SW London / Surrey 11+ Jan 2020

[somekindofmagic]

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

Mine was also annoyed at Ibstock he didn’t get to write anything as he knows that is his strength. Wonder why they did that - to make it easier to mark maybe? Or they are just looking for something specific / less creative. Seems they’ve done loads of reasoning with two tests of that but no writing. Weird, bit annoying but done now I suppose.

There was no writing task at Ibstock a couple of years ago when DC sat it so I don't think it's a new thing.

Yes maths was very tough at Ibstock 130 of verbal and multiple choice of English that was from the gl papers no story....

What happens if you get no offers at all?? Panic setting in...

@jane128 , don't worry, your ds will be fine but there are a handful of schools that take late entries. Ewell Castle may be near you but otherwise St James's in Ashford has a March exam sitting with an offer of a place within days & Radnor House in Twickenham has in the past taken late dc. Otherwise you have the option of a prep from 11-13, Feltonfleet has an extensive bus network & is familiar with offering to dc in early Spring & guiding them into schools at 13.
There is a thread on MN called "4 schools and no offers" from last Feb written by a father of a dd poorly advised by their tutor & with a weak state school option.

@Frostyskies1223 thank you so much!! Really kind of you. Nice to know there are options...and I'm not averse to doing prep and transitioning at 13+. In some ways I wish I'd considered that sooner as DS doesn't feel mature enough for secondary just yet. I'm sure it all works out for everyone.

Jane - sorry I haven’t read the full thread so not sure where you live, but just in case you didn’t know, Fulham Prep have recently opened a new senior school in Parsons Green (Fulham Senior School) which may well have last minute places as it’s new and less well known? Also Kew House are opening another school for Sept 2020 “Maida Vale House, “ so could be worth a call? But hopefully, it won’t come to that!

@dsdddhdcat thank you!!! I'm feeling a bit of a silly mummy as I put DS forward for some really aspirational schools and of course in my eyes he is super smart but the reality is he has really struggled with these exams. I will definitely investigate all these options. Thank you!!

How is/has everyone got on?

We have finished now with interviews and tests..... so just a bit of a stressful wait till those doorstep letters. A big one or a small one .

First answer on Friday, then waiting till mid Feb for the latter two.

DS found some stuff went well, others interesting and he has his preference too (that we are trying to manage....)

Really struggling with the wait.... when many schools (girls) have already offered ..

So much uncertainty... arghh and seemingly so many children sitting various schools this year.. which doesn't help matters!

@logfire2020 - yep, agree super stressful. We are done too. Had last interview on Sat now just waiting. We've had a number of no offers so it's just 2 potentials left....hoping that 1 comes through.
Which girls schools have offered already??

Hanging in here too! Waiting Fridays post. Trying to keep distracted until then!
I don’t know who’s offered as yet... none that we’ve applied to.
Best of luck staying sane everyone 😊

@jane128 - Surbiton High School is the only girls school I know of that has already sent offers. They were posted on Friday.

Guildford High and Sir William Perkins both sent out their offers last week.

Good luck everyone.
Can anyone share timing on Emanuel please?

I think Emanuel is posting around 13 Feb.

Hi everyone, really dreadful wait... Nightmares that DS will be found wandering the streets of SW London come September... Still 2 interviews to go, and 1 of them not till after half term, with offers end of March... What a bloody torture...

@Jbliwecd1 your post made me laugh but I fear we will be in the same boat.....good luck with the rest. Fingers crossed for you...it is torturous indeed.

Does anyone know if they come as 'signed for' post or just normal? I can't wait in all morning and have visions of coming home to one of those horrible red 'sorry we missed you' cards and having a hideous wait until Monday!

Normal post!

Thank you!

Unless your letterbox is slightly too small for a big envelope ...you still may get a little red card . Friend of mine never got any letter from their first choice school, lost in the post. She had to call the school.

I'm ashamed to admit, I walked the dog and stalked the postman for DC1 for our first choice school, to see where he was on his round... and then couldn't bare to look as he came down the path as to whether his 'handful' contained a big envelope. I'm not sure whether post or email is the best way.. or post on a specified date compared to an unclear time frame....either way it's stressful.

One thing I haven't done is told DS the dates we hear and I'm keeping everything so low key.. meanwhile ridiculously anxious as it's so uncertain what we may have to deal with for the next few months. I'm never great with uncertainty...

A friend once got two offers in a "small envelope" (saying a "big envelope" to follow later!!)

...so you never know

I heard it was all done on email now...

Not all of them. I double checked with KGS yesterday, for example. They will send by post on the 13th (delivery 14th) and then follow up with an email, but only during the following week. Good luck to all!

Did anyone get st catherines letters?