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Original poster

As the Tiffin results day looms, a second 2019 SW London grammars and indies thread

559 replies

FlumePlume · 13/02/2019 20:14

A new thread to avoid the doomsday scenario of running out of posts as envelopes are opened on Friday, waiting lists move (or don’t) and e-mails are opened on 1 March.

OP posts:
1ndig0 · 15/02/2019 13:17

Phew - post came with 3 offers and one an academic scholarship! Shock
Almost collapsed but now have to get to a school show in 15 mins and then straight to the airport!
Huge congrats to all! Star

littlemisslucky2 · 15/02/2019 13:19

Wow - well done 1ndig0! Is there a frontrunner?

PatienceVirtue · 15/02/2019 13:21

Congratulations to all, sounds like a fantastic haul.

Particular best wishes to Flume for starting up both these threads which have been a real comfort to me. Very few kids from our primary do these exams and I'm aware that fretting about them can sound a bit my-diamond-shoes-are-too-tight. Also few children that were doing the tests were definitely less able than dd so it felt self-indulgent to worry.

So interesting that Flume girl got SPGS and not WHS. I'm in the northern wilds of London so am not particularly au fait with the nuances of SW/W hierarchy but I do know that SPGS is most prestigious. I'm envious of the fact that it begins at y7 as I think lots of kids coming from a school's prep/junior is unsettling for new girls.

HerdingPigs · 15/02/2019 13:22

Flume - yeah!!! Well done to your DD!

So pleased for everyone who's got offer (s). Just looked at SPGS's fees (not the best way to distract myself, but here we go)- did they raise the fees again?! Hope we will be in the lucky position to worry about it Confused...

Jimjam68 · 15/02/2019 13:26

Huge congrats FlumePlume!

AnotherYearOfChaos · 15/02/2019 13:29

Congrats to all, especially @FlumePlume and @TheExtraGuineaPig.
@Bool now we are all hoping your post would hurry up!!

Bool · 15/02/2019 13:29

Yes SPGS is very prestigious. Super excited for you @Plume. WHS does feel like an odd one out with its new testing system. Also @indigo - congrats!!!!! Which 3 did you get? Am trying to distract myself from the post!

AnotherYearOfChaos · 15/02/2019 13:33

@indigo sorry - I missed your news - well done to your DD!!!!!

OnceagainIampuzzled · 15/02/2019 13:34

Congratulations to all and especially @FlumePlume and @TheExtra!

Kawasaki · 15/02/2019 13:47

Many congratulations to all who secured offers.
Well done to Mini FlumePlume!

EdwinaMarlow · 15/02/2019 14:06

Aww, my dc are older but for the past couple of days I lurked here because I so well remember the knee-buckling relief combined with joy on hearing dc1 had got the school of our dreams at 7+. This was coming from a "needs improvement" state primary and with the only "tutoring" coming from me, when I really didn't know what I was talking about, so I'd felt hugely inadequate and stressed throughout the process.

I really hope others reading this because their dc are doing 11+ next year or in years to come will feel reassured that, no matter what kind of school your child attended, pretty much everyone ends up with a place somewhere that is right for them. Even if you don't make it to interview stage at one school, you can still win a scholarship to another or a place at a more "prestigious" establishment.

Congratulations to all the posters' brilliant dds, good luck to them at their senior schools and I hope all of you have a huge celebratory Wine tonight

Bool · 15/02/2019 15:54

Sooooooo.......my post arrived and we have an offer for KGS!!!! Finally! It also doesn’t seem to be exploding but we will phone to check to triple check. Will report back! But am confident is fine.

So now the choice begins.

HerdingPigs · 15/02/2019 15:59

Bool - congrats!! Glad that the wait ended up well!! Must have been a long day for you!Wine

Bool · 15/02/2019 16:00

🍷 indeed for all of us Gin

littlemisslucky2 · 15/02/2019 16:00

Congrats Bool!!

KingscoteStaff · 15/02/2019 16:15

Year 6 teacher here with 2 girls with straight no from WHS and today both have LU and G&L offers, so agree that the new WHS regime is different, to say the least!

whycantwegoonasthree · 15/02/2019 16:20

We didn't especially like WHS so it was kind of moot - but the school tutor who was helping them with the VR and NVR very strongly recommended to steer clear of Wimbledon as their entry requirements were so arcane...

I remember the head saying that they were trying to make entrance to the school 'tutor proof' but I think they ended up just making it confusing. My feeling was that they'd got a bit smug/complacent - and I do wonder if a tumble down the rankings (which they're so VERY proud of) might follow… Quite a lot of DDs cohort - who as Wimbledon prep school girls would have been likely/expected to apply - avoided it altogether.

Sweetnhappy1 · 15/02/2019 16:48

I did feel WHS was the most tutor proof in that it was the one I felt my DD was least prepared for. The second stage couldn't be prepared for so I didn't feel at too much disadvantage coming from a state school. I can't see what was confusing about it.

We are super excited to have a place there, I doubt that they'll fall down the rankings because a bunch of Wimbledon prep school girls didn't apply...

Sweetnhappy1 · 15/02/2019 16:50

Congratulations 1ndig0, Bool and Kingscotestaff (I can't begin to imagine this process with twins!)

sw19007 · 15/02/2019 16:51

Sweetnhappy- couldn't have put it better myself!
They've done VR and NVR for a few years now- just the timings that changed.
There always funny results- I know at least 2 girls who got SPGS today and a flat rejection from Surbiton.

KingscoteStaff · 15/02/2019 17:01

sweet - they’re mine in that they’re in my class! I was waiting for emails for 9 of ‘my’ children yesterday - and then spent all of today desperately trying not to show I knew!

Jimjam68 · 15/02/2019 17:02

Great news Bool! I’m sure if WHS were at all concerned their entry process wasn’t securing the right level of candidates they would change it back again. But I agree it’s throwing up the most inconsistencies. There seems to be enough bright kids to go around though and everyone here (I think) has landed at least one decent offer and in a lot of cases a choice of offers. So future 11+ parents take note. I look forward to reading next years thread and fondly (?) remembering the past few weeks of angst. Have a great weekend all.

littlemisslucky2 · 15/02/2019 17:12

Do most of schools hold offer open days? LEH don’t seem to have one but we would quite like another look around before deciding....

Bool · 15/02/2019 17:13

@sweetnhappy1 I think the confusion and mystery was around what they were looking for in a group dynamic and the potential subjectivity of that especially when there was not a 1-1 interview situation. I think you said earlier that your DD had to talk about what she liked in a break with someone - but I know my DD didn’t - isn’t that a bit ‘random’. The head also talks about looking for things that are relevant in the world of work - but they are 10 years old. I can’t help wondering whether it has turned into a personality test and maybe skewed them towards extrovert out there girls (which is what the head is like). I love the head by the way and am also a gdst alumna. Am just trying to analyse the differences as now need to make choices - that’s all.

Sweetnhappy1 · 15/02/2019 17:14

KingscoteStaff sorry for giving you twins 😂. Congrats to all your pupils, as Jimjam said there's somewhere good for everyone.

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