4 rejections from senior schools - options?

[john249]

Our daughter is at primary school in Kew. We have applied to 5 senior schools (Kingston Grammar, LEH, Latymer Upper, Tiffin and Putney High) but, with 4 rejections, are now very worried - Putney High result is the last..
Christs in Richmond is our first choice secondary but we are unsure about chances there (not religious family).
Any help really appreciated.

[ReadWriteDraw]

Just another thing - depending on where you live, St John’s in Leatherhead have a bus from Putney. It is a fantastic school but in an area with lots of fantastic schools so it may have places.

[littlemisslucky2]

St Catherine’s had approx 180 girls sitting for 60/80 places and some of the girls coming through from juniors. Obviously not all 180 will have it as first choice but I’m not sure how accommodating it will be at this late stage I’m afraid.

[Colorbomb]

It is still worth keeping in touch with admissions people at schools likely to be many families’ banker choices. They go a long way down the waitlist (and even beyond) and so do other schools. I know people offered places right up to the end of August and these are more sought after schools. Some people do have more money than sense and sit on 2 places and also circumstances change. I would call once the initial acceptances are in and be clear you are very keen. Good luck. Your tutor has done a disservice by suggesting KGS as a back up which is a hugely popular coed school. I’m sure you will end up somewhere your DD is happy with even if it is a challenging process now. (Extra good luck with PHS).

[aeganblue]

Hi john249, I really feel for you. If it’s any consolation I also have a child going through it now (3 exams. 3 rejections!) and having been through twice with my elder two this year seems to be tough, lots of disappointment. I fear Ibstock and NHE are hugely competitive- esp NHE- and ibstock’s exam was I believe today. I have had friends in similar situations. They had late offers from st Catherine’s and St james girls
, and one I believe had an offer from Surbiton but that was two or three years ago. Your tutor should be able to advise. St Benedicts said that they’ve had 40% more applications than two years ago (new head) but I would be surprised if it’s as competitive yet as Putney/NHE/KGS. You may well get Christ’s but perhaps not in the first round- you might need to wait until June /July or so- unfortunately the state school waiting lists are comparatively slow to the indie sector

[aeganblue]

Also worth calling Christ’s once results out on 1 March to make sure you are on the waitlist and to ask when last year a child on your road/immediate area gained a place. Your head might also know. If you PM me I have a pretty good idea from previous years!!

[Bool]

Really feel for you. My DD is going through the same process at the moment. I echo some comments re the tutor advice though - all 5 of the schools you mention are super tough. I would have chosen a couple of slightly less competitive ones such as Surbiton High and Ibstock Place. Both those exams have been done now (Ibstock was today) so they won’t be able to commit immediately. I think the prep suggestion is a great one as indeed many girls will be leaving now. Good luck for Putney. That is super tough too though so please ensure your DD doesn’t get too disheartened if she doesn’t make it.

[john249]

Many thanks!
Does anyone know of day prep schools (in wider Richmond area) that admit girls at 11? My impression is that those prep schools that do admit at 11 are the boarding schools further out in Surrey.

[Bamchic]

Surbiton High, Radnor, Coloma (perhaps a no if you’re not catholic)

[jeanne16]

Newland House in Twickenham, Newton Prep and Thomases in Battersea. However you will find your DC may be one of 3 or 4 girls in y7 as most of the girls will have left.

You could also look at Fulham Prep which has just opened a secondary school but I don’t believe it’s full yet.

[givemesomewineplease]

This fills me with fear! I have a DD in yr 5 in a state school in W London. She is bright and pretty much at the top of her class so these are among the schools I would like her to go to. But it’s rather concerning that your DD didn’t get through as she sounds a perfect candidate! Hopefully PHS will be a positive as I think that is slightly easier to get into than the others and is probably a good fit for her - but I could be completely wrong! The schools you have had rejections from are notoriously hard to get into. I do wonder what hope there is for the bright state school kids who haven’t had the support and advice of a prep school. There seems such an increase in applications this year (and no doubt next year with the continuing high birth rate) that only the most highly tutored or naturally exceptional seem to stand a chance in W London. As a catholic, I know a lot of girls who go to St Augustine’s Priory, Ealing and who are very happy there. I would have thought they would be delighted to welcome a bright girl like your daughter even after offers are made.

[lottiebear69]

It’s a horrid situation in 11+ london, sadly all the schools you applied for are ultra competitive from my understanding There aren’t many london back up schools anymore but I think Kew green, Radnor, st James and st Catherine’s might be a good bet. I stick is competitive to get in and massively oversubscribed Have you considered Claremont fan court ?I know a friend who was struggling for a place found schools slightly outside london a bit easier to get into and commute if you’re SW london not too bad. I think a local prep school might also be a good idea there’s lots in london. And you can always keep on schools mid year from yr7 for random places that come up. Good luck

[sayatidaknama]

Please don't despair. Despite what people like to tell you, there are spaces out there. Once all the accepting and rejecting is over there will be places. Not only am I a parent who has been through this 3 times, I am also a teacher and a tutor so I do know what I'm talking about.

I know DC who have in recent years sat exams after 11+ and got into places like Surbiton, Ibstock and St Catherine's. Ring the admission department and speak to them. You will find most schools are extremely sympathetic and helpful.

Depending on where you live you might want to consider a few state schools. Waldegrave for example is exceptional.

[Phineyj]

I wonder if the 4 schools that have rejected your DC will give feedback on test scores - it would be useful to know if her English was much stronger than her Maths, if her scores were similar but below the cut off, if she didn't have much to say at interview etc - knowledge is power. Try not to be too disappointed - my small school makes hundreds of offers for places because parents will seek offers from multiple schools. I am sure there will be places once the dust has settled. Hold tour nerve!

[Phineyj]

Hold your nerve!

[trinity0097]

Claremont is getting much harder to get into now.

[Quadrophinia]

You have been utterly failed by the outdated advice your tutor gave you. KGS is nobody’s banker!

[Dillyson]

St John's in Leatherhead had over 500 applicants at 11+ for about 125 places. Demand is very high this year.

[GU24Mum]

That many for St John's - that's depressing! I'd done a rough calculation of how many I thought were there the day we were multiplied by the number of days but I must have under counted! Horrible process.....

[Dillyson]

@GU24Mum it's a horrendous process isn't it. My child is in 6th form at St John's now, university selection for us next .

[GU24Mum]

Yes, not sure how well my nerves are holding up........... Luckily my other two don't have to go through quite the same process!

[mumislearning]

You might want to also try the Fulham School. They are co-ed, the 'old Fulham Prep' but now go up to 18. They have an activity day coming up. As they have lots of students that leave at 11, they are bound to have places.
Another option is Kensington Park, they are holding exams in March. They are based in Bayswater - so district line straight. A new school small but nice.

[Colorbomb]

Kensington Park is a great suggestion - I don’t know the school but the head is an ex SPGS deputy and absolutely fantastic. There is a rumour a number of other great teachers were creamed off from top West London schools but I don’t know if it’s true!

[CountessDracula]

Not terribly convenient from Kew,, but The Hall in Wimbledon worth a try too I would think. Your poor dd, it is a horrible process and there seem to be few 'banker' options left these days. Everything crossed for PHS

[Goposie]

Do we know why demand is high this year? If I had known some of the schools we were applying for had 800 or 900 applicants I would not have put dc through this

[lottiebear69]

Hi I’m afraid it’s always that high 4 years ago 1200 were sitting for many schools. But it all shakes out in the end it’s the same people sitting many of the exams and they can only accept one place