Berkhamsted School (boys) - waiting list

[Sampford]

Hello

I’m hoping someone out there might have some experience of the waiting list for Berkhamsted School. We heard today that my son passed the entrance exam for entry to year 7 but, because of high demand for places, has been put on a waiting list. He’s really disappointed because it is his absolute first choice for secondary school but we knew there were very few places for non-prep school pupils or non-siblings. School don’t provide any info on where you are on the waiting list or how likely it is that you might get a place so I was just wondering if anyone had any experience of it. How much of a long shot is it?!

Thanks everyone.

There is always plenty of movement on the Berkhamsted waitlist, although my experience is with the girls school.

They offer to the highest performing students first with everyone else going on the waitlist. Everyone then has to hang around until the grammar places are allocated and offers from the more academic schools come out at the end of Jan / beginning of Feb. Berkhamsted is used as a backup for those applying for Habs, Merchant Taylor’s and St Albans. Of course, those people hang onto their places until they know whether they have gotten their first choice before releasing them.

Happens every year and causes lots of stress. Every waitlisted girl at our prep last year got a place. I know there’s more pressure on boys places but rest assured there is always movement.

Thanks Zodlebud. Really appreciate the info. Good to know there is some movement, just need to keep our fingers crossed that it works out! We always knew that there really weren’t many places available at the boys school for boys who hadn’t been at the prep or had siblings in the school so it was always a long shot. This entrance exam lark is far more stressful than I was expecting! Thanks again.

With the exception of Haileybury they are the only school in the area to offer in December. The sceptic in me thinks it’s a ploy to make it seem harder to get into than it really is........

There is pressure on boys 11+ places but they do also take a number of boys at 13+ so there is capacity for further admissions.

A good all rounder boy should get a place based on admissions stats for the last few years from our prep.

It’s also used by a lot of Bucks parents who want Bucks grammar schools but don’t get in.

Thanks both.

I know lots of people use it as a back up both for grammars and the really academic independent schools so you never know, we might get lucky. We're a bit unusual I think in that Berkhamsted is our absolute first choice rather than a back up but we'll see what happens. He is a good all rounder boy (even if I am a bit biased) and would give them 110% effort and throw himself into everything so we might be lucky!

Do you have a local prep that you could put him in for year 7&8 whilst you wait for a place (maybe even try again for year 9?).

It is difficult to answer this question exactly as no one ever gets told exactly how many external applicants they have each year. Usually at Berko senior boys (11+ entry) they have 60 places available and circa 40-45 boys coming from their prep school each year. Prep school kids get first dibs on the places so external boy candidates find it tough (only 15-20 places for external boys). As @Zodlebud says there will be some movement on the waiting list, but I suspect this will mainly only happen in March/April of the year of entry as this is when parents need to withdraw acceptances to avoid having to pay a whole terms fees in lieu.

Berko Senior Boys also has 60 extra places available for 13+ entry. These are typically for boys from 13+ prep schools. So if your son does not get an 11+ place I would recommend you sign him up to a local prep school that sends boys to Berko and try again for 13+. The applicants to offers ratio is usually better at 13+ but the quality of applicant is also higher. One of the largest (if not the largest) feeder school to Berko boys at 13+ is the Beacon in Chesham Bois. The Beacon is a brilliant prep school and I would whole heatedly recommend it.

I know all this because my Daughter is in year 9 at Berko girls and my son is in year 7 at the Beacon. We know lots of families with kids in Berko boys and girls sections and experience of applying. Hope this helps.

Zodlebud is right. Most of the MT applicants at our school, have applied for Berko also. Most of those have MT as their 1st choice. 2 waitlisted boys I know of last year, are there now...

This year 67 boys competed for 40 places at the 13+ examination two weeks ago at Berkhamsted. The top performers will be invited back for a scholarship test, which takes place 12/13th February. I believe that the applicant to offer ratio makes it more difficult at 13+.

It could be worse though, Bedford had over 120 applicants for 44 places at 13+, MTS , Habs and St Albans tougher still.

On the bright side St Columba's and Aldenham will let anyone in!!!

I know that this thread is old, but I happened to speak to one of the Berko senior leadership team at a sports match and thought that I should correct my post of Dec 14th.

She said that Berko boys changed their entrance profile a "couple of years ago" and now take 80 (not 60) into year 7 and 40 (not 60) into year 9. So @Mutleythedog is spot on when he/she referred to 40 places this year for 13+. Apparently they changed this due to growth in Berko's own prep school and changes in the application profile of local prep schools, some of whom, like Gayhurst no longer have a year 7+8 and others (Chesham Prep given as the example) who still have a year 7+8 but seem to be applying for 11+ entry to Berko rather than 13+.

Hope the OP has got the place. Several of the boys at our prep with offers have rejected them and 68 children in Berkhamsted and the surrounded villages were offered Grammar places yesterday. The girls school has offered to all the girls we know on the waiting list. Fingers crossed!!!!

Hi Zodlebud. Good news! We found out on 25th Feb that he had a place which was brilliant. He was so pleased (and so were we)! We heard earlier than I expected - we thought we would have to wait until early March when all the other results came out for 11+ but thank goodness we didn't. Fingers crossed now that schools are back in September so he can get on and enjoy it all. Take care everyone.

Brilliant news! It would be so much kinder to parents if they offers in February like everyone else. All those I know who wanted Berkhamsted (both boys and girls) but were waitlisted got a place in February / March. A two month wait to find out sent my friend totally round the twist!!!!!

Great news! Always good to hear a happy outcome

Many congrats to @Sampford and your DS.

Appreciate this thread is a couple of years out of date. But any recent intel on the application process. Daughter is attending the sports scholarship assessment on Monday. Anyone with experience of the day? Thanks