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Secondary education

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

Original poster

SW London / Surrey 11+ Jan 2020

143 replies

somekindofmagic · 01/01/2020 23:24

Anyone who would like to join in general chat about the imminent exams? Somewhere to let off some steam out of earshot of DC!Smile

OP posts:
Mumintherain · 15/01/2020 10:21

We got our No from Hampton this morning. 🤞 for everyone waiting for KGS this evening!

ticking · 15/01/2020 11:51

I'm struggling with the length of time it all takes....

I could do with the results now!

studentandparent · 15/01/2020 13:43

Hello, anyone heard yet if they have got through to interview stage at KGS?

Thisdoesnotgeteasier · 15/01/2020 14:22

Nothing yet on KGS for us, studentandparent - I think it is supposed to come later in the day. Hasn’t stopped me checking my inbox every 10 mins though. It’s a bit of a very long shot for us, I fear, although it’s DC’s first choice.

cantwait2020 · 15/01/2020 14:38

I just called the school they haven't started yet. After 4pm today we can be checking;)

studentandparent · 15/01/2020 16:59

If we haven’t progressed through to the next round, will we just not hear from KGS today? Still not heard at 16.59 ...

Mumintherain · 15/01/2020 17:03

We haven’t heard anything either..

Rakushka04 · 15/01/2020 17:35

Last year KGS was 24 hours late (if not more) to send the results. Hope they've learnt their lesson this year.

ripple11 · 15/01/2020 17:49

They rang us a short while ago with a query......emails are due shortly,

Sammy133 · 15/01/2020 19:11

Does anyone know what to expect from a KGS English interview?! 😬

jane128 · 15/01/2020 22:49

How did everyone do at KGS? DS got through to interview. Really pleased for him after yesterday's Hampton bad news. Wishing best of luck to others....did anyone do City of London or Alleyns?

confusedparent12 · 16/01/2020 07:07

Well done @jane128's ds. We have a not unexpected no from kgs but at least that means next week can be a normal week with no interviews. Good luck those who have them

studentandparent · 16/01/2020 09:46

We got a 'no' too sadly. I now have little confidence for Emanuel and feel a bit miserable about the whole thing. All that tutoring, work, money, planning, family disruption etc.

Congratulations Jane, keep in touch about the next stage.

Sammy, I don't know the answer to your question, but I would review grammar rules and choose one book your child loves, and talk get them to talk effortlessly about the plots, themes. Read between lines. Demonstrate inference, deduction. Pull out deeper and hidden meaning. Maybe pull out a key passage to interrogate. Good luck, keep in touch.

How did everybody else get on?

Ami01 · 16/01/2020 10:47

@studentandparent same feeling not sure what to think or do, moving from prep to state for senior will also be a shock and likely not fair on the child and maybe we pitched DS too high but all was planned and discussed with current head. His inCas were good as were reports and admittedly we studied everyday but not for 6-7 hours (i know some who have) as wanted to keep it as natural as possible. Not sure if that is what is needed!

GetoffmyUnicorn · 16/01/2020 11:06

@Sammy133 did your email say it was for an English interview, or have you just been told by others that is what the interview is like?

studentandparent · 16/01/2020 11:07

6-7 HOURS. A DAY! Gosh. If that's what it takes then it's no surprise we didn't get through. In my opinion, that is cruel and possibly damaging. I question what important developmental skills those children are missing out on focusing to that extent on academia only. @Ami01 are you waiting for other results to come through?

Ami01 · 16/01/2020 11:13

@studentandparent agree with you in principal but does not take away that we have not got in, DS also only moved back to UK for year 5 (we were on expat assignment ) so had a fair amount of catching up to do.

Have a couple of others but the competition in this part of London is so intense.

yelloworanges · 16/01/2020 11:15

ami 6-7 hours every day Shock

How on earth is there enough time to fit that in?

jane128 · 16/01/2020 11:23

Feel for everyone, this whole process is so stressful. DS is painfully shy so I'm worried about KGS interview.....but we are thankful for getting to here.

6-7 hours blimey!! That's shocking. Though I do know people who have been tutored after school everyday....I guess you do whatever you think you need to.

studentandparent · 16/01/2020 11:23

@Ami01, agree competition is intense. The effect of this is that the talent filters down to the less desirable independent and state schools.

jane128 · 16/01/2020 11:29

Keep strong Wink

jane128 · 16/01/2020 11:29

Anyone doing Emanuel on Friday?

Thisdoesnotgeteasier · 16/01/2020 11:29

It was a no for our DC from KGS but I was fully expecting that. We hadn’t tutored and when I worked on papers in the month or so before the exams it was clear it was a massive stretch. DC was disappointed as was the exam thought had gone best but still in the mix for one other (slightly) less competitive school. Thankfully we also have a great state option, which takes the stress away.

ColaPip · 16/01/2020 11:41

@jane128 - hi, yes we're doing Emanuel tomorrow and also Ibstock on Saturday.
To be honest, I'm not feeling hopeful about either. DD has had a week's gap between written exams and has pretty much lost interest unfortunately... I'd initially thought the gap would be helpful in that she could recharge but sadly not!

Thisdoesnotgeteasier · 16/01/2020 12:05

“moving from prep to state for senior will also be a shock and likely not fair on the child”. I think it depends where you live. We are fortunate to have very good state options if the private route doesn’t work out. There are lots of intelligent, well behaved kids in state schools as well.