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.

@Paribus - not sure, but I think there were 4 sessions today. My DD was there from 2pm so quite possibly 2-3 sessions before that. Huge exercise for the school particularly as it incorporated a lesson!

My dd was at FHSS for an 8.45 session and there was another queuing up as we left at 10.40. So I'm guessing 4 sessions. Dd really enjoyed the lesson but found some of the questions and activities in the interview a bit random!

@givemesomewineplease - yes some of the questions did sound quite random! Certainly the most unusual questions interviews so far. Sounds like each group did different lessons also - DD did something arty but her friend did history by the sounds of it.

We were there for 08:45 also and there was a second session at 11ish and a third at 2. So I think there were 3 in total. Fun day for the girls and yes I agree, huge commitment by the school.

My DD was in the 11.15 group -

She had a lesson on Philosphy!

Then in the 1:1 interview she had to pick a tile and list as many words starting with that letter that she could think of. Then given some clay and asked to create one of the words from it.

She got E - elephant, exhibit, excited, exilex execution - what did she build? Guillotine and a decapitated head & Body !

My dd had a drama lesson!

@tiggermummy70 you have a creative and original thinker there!
My DD didn't get the tile question - she had "what insect would you be and why" and "what would you do if you won the lottery" and a lesson on optical illusions

@ColaPip Good idea! She tends to refer to herself as Weird!

She liked the cookies at break, think she mentioned something about insects too!

Importantly she found the whole thing fun, which makes me relieved as she had a bit of wobble about it last week.

Hope everyone else enjoyed it.

@tiggermummy70 - we have similar thinking dds ... mine gave 'killer' as one of her words for 'k'. I don't think she actually made a killer out of play dough though! She had a science lesson and really enjoyed it - she's never done proper science at her state school so it was a really educational morning.

Think it was an amazing experience- well done FH! Does anyone know when we should be hearing from the school?

FHSS is a great school and one to watch I think. Last year their GCSEs were higher than PHS by some way and the same as LEH (90% 7-9)! Great location too!

@Paribus Has anyone received South Hampstead High School letters/email?

DD has got the Putney interview on Tuesday. I hope Skype works...

Is anyone else feeling like time is standing still, as they are waiting for offers, interviews, etc? 😁

Have not heard anything from FH regents Park or SHHS @shhs20

Same. Still nothing....

@RevolutionofOurTime - I'm with you ... I feel like time is just standing still until Fri 14th Feb. My poor other kids are being totally neglected as I can't focus on much else . But interviews are keeping us very busy, so far 3 this week. However when I hear some of dd's interview answers I feel slightly faint and wonder if anyone will offer her a place . Then again I'm so proud of her coping with being pushed from pillar to post and coming up with answers to such bizarre questions and scenarios. I'm incredibly nervous about what will appear in the post on Valentine's Day! Good luck with the Skype interview - will you listen in??

Come on SHHS! Press “send”

FHSRP are limiting numbers for interview this time round as far as I understand. Sorry if someone already said this

Givemesomewine, why 14th of Feb? I thoght most schools will answer earlier than that?

@givemesomewineplease, thank goddess it’s not just me!

I don’t think I will listen in (although the thought has crossed my mind ☺️). I don’t want DD to feel self conscious, and I think it’s best if we try and provide an environment that’s as close as possible to the “real thing”, without distractions or interference.

Because we don’t live in the UK right now, DD did her SPGS and LEH interviews the same week as the exams, which is a blessing and a curse - it was great that she got to do them face to face, but now it’s weeks and weeks of waiting with no feedback.

On the positive side, DD’s been offered an academic scholarship by Sutton, so that’s some good news at least.

Offer dates (as far as I know):

Surbiton end of January

Whs offers ‪Friday 7 February‬
Putney: Offers mid February
SPGS offers mid February
LEH Offers ‪21 Feb‬

Feel free to add other schools to the list!

Ditto- it feels never ending. Although DD has two interviews next week I’d just really like to skip to the end of Feb and have a plan in place. I am not good with waiting! I didn’t know LEH was 21st Feb. Argh. Had hoped it would be sooner. And what does ‘mid-Feb’ mean?! I mean technically the 14th but it’s not definitely that day right?

Good luck to everyone- I cannot wait for this to be finished. DD has now also started talking about where she wants to go- the offer of interviews have boosted her confidence so now trying to manage expectations that an interview doesn’t translate to a place.

Would hate for her to set her heart on PHS or LEH and then find she gets neither! But also don’t want to appear negative. So hard.

To add to the list:
Kingston Grammar post letters Thurs 13 Feb
Consortium schools (G&L, NHE) also 13 Feb

Sorry, I actually haven't double-checked the school offer dates as was trying not to get ahead of myself, and I certainly didn't realise LEH is 21st Feb - it's so late, I think we're away! Otherwise most if not all dd's other schools (SPGS, LU, G&L, and I presumed PHS as they said mid Feb) seem to be expecting to post Thurs 13th, to arrive 14th. Though don't quote me on that. So I've begun to dread that day's post ... imagine a trickle of thin small envelopes! I would prefer they arrive on different days so it's not so overwhelming. And then we wait for Tiffin result on 2nd March I believe.

@RevolutionofourTime - fab news about the Sutton scholarship! That's very nice to have in the bag. Well done to your clever dd.

quick question - we put G&L as first choice and SHHS as 2nd choice. If my DD did well enough for G&L - then does she get invited for SHHS interview anyway?