SW London girls independent/grammars thread 2020

[autumnnightsaredrawingin]

Last year, there were two amazing threads which were super helpful about exactly this, so I wanted to start a thread for girls due to start September 2020. If anyone from last year wants to contribute please do!

We have narrowed our choices down to 5, sadly not in the right postcode for Tiffin, and decided not to do the Sutton grammars.

So, she will be doing PHS, WHS, LEH, SHS and Woldingham. Also registered for Emanuel but we may pull that one.

There are lots of girls sitting Surbiton tomorrow, so perhaps best not to talk about it in too much detail? But overall DD was happy with it.

@Pipandmum, this thread is really focused on 11+; you may get more answers if you start your own thread with the schools you are considering, and a reference to 6th form, in the title.

I think your assumption is correct that SHS is a safety school for many. Still gets excellent results and seems a lovely school.

Surbiton seemed to go ok this morning. DD seemed fairly happy and was extremely impressed by the chocolate chip cookies .

Hope today went well for everyone!

DS also praised the cookies when we picked DD up 😁

DD also enjoyed it. She seemed to like the personal statement bit, and said the papers were fine. On the snack front, the cookies were "amazing", although not enough to dislodge Sutton from 1st place as the Sutton cookie was bigger! It helps me to focus on these non points rather than on the much bigger question of whether she actually passed!
We have a break until Monday when its WHS, and then we're done with exams and into the horrible waiting...
Had an email from KGS to say their first round results would be out in 15th. I do hope they stick to that, my nerves wont cope with a delay!

Sorry for confusion, yes, meant Sutton for SHS and Streatham and Clapham for S&C HS. I agree the latter is less academic but thought this was the case within the consortium group too. Hadn’t thought of the ‘eggs in one basket’ thinking autumn so yes, perhaps better in hindsight that they are separate!

Glad Surbiton went well and fingers crossed for Emanuel / WHS.

If anyone is interested Rebecca Glover, head of Surbiton, was on Women’s Hour this morning talking about overprotective parenting! Available on the podcast. I’ve been through the 11+ process twice. The waiting is almost the worst part. Good luck to everyone taking exams.

Hi all,
Agree with not discussing Surbiton in detail until after tomorrow, but mine said it went well and she was happy.
How did everyone doing Putney get on today?

Dd was happy with PHS today - thought the maths was quite easy (but maybe that's just after the shock of LU maths yesterday!) and seemed to enjoy the English. Well-deserves day off before consortium on Friday. Then the nerve-racking wait for interviews / 'no's begins!

@givemesomewineplease that’s interesting- did she say the maths was all easy? Mine said section A and B were fine but section C really hard? Also a lot of girls in her group didn’t finish the whole maths paper she said... 🤷‍♀️ Glad yours enjoyed it and good luck for Friday! Which consortium ones is she going for?

@Autumnnightsaredrawingin - now I'm worried she was missing part of the paper ... she said she finished with 20mins to spare and checked all her answers twice. Mmm, she didn't specify any sections, I will enquire tomorrow. Her comparable maths papers were LU and SPGs so it might be more a case of not finding the maths completely impossible . Consortium schools: G&L, NHES, FHSS. Has your dd got any more exams?

Re PHS, mine said Maths A&B were easy, C was more tricky and she left a question there...not impossible like LU but definitely tricky. She was fine with the English but didn’t love the topic...

Stir, re your question why Consortium does not have one exam only, maybe it is actually a good thing if you think of hedging your bets a bit if DD happens to have a bad day on the day for the one exam. If they are not combined at least you get another chance? I personally would leave as is, on the balance of things.

@givemesomewineplease don’t panic- I’m sure you just have a bright DD who was fine with it- and also as you say probably easier than the other two she’s done! Good luck for Friday. Mine just has PHS sports scholarship assessment and Emanuel exam left and then that’s it! 🎉

@abc79 very similar to what mine said!

@autumnnightsaredrawingin great to hear that your dd thought the same...great minds! we have a day off today and last exam tomorrow with consortium...🥳

You are on the homestretch ladies! Start stocking up on wine and chocs and bubble bath for the waiting period!

Out of curiosity, what does a sports assessment usually entail? I’m guessing there are pre-requisites like being on a county team or similar? Also wondering if anyone has experience (or has been invited) to partake in Emanuel drama auditions? There don’t seem many schools that offer drama scholarships?

Best of luck to those sitting the consortium! x

I'm not sure why but I seem to be having a pre-consortium exam wobble! As long as DD isn't, I suppose it doesn't really matter

No idea what's triggered this as I've felt pretty calm ahead of the other exams. Maybe it's because tiredness seems to be kicking in with DD and also that we inevitably haven't done any revision this week with the other exams happening - think I'm worried she's forgotten everything!

Wishing good luck to all sitting the consortium exam tomorrow - and all the other exams!

I'm glad it's not just me! I'm feeling v wobbly about the consortium too - dd also exhausted and, having had a break in exams today, instead of her being rejuvenated she actually seems more shattered! Tbh I've been feeling pretty wobbly through all the exams so I should be used to this feeling by now. Good luck to all consortium girls tomorrow. Where is your dd sitting it @ColaPip? Mine is doing it at G&L.

@ColaPip try not to worry- she has done a lot of exams and you have lots of great schools in the mix. I’m sure tomorrow will go great anyway, but if it doesn’t it sounds like the others have so she/you will be fine!

@Stircrazyschoolmum re sports scholarship- ideally they want to be representing a club externally to school to a regional level. My daughter is national level in her sport but the competition is FIERCE and I’m not expecting her to get one, just good experience for her and another ‘thing’ she has to talk about.

Did everyone get the Surbiton email today? How nice was that. I really think they are the school of all the ones we’ve done which have made the process the easiest and nicest!

@givemesomewineplease cross posted- best of luck to your daughter as well, and similarly, your daughter has done some excellent schools and sounds like she did well so I’m sure it will all be fine.

@abc79 good luck for tomorrow too!

Thanks all - feeling a bit more positive!
Yes, we also received the Surbiton email and thought it was such an nice touch.
@givemesomewineplease DD is sitting the consortium test at FHS SS.

Well that’s one more day done of this madness! It brought mixed blessings as DS (doing the 9+) got a straight ‘no’ from one school, and a straight ’yes’ from another. The first school DS knew he’d flunked it, he was upset when we came home, poor mite - he’s a young 8yo, still into his teddy bears and cuddles - this system is ruthless!

The second school he loved, came out of it yesterday very happy and got made an offer today, even though we’d been told the school was full so we were applying for a waiting list place.

Goes to show what a difference a day makes!

DD doing Sutton tomorrow, then finally we’re done for the week! Off to the cinema tomorrow afternoon.

DD then has WHS on Monday and DS has 3 schools next week.

@autumnnightsaredrawingin, kudos to your DD, I’m in awe of kids who are good at sports (mine aren’t!)

Good luck to everyone who has assessments tomorrow.

Good luck to all girls for tomorrow. The end is in sight!

@RevolutionofOurTime which schools is your 9 year old doing? I didn’t know there were 9+ options. It must be so stressful with 2 kids doing entrance exams.