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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Colfe's 11 + anyone heard? Or have previous info?

60 replies

MotherofPirates · 14/01/2019 13:34

DS sat Colfe's on Saturday and has applied for a sports scholarship which is scheduled for tomorrow but only if you are notified. I just wondered if anyone had heard back from them yet? Seems like such a tight turnaround! Or info from previous years to save me chewing my fingers off?

OP posts:
WellTidy · 14/01/2019 18:33

I agree, that is very short notice indeed! Good luck to the children.

GSAA · 14/01/2019 21:24

Best of luck for sports assessments ! We are waiting to hear from Colfe's more generally. Assume no one else has heard yet unless its in relation to sports scholarship assessments ?

WellTidy · 15/01/2019 15:40

We heard by email today that DS has been invited for an interview for a fee paying place. Fingers crossed from here.

Original poster
MotherofPirates · 15/01/2019 16:04

That’s good news WellTidy hope the interview goes well!
Sports assessment was mostly good today but ongoing confusion about whether or not they do boys hockey? They said it would be assessed but it wasn’t. Head seemed vague and some parents have said they do and others that they don’t Confused

OP posts:
Petran · 15/01/2019 16:56

We just got an email from Colfe's inviting us for interview (yay)

mtyousaf · 15/01/2019 21:05

Great news everyone re: interview invites. Best of luck!

GSAA · 16/01/2019 09:19

yes- we got the interview email too yesterday, Whew right.
We are not doing sports scholarships but DD plays hockey so i asked the question at an open day about hockey and they said girls play yr7 onwards but boys start later ( dont recall which yr) as they play Rugby. I thought this was odd but... did not impact us for DD.

mtyousaf · 16/01/2019 11:28

@MotherofPirates, just found out we will know if kids are successful to second stage of Colfe's sports assessment by the end of this week.

Original poster
MotherofPirates · 16/01/2019 11:39

mtyousaf thanks so much for that info! I’m beginning to fret about work as, though I’m self- employed and therefore fairly flexible, I’ve had to take so much time out! Great that we will know this week. All the best!

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mtyousaf · 18/01/2019 11:51

MotherofPirates, did your child make it through the sports assessments for Colfe's? Mine didn't .....not holding much hope for the others now. Does anyone know how many scholarships they give out a year?

Original poster
MotherofPirates · 18/01/2019 13:00

mryousaf according to the head they give 4 sports scholarships a year - 2 boys 2 girls and 25% each. Short odds indeed given the huge volume of kids there and the likelihood of bias towards Colfes juniors.

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GSAA · 18/01/2019 14:01

Wow - that is not fewer than i was expecting. Never asked the question ! Do you know if its the same odds for Music Scholarships ?

Original poster
MotherofPirates · 18/01/2019 19:42

I'm afraid I don't know but I gathered that the academic scholarships are by far the most generous and the largest in number.

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GSAA · 19/01/2019 07:50

thanks ! Our interview is a week off, Music Audition is Monday - so 2 separate meetings. I thought it might be combined to 1 trip. A friend of ours has their interview today.

mtyousaf · 31/01/2019 09:45

Hi everyone. How did your kids find the interviews and assessments? Anyone on here heard back from Eltham college regarding the classroom session yet?

Original poster
MotherofPirates · 31/01/2019 16:11

I'm wondering if Eltham have changed the admissions process and not updated the website?

One of DS's friends was invited in for class room stuff but he was told he was up for an academic scholarship.

We have not heard anything and am not expecting to now until 15th but this is all supposition!

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WellTidy · 31/01/2019 21:59

DS interviewed at colfes and st Dunstans. One to one interview with a teacher at colfes, very informal and they got on well. We are very hopeful of an offer. Group interview at st dunstans which he also felt went well, but they gave less away. We as parents were ‘interviewed’ at both schools too. We aren’t looking at scholarships, so no assessment stage for DS beyond the normal entrance exam.

Heard nothing from Eltham and not getting hopes up whatsoever.

mtyousaf · 31/01/2019 23:46

Found out the classroom session is for all children who are made an offer on the 14th, so no further assessment for Eltham.

My DS is relieved it's all over.....

We're also hopeful of an offer from Colfe's following our meeting with the Headteacher...but won't relax until we get that letter on the 15th.

Interested to hear what everyone's thoughts are on the three schools:

St Dunstan's
Colfe's
Eltham College

If your DC was made an offer for all three, which one would you prefer?

isa2 · 01/02/2019 13:26

From what I've seen of them (parent at SDC, several friends with kids at the others, have visited Colfe's) , I'd probably choose the nearest one if there is a major difference - I think they all have a lot going for them and it makes life so much easier and also more sociable not to be too far away. If offered any kind of scholarship that would I think swing it too.

Original poster
MotherofPirates · 01/02/2019 14:02

mtyousaf these things are so personal aren't they. DS and I just did not get Dunston's when we looked around and didn't apply but I know lots of parents are wowed by it.

I really like Colfe's but DS is not as keen as me. It feels bright and airy and less formal than some of the others. I also prefer co-ed which Eltham will not properly be for a while. Sports facilities are great.

DS is madly in love with Eltham and it is defo the easiest journey for us too. I have been hugely impressed with Mr Sanderson and I feel like going co-ed will be a good thing in the long run. My only worry is it does seem small compared to some of the schools we have looked at and whilst this is appealing to DS now at 10 I wonder if he might find it too small in 3-4 years time. Having said that we would be over the moon to get an offer and I think it will be our 1st choice.

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GSAA · 01/02/2019 14:33

We have fingers crossed for an offer from Colfes also following interview and chat with the Head. Unfortunately Eltham does not start co-ed til 2020 so out for my DD.

mtyousaf · 02/02/2019 12:25

I'm torn between Colfe's and Eltham...

Colfe's has a great sibling policy which would make it easier for my DD to enter the school in 2 years time. I'm not sure it would be that easy at Eltham. My DD is bright but a bit on the lazy side 😬 so every little helps.

But Eltham is the superior school academically and it would be difficult to turn it down if we were to be made an offer...plus it's my DS favourite....

Bahhumbug01 · 02/02/2019 14:20

Do many kids from Beckenham/Bromley attend Colfe's? Is this is consider a normal school commute?

mtyousaf · 02/02/2019 14:36

I think there's a school bus the kids could take.

GSAA · 14/02/2019 11:05

Think there are a few kids from the Bromley area that go there. Especially as you get closer to Chislehurst side of Bromley which is where we are.

Away at the moment - DD hoping letter is from Colfes is there when we get home Sunday.

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