoying it there?
Though trying not to get too positive about any school at the moment until we know whether or not there's an offer.

It was a while ago, so she has moved on. At the time girls were fairly new so entry was far less competitive than for boys - where it was pretty brutal. The problem with co-eds is that they only have half the number of places for girls or boys.

Co-ed was pretty important for a sporty mathsy girl, who was not keen on reading and never was a "top Table" type at primary. She came into her own at around 15 when the girls who could colour in nicely started to struggle with chemistry concepts. Maths/science at Latymer are good, and some of the boys (because of the shortage of 11+ boy options in West London) were very strong indeed. Acceptance of and support for dyslexia were good, and English teaching seemed to recognise that some of the boys as well needed encouragement. I assume things will have changed a bit, but there were surprisingly few girls in the top maths set. DD and her friends decided on "girl-power" and chose to ignore the boys who thought they knew everything, but perhaps a bit trickier for a less robust child. It also suited DD to be away from some of the girl politics that can exist elsewhere. She switched at 16 to Westminster (and thought of writing to her old prep school head, to emphasise how much he had misjudged her - he suggested she was not capable of a selective London school and should consider "country boarding") and felt it was a real advantage to have been in a co-ed environment all the way through.

I have 2 at LU now. I would say the main drawback with LU is that with 180 in a year group it feels much bigger than other schools with say, 100 per year. It can feel quite overwhelming in Years 7 and 8 and many have said it’s not until the end if year 9 that pupils feel as if they’ve “grown into the school” and found their people. It has almost a campus feel, in some ways and they are treated as very adult from day one. There are some quieter DC, but in general, I would say they’re all more confident, verbal types there, which again, could feel overwhelming.

I would not say it’s a pressured school, which is surprising given the hullabaloo around getting in! A big positive is no exams at the end of year 7, unlike other schools. The curriculum is fantastic and constantly evolving. Many teachers are top of their game. One if my DS is in with a super- academic group, but I’m not sure this is the norm in the school. It can be hard for a child who would otherwise be quite “stand out” in a non-selective school, to feel that they aren’t ever quite good enough - academically or in terms of drama, sport, music etc. The opportunities are all there for sure, no doubt, but the sheer size of the school makes it super hard to take part in a drama production or to feel “noticed” in any way.

In general though, it’s a very forward-looking school with a fast-paced urban feel. They don’t feel cloistered away, as I suspect they may do in other schools. Also, my experience is that those in co-ed tend to party less than those in single sex. They don’t need to actually organise anything on the weekends to meet boys or girls because they see them every day as a matter of course - and are no doubt fed up with each other by Friday evenings! DC I know at PHS, for instance, are at house parties every weekend!

In short, my experience is that the school has been fantastic for my DCs from year 9 upwards, but it took time for then to grow into the school (socially) and find their “thing” - and neither of them were ever remotely shy by any means!

I agree completely with 1ndig0s post.

Not least the seeming lack of homework. Far less than in some of the neighbouring girls schools. Yet pupils did fine. An astounding proportion of DDs friendship group went onto Oxbridge, to read a variety of competitive subjects. DD settled quickly into Westminster at sixth form, both socially - no need to adjust to co-ed, and academically. There was no indication that the boys, or indeed the girls from supposedly more academic schools, were better prepared or had covered more ground.

We were warned before DD started about the need to compete. You audition for drama, or the choir, and try out for sports teams. There is not a lot of nurturing and "please have a go" for shyer types. (G&L is a better option for some). That said equal recognition and quodos was given to those who excelled in drama, sport, art, music etc as those who shone academically.

I also agree about the social stuff. Although there were some (notable) exceptions LU pupils tended not to be on the pan-London party network. A good thing.

I understand that part of the selection is looking for fit. LU will reject some that they feel will thrive better at SPGS, G&L or the other many good girls schools in the area. They seem to know what they want.

My daughter is at LU. She is happy enough but to be honest I’m a bit disappointed. It feels quite impersonal, so many kids and not enough time to focus on each one. Certainly no nurturing or quiet encouragement to try out for things or leave your comfort zone. No support for state school kids who haven’t been schooled in sports/drama/music in the same way as prep kids, so fewer of the state school kids get into the sports teams/plays/orchestra.

I actually wish we had stuck in the state sector. I thought private would me more personalised but it really hasn’t been like that at LUS.

Certainly no nurturing or quiet encouragement to try out for things or leave your comfort zone
Sorry you're feeling this way. This is the opposite to my experience as a parent. My son is at LU. The list of clubs and societies is staggering and students create new ones all the time. I don't see how anyone can be left out. I know some students who are never busy outside lessons, but it's always out of choice according to their parents. My son came from a estate school and has hardly ever had a free lunch period plus most days he stays after school. But that has always been his choice.
After several years in the school I can confirm that the idea that most kids participating in plays, orchestras and A teams are the privately educated ones is simply not true.

In terms of how competitive it is to take part in plays, music, teams, etc, there is selection for sports teams (A-E), but this happens in very school I know, and it's only logical if you want to ever win a match. In the lower school both girls and boys choirs are open access without audition. The standard for the lower orchestra I believe is only grade 3. Year 7 have their own play for which there used to be no audition, I'm not sure if that has changed, but the pool is smaller and not everyone will want to be on stage. There are numerous plays during the year requiring audition, some involve the whole school, others will be for the middle school or the sixth form. If you are the type that either gets a main role or sulks and feels frustrated, then yes, you're in for a disappointment (or not). But I know kids who have been in every single play with tiny roles, or just as backup dancers, or even as technicians, and have loved the experience and had a blast, and there are many of them. Again, you're not competing with the whole school at audition. So many students do not want to be on stage at all because they are just into other stuff. The drama department just ask one thing from everyone: commitment. The kids that land main roles are not only talented but they show up, learn their lines, go the extra mile.

Personally, I feel the school has been a blessing for DS. He had no wobbles and felt at home from the start. He made a group of friends who have remained his friends to this day. They don't party although I know some do. Maybe he was just a good fit for the school. If there is something that has always stood out for me is his relationship with his teachers. Teachers at LU like to be challenged and the school encourages free thinking so students get used to speaking their minds. In my conversations with teachers, they appreciate a student that is a "partner in learning" rather than just an obedient, compliant note taker. Individuality is very much fostered and DS has never been made to feel he could not dispute or call into question something.

It's not a school for those seeking the old British public school flavour of bygone times. There's no house system for example. Plays can be more explicit than in other schools and tackle issues others may want to push aside (believing you can shelter children from reality these days, which is a delusion). To me, that makes it a school for the XXI century and that's the century our children are going to have to sail through.

Jesus this was long.

I dont know if things have improved. I hope they have, but sport for girls was not nearly as strong as for boys. Certainly no teams A-F. And unfortunately though state school boys have normally played football before, there was a marked difference in skill levels between state and prep girls when it came to sports like hockey and netball.

My friend moved her DD to Latymer Upper specifically because she loved drama and did a lot of drama outside school. However in the time she was there, she never once was given a part in a play, despite auditioning for everything. I think as people say the school is big and competition is intense. Choose a smaller school, and your DC may have a better chance of making plays and teams.

Interesting needmore. Not having a girl in the school, I can't add any info regarding that. Skill wise it makes sense as previous experience, but it's also incredible how fast some primary school kids catch up with the others.

There are now A-E teams for hockey and netball but only A-C really get matches. The A-C teams are dominated by prep school girls because most state schools barely play those sports. And with regard to plays I accept the year 7 play is open to all but since then my daughter has auditioned for everything and got nothing so our experience is that the much lauded drama is quite exclusive and there a no attempt to share and spread experiences amongst the girls.

I don’t hate LUS, my daughter is happy she chose it, I certainly wouldn’t move her as she is very settled, it’s just not all I hoped it would be for DD. I do feel she’s a small fish in a big pond and maybe elsewhere she would have had more experiences and opportunities.

The Year 7 play, if I remember, was written and directed by 6th formers and tbh, the rehearsals were very chaotic and the end result only just came together - more like a series of short sketches, rather than an actual play and all very abstract. Since then, places in plays are extremely limited and many DC, many of whom had main parts at primary school or who do a lot of drama outside school, simply give up auditioning. There’s a “middle school play” for years 9,10 and 11 once a year and that’s it. If you’re not doing GCSE drama, forget it, and even of those pupils, few will get parts because of sheer numbers. Of all the DC I know who loved drama and had main parts at primary, none have done anything since year 7.

When it comes to sport though, there is loads more than being in the football team or whatever because the new sports centre is fantastic. As you go up the school, you can do boxercise, Pilates, wall climbing, you name it. Plus there is “recreational football” for those who just enjoy a kick about but nothing too competitive.

The main plus is that the homework is very light indeed. There is no “homework for homework’s sake” as at other schools. Any homework given is well thought out and effective.

Hello, I have been following this thread as my daughter is also due to have an interview at LU this Saturday. I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on why the results - both GCSE and A-level - have slipped in the last academic year, particularly as I note that other good schools like Putney High and Godolphin and Latymer have seen nice uplifts. DD loves LU and if she is fortunate enough to get an offer would accept out of all the above mentioned schools however we have a small concern in terms of the results dipping, ie: is it a one-off or something else.

I don't follow stats on results from one year to another but all I can say is my impression is the new Head is not just results driven and has never wanted the school to become an exam factory or a hot house. He is not interested in competing with other schools at who gets most top grades or oxbridge offers etc. He encourages extracurriculars, enrichment and community engagement with the same passion he encourages high grades and children are allowed to pursue those other activities at a high level. If your child is someone who can get a clean sweep of A*s nothing will prevent him or her from doing so though, as some of last gcse year's students showed.

Same concern with regard to the dip too!

I’m not sure any conclusions can be drawn from a one year dip in reults. It’s not something the school has communicated to parents about and I wouldn’t expect them to.

Overall I would expect results to go up as competition for entry has become more fierce so presumably they are able to select ever more able students, especially over the last 3-4 years of intake (none of whom have yet taken national exams).

I would also say that if you have a bright and motivated child who you are going to support and mentor throughout their school career then they will get stellar results at LUS/G&L/St Pauls etc. These are top flight schools and I expect what makes a difference between straight A stars for one pupil, and a few Bs for another, is how hard they work and how engaged their parents are in ensuring homework is done, rest is taken, confidence is boosted, screens are limited etc.

Also aren't the differences between these schools marginal? There was one year when Eton dramatically dipped but it turned out it was the year Prince Harry took A Levels.

Obama - I really appreciate your post about LU being not all that as I think it's a useful corrective to all the hysteria that we parents can feel when going through this process. My older two are at similar schools in another bit of London and I do feel it's all very well all these things on offer, but what if your child doesn't take them up (either because they're disinclined or they need a bit of encouragement). I'm not dissatisfied with my children's schools, per se, but I don't think they're a magic bullet to success and happiness. The children I know at state schools (and not even the 'best') are all flourishing.

Oh and my super sporty dd is in the E team for netball! Bit of a shocker but she just hadn't played it properly at state primary.

Hi not sure about the dip in results at LU - did you mean for A-level or GCSE? I read somewhere they got over 90% A-A at GCSE. It’s true they’ve achieved 95% some years, but I think year groups vary. You don’t have to do all 3 sciences now at LU. I’m sure the head said they achieved over 50% Grade 9 in maths though, which is good going given that a 9 is an A*. It’s worth mentioning they do their own course called “World Perspectives” which is equivalent to an extra GCSE and introduces concepts you wouldn’t normally encounter until A-level, eg. Politics, Economics and International Relations. They don’t recommend 4 A-levels at all (unless one is additional maths) - they encourage the extended project instead as apparently this is what unis are looking for these days (evidence of independent research skills).

I don’t know about PHS too much, though I have heard their results are on the up. They used to get around 80% A-A*, so maybe the new head is doing something right!

It true though, that its all much of a muchness as any of these children have the ability to do well at any of these schools. It’s more about the cultural fit beyond a certain level. I know if a few at LU who were there on academic scholarships but now struggling with the workload and mental health issues. Sometimes the pressure can be too much for DC who put a lot of pressure in themselves anyway.

My DD is also interviewing this Saturday at LU. I still feel fairly new to London schools and the 11+ process (coming up upon a year and a half here in London - we moved here from America) and especially so as it relates to the interviews. Does anyone here have a perspective on what to expect at the Latymer interviews?

@NewLondonMom1 - when my DD interviewed most questions were straightforward eg why this school? What’s you favourite subject? what do you want to be when you grow up? Etc. Then some verbal maths questions. Lastly she was given an extract from a book and was asked what she thought it was about and why. It was a hard passage, I read it later, and most kids got the wrong end of the stick but I think their reasoning was key to the assessment.

NewLondon - My DC interviews were as above. All I would add is that the interview is as much about the school trying to work out who will take up places if offered and who won’t. So make sure you tell them exactly why you want LU (even if it’s your third choice or whatever) and that you will “definitely take the place if offered” (even if you may not) . This is particularly important for girls I think, given that LU know they have G&L and SPGS on their doorstep. Find something about the school your DC noticed that makes it stand out above others - whether this be the co-ed factor, sports centre - anything. If your FC can say something like, “the other pupils here seem like me” then that probably helps them see them as a good fit The school is probably not the best fit for shy, retiring types, or very “bookish” children with no interests outside academia, to be absolutely honest. Read up about the activities week which they all do every June (the whole school closes) because this is quite unique to LU. I’m sure it’s on the website. Good luck!

Though a decade ago, DD had much the same as Obama’s dd. From what others said, questions focussed on areas of the test that a child might have done less well in, but that might just be a child’s perception. We had been open about DDs dyslexia and she was good at maths so her interview was short and gentle.

I would go easy on the lying. I think it would add stress, where a child will do better if they just enjoy the interview. DD had been told by her prep that she would not get ANY of her choices, so staying on to 13 and having a rethink was the plan B. She therefore only applied to schools she wanted to go to, and we were very deliberately even about the benefits of each. You only need one place and better you don’t consider it second best.

That said when I heard that she had told LU that she did not have a preference, I quickly followed up with an email explaining the reason for her reply, why we wanted co-ed and why we preferred LU over Alleyns. I don’t think it is about the school wanting to know they are first choice, but more about the child preferring co-ed and being a good fit with their culture. There will be girls who will be happier at G&L, which is a lovely school, or a super fit for SPGS.

DS said in his interview that he was refraining from having a favourite school till he had firm offers first. I did not follow up with any email and he got the place. You just never know

I agree. Unfortunately we had the problem that the prep school head actively opposed our choices, so we had good reason to worry that the school reference was not supportive. It made for a stressful time! And DD thrived academically at Latymer so I guess they know what they are looking for.

needmore poor you what an unhelpful prep. As if the process wasn't stressful enough.

Finally got the interview time for Saturday this afternoon by email.
Was beginning to worry that I'd misread the letter.