what to do if no 11+ offers?

[clevud]

I'm getting ahead of myself, but I think it's important to have a plan B. If a child does not get a single offer from independent schools, what are the next steps? Of course we have a place at the local state school, but if we wanted to pursue the independent path, what can be done now and in the next months? I've heard that parents (or headteachers if the child is at prep, which we are not) call other independent schools around to see if there are available places. Questions:
-is this possible? and if so
-when and how is it done?
-what schools should be called for in North London?
-Is it possible to call schools that have already rejected the child after a couple of years?
I know it's uncomfortable, but we always hear from the successful cheerleading mums, as a matter of fact the ratio applicants:places tells me that the majority of children do not get an offer.

@PatienceVirtue, do you mind saying (or om'ing) where your ds ended up? We're possibly going to be in a similar position to the one you and the op describe. My son was also hugely disheartened after the grammar school tests (3000 applicants! 😲) and we've had a no for 2 schools already - 1 was a stretch school, but 1 he should have at least got an interview. Now we're waiting to hear from another stretch school and our back up, but it's nerve wracking!

Pm-ing! No yoga breathing required! 😂

In the same bucket here. Ds did 8 schools which was a huge number but he is strong in maths and poor in literacy (some dyslexia) and I thought (and his primary ht thought) he might get in where his friends are going (some have already gone at 10+).

He’s been been rejected outright from the top four. The bottom four I would only feel comfortable about two of them - the bottom bottom two just don’t seem worth it in terms of facilities or stretch for his strong subjects (one is Northbridge House - interested to hear views on this).

I am somewhat panicking. Our state options are not at all good so although he’ll have a school to go to I have serious concerns about them.

Do I look for a prep school - do the prep heads really make a difference or is that all rubbish ?

We are not far from you OP - in Westminster borough.

It sounds like you’ve decided not to apply for ‘banker’ schools as you’d prefer a state school? It sounds like you’ll be happy with the local comp if you have no success with the indies?

Leeloo1 I've pm-ed you. Yogic calm is probably exactly what is required...

Not exactly the same- DS was rejected from all 3 choices on allocation day, given an absolute sink school (worst 10 in Country). Don't give up we managed to get him a scolarship prep place, an "in year transfer" grammar place and eventually a place for his favoured school off the waiting list. It's early days stay calm. IME prep school registrars are lovely people and V.supportive.

Feeling for you Clevud, there seems a particular shortage of places for moderately bright boys. Kew House are opening a sister school in Maida Vale, because it’s new and ‘unproven’ it might have spaces available and they won’t have sibling demand yet - perhaps worth a try?

I think Kew sat exams last week, not sure how oversubscribed they are this year or whether they have started making offers, but they place a lot of emphasis on the interview which may suit your child better?

Best of luck.. it’s stressful!

Mount House is non-selective and only heard good things from people with kids there. Might be worth a shot, although I don't know how popular they will be this year

@hopefulhalf that sounds like a very serious military operation, wouldn't know where to start! Thanks everyone for useful suggestions. @JoJoSM2 yes that is my plan but I started to falter.

Kew house make offers in mid February I think - I believe it's quite heavily subscribed these days and harder to get into than it used to be. It is also rumoured that Radnor House didn't even use its waiting list last year.

Ah sorry the Radnor thing was another thread I think! I am getting all the 11+ threads confused....

Oh wow. I know this is an old thread, but thanks to the OP for posting. This is exactly where we are at today, and the guilt of putting my DS through this process is killing me! Wish I had never bothered. Passed two rounds of tests x3 but, in retrospect, he was never going to ‘be’ enough at interview I think.

Feel your pain too. It’s been a brutal process and now we’re in a position where have no idea what to do. The schools we went for were ‘gentle selective’ and even though son is strong at maths is mildly dyslexic so Comprehension and creative writing isn’t his strong point. Got to interview stage as well, so must have ‘met’ their academic criteria to then not gets offers. I don’t think he cut the grade in the first place. 😕

So sorry to hear this - can you say that they made the waiting list which is also a huge achievement (to ensure they don't feel bad about themselves)?

I was going to suggest calling up Northbridge House

Mount House is another one to try