Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

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

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:
HandbrakeTurn · 26/02/2019 06:18

Hello, just joining the thread. We’re waiting to see if the WHS waiting list will move; did anyone hear anything yesterday?

Bool · 26/02/2019 06:46

@Handbrake turn - don’t know about WHS but I called PHS yesterday and they said that people hadn’t been replying yet and so too early for waitlist to move.....seems it is all going to be last minute. Am am mulling over whether to close it now and make a decision without knowing about waitlist. Is all too close.

HandbrakeTurn · 26/02/2019 07:15

@Bool I know what you mean; I just want to know which school now, and commit to it. But at the same time I want to make sure that we’ve considered all our options. I suspect the PHS wait list will be a lot shorter than the WHS list, which is a cast of thousands..

Bool · 26/02/2019 07:19

@HandbrakeTurn absolutely agree. We have some great offers on the table - just wanted all final options on the table before making final decision. Yes the PHS waitlist will be shorter than WHS one because of how they did their entries - hence why I was waiting. But we love KGS so much anyway - where our DS is very happy - we may just make the jump.

Bool · 26/02/2019 07:22

In the meantime have closed down the other schools for this very reason. To get the waitlists moving. It must be so frustrating for the schools too because so many people from top of waitlists must walk away leaving them to have to go lower or even left with gaps. Such a game this 11+!!!

Original poster
FlumePlume · 26/02/2019 08:34

Feartheescalator I don’t know the data about Sutton High, why do you ask? We’re are about to say thanks but no thanks, so that may help if you’re hoping the waiting list will move.

OP posts:
HandbrakeTurn · 26/02/2019 08:39

Yes, someone has to get the whole thing going; we are all set to say no to a couple tomorrow after a final chat with current school.

Sweetnhappy1 · 26/02/2019 08:46

We need to say no to one, does anyone know the etiquette around this? The offer letter didn't say what to do if we are turning a place down. Is it better to email them? Or phone?

HandbrakeTurn · 26/02/2019 08:48

I think an email would be fine, unless they have specifically asked for something different.

1ndig0 · 26/02/2019 08:53

All back to school now and need to make decisions! We’re very lucky as we have 2 offers that are a ten min walk from our house - SPGS and G&L. I think we’ll turn down PHS today, just based on the journey. DD wants G&L and it looks like she has a few friends who will be joining her.
If it’s any help, I do know a lot of people at DD’s prep who are holding onto WHS places. We didn’t apply because it’s just too far and too many other good schools in between, but a lot of people at our school did KGS, PHS and WHS and can only take one obviously. I think by Friday everyone will have made their move - a lot of people just wanting a quick chat with the head to reassure themselves.

HerdingPigs · 26/02/2019 09:05

We have released a couple of offers by email and so did some of DD's friends. Good luck to all.

ananas2019 · 26/02/2019 12:55

HerdingPigs, Well done! I can't really understand why people are holding offers when they already know where they are sending their kids. No wonder schools in the past have chosen exploding offers option. It is unfair in the large number of very bright kids on the waiting list of the 11 plus lottery.

firefirefire · 26/02/2019 12:57

Anyone waiting for Colchester grammar for girls? My daughter got 331 in her 11+ so I know statistically she should be ok but worried sick. Wish she got 341 lol

Bool · 26/02/2019 16:40

@firefirefire mine got 332 so I wouldn’t be so sure lol

firefirefire · 26/02/2019 16:53

What do you mean Bool? How do you all have offers already?

mle78 · 26/02/2019 21:23

Just wondering if anyone has heard of any waiting lists moving yet? Perhaps a bit early but just wondering if anyone’s had some good news of offers from the waiting list already.

Geogra · 26/02/2019 21:42

I don’t think that Putney has moved at all yet.

Glaciferous · 26/02/2019 21:46

No wonder schools in the past have chosen exploding offers option.

Really? I don't think anything excuses this. It's an awful way to behave.

@firefirefire Most of these offers are from independent schools. Tiffin will come out on the same date as other state school offers.

HandbrakeTurn · 27/02/2019 06:06

I don’t think that WHS has moved yet; they think that it will all happen on Friday, if it happens at all.

Lexi20 · 27/02/2019 10:06

Anyone heard anything from PHS today? We are also in the waitlist!

Que0 · 27/02/2019 10:20

Hi Lexi - there is a “second sight” tour at PHS today. I doubt they’ve gone to the waiting list yet, but I know two families whose DD’s were offered scholarships there who will be turning down the place today. We are also turning it down today.

My neighbour phoned WHS about the waiting list there. Apparently they have put everyone on the waiting list Confused, but it’s divided into 3 parts and the top part is the “priority waiting list.” They also over-offered, as all schools do, so they will have to wait until they get a certain amount of places turned down before they know whether they will go to this priority wl or not. They may go beyond this list, but who knows?

I don’t think registrars mind if you ring and ask for the honest facts at this point. People have tricky decisions to make and need to know where they stand.

Lexi20 · 27/02/2019 10:50

Thank you Que0! That’s good to know.
Hopefully the waitlist will start to move by tomorrow so! I will call again and check.
Starting to get a little anxious now as we need to accept another school by Monday and really don’t want to pay a deposit if we end up getting a place at PHS!

Jimjam68 · 27/02/2019 12:05

WHS have just emailed offer holders to encourage people to confirm ASAP and if waiting on grammar school results to email them over the weekend as they are conscious people who are waitlisted need to have paperwork in for other schools on Monday morning. So I think there might be a flurry of activity early on Monday morning.

ChristopherTracy · 27/02/2019 13:11

Has anyone ever heard of anyone phoning the school to have an honest conversation about scholarships if they know some have been turned down - cheeky I know but...

whycantwegoonasthree · 27/02/2019 13:15

We just revisited KGS and DD is now totally sold - having got on the bus this morning ADAMANT she was going to Putney.

I told her dad to back off - and he did (remarkably) so I think that helps, and also we were shown round by a truly lovely girl, (who looked and sounded spookily like an older version of DD), and DD felt really relaxed and able to ask lots of questions – especially around the idea of boys in school and pastoral care - which were her primary concerns.

I've told her to sleep on it to make sure, but I think we'll be filling in forms and writing a cheque tomorrow.

I feel really good about it - also feel really good about the 15 minute bus journey this morning which got us there half an hour early...

We let the three schools we definitely weren't choosing know within days. We'll tell Putney tomorrow.

I think it's going to be a busy end to the week...