Westminster underschool 11+ interview help please

[songeur]

My DS has received an interview call for 11+ next week. I'd be grateful if you could share your experience about the format, what kind of questions are asked and what is the school looking for. Highly appreciate your advice.

[Jane077]

I’m sure there must be a chance to properly look round the big school before accepting an offer. Im trying to think about it too much until we are actually faced with an offer although you’ve then got to work our quite quickly what you want to do, especially with rumours of exploding offers at some of our other top choice schools.
And in terms of buildings, of course I realise that what happens inside a classroom is way more important than whether it’s a bit pokey in proportions, but the space does affect the feeling of a school. It all felt very 1980s to me. I spoke to a few really nice parents while we were waiting for interview which I guess is a good sign (now wondering if one of them might have been you!)

[leeloo1]

I hate the threat of exploding offers, so I really, really hope Wus doesn't do those! I thought that was a girls' school thing... Have you heard otherwise?

Absolutely, re building/vs teaching... It's probably not worth worrying about any of it until any of us (well, our ds') get an offer.

Sadly I wasn't there today (I was at work chewing my fingernails down!), but I'm so glad the other parents seemed nice. 🙂

[Jane077]

Yep that was meant to read I’m trying ‘not’ too think about it too much until we actually have offers to consider (easier said than done though).
I know Highgate is known for its exploding offers, which is one of our other favourites. DS had an interview at City straight after Westminster today which he said went well and he enjoyed. But that’s another one I’ve always worried felt very urban without much space for the boys to breathe and kind of relax.( Plus it’s strong on Stem which is great but DS is more about the arts subjects). But think that says as much about me as my DS. I grew up in the countryside and like space. I knew parents of City boys who have been delighted with it.

[leeloo1]

Oh wow, @Jane077 it sounds like your ds has a chance of lots of offers! My ds had the exams for city, but not an interview. Tbh I really disliked city, as I felt that the kids would never see daylight, so I was kind of relieved he didn't get through, but it does limit our options and ds was sad as he really liked it there (the science labs won him over!).

The whole thing is so demoralising and stressful though - I just wish it was over one way or another!

And yy, I knew what you meant re buildings and not worrying about it yet go just worded my reply badly, so it sounds like I was disagreeing with you instead of agreeing! 🤦‍♂️

I looked up the exploding offers last night and saw Highgate got an 'honourable' mention! It's such an unfair system as it prioritises the parents who can afford to pay 3 or 4 deposits while they decide what the best option is. I also saw the horror stories about (I think channing) where all the places had gone within 24 hours! So unfair! And thank goodness my dd isn't old enough for all this yet!

[leeloo1]

Hmm, 'go' was meant to be a - there

[Jane077]

@leeloo1 I have DM'd you. Hope you don't mind.

[chalkyc2]

Off topic apologies but @leeloo1 - glad you got a WU interview after our shared CLS disappointment! Roll on offer day...

[FOVapa]

We had the interview at WU today. DS had fun and enjoyed it and now the waiting ..10 long days!
@leeloo1 did they mention the home visit on w/c 10th somewhere? I have missed that and I was wondering when we should hear from them re bursary
@chalkyc2 we shared the CLS disappointment too. Did your DS secure any other interview?

[leeloo1]

@chalkyc2 - that's so sweet of you, many thanks. Did your ds have an interview at Wus, or are you just curious about other schools? (I keep reading all the threads about reeds etc and I've never even heard of them! 🤦‍♂️)

@FOVapa - I thought I remembered your username! Congrats to your ds for getting an interview too. I'm glad he enjoyed it! I had no clue about the bursary home visit either and haven't heard from Wus directly, (I'm wondering if we won't hear about it unless the boys will be offered a place?) but it is on their admissions timeline. I'll try and screenshot in a minute.

@Jane077 - thanks for your pm, I'll reply in a minute. 🙂

[leeloo1]

Here's the Wus screenshot

[FOVapa]

Thanks @leeloo1. First news, I must have read and forgotten. Good to know as I may need more time off work!
I guess they would call us at the end of the week to arrange for Monday or Tuesday as offers will come at the end of the week.
btw I keep reading about schools (like Reeds) I have never heard of too before! It is addictive but you learn a lot at the same time :-)

[MrsPatmore]

We had an email about the bursary visit. They looked at ds bedroom, asked about his interests and went through the paperwork. Out of the four bursary visits we had, it was the most formal.

[leeloo1]

@MrsPatmore, was that this year? What were they looking for in his bedroom I wonder?

[FOVapa]

Thanks @MrsPatmore. Was the home visit from WUS for this year or last year?
also, do all the schools do home visits? We have not heard from 2 of them just yet and I was wondering if that is because he didn´t do well at the interview and was not going to get an offer..

[MrsPatmore]

Sorry, I should have clarified, it was 3 years ago. He was offered a place on the afternoon of the last day before half term. Unfortunately, there was an admin cock up so we didn't know about the actual bursary level until after half term. We had to, very regretfully, turn the place down as the bursary wasn't at the level we felt we needed to be 'safe' financially. Ds is very happy where he is and life events have meant that not having that level of financial burden is now a relief. We know several boys who are having an outstanding and exceptional education there.

[MrsPatmore]

All of the schools we applied for did have a home bursary visit - one was a separate independent company, the other three were the school bursars plus a teacher.
The WUS one liked ds posters (dinosaurs and a Top Gear one and commented on the Private Eye Annuals (embarrassingly a bit inappropriate but he likes satire and politics!). He also is interested in chemistry/science so had tied two bottles together to look at vortex activity and a plate of home grown crystals. Lots of books. Also messy and a bit smelly! I wasn't expecting them to go upstairs as none of the others did. I think things have changed though as his interview process was different to what you have all posted.

[chalkyc2]

@leeloo1 - Just being nosy - thought Westminster out of our league both academically and financially!! I know re Reeds - I got way too invested in it for a school I don't even know the actual location of!!

@FOVapa - yes DS had interviews and sports assessments at our other 3 schools which are more local to us in south London so we are hopeful. City was always a bit of a shot in the dark as we're not at a prep and someone recommended it - and I go past it on the train at Blackfriars every day. Seems like it's become one of the most selective London schools!

[leeloo1]

Hah @chalkyc2, I know what you mean. I'd never even heard of reeds or several of the other schools that get mentioned, but am strangely invested in who gets a place! I guess it's light relief from the stress of our own offsprings places! Fingers crossed that your ds does really well and get lots of offers from your more local school. Do let me know come offer day(s). 🙂

[leeloo1]

Hi @FOVapa - have you heard anything about a bursary visit yet? I just had an email saying that the Bursar won't need to visit us next week, but that if he needs to at a later date he'll arrange that with us.

I feel physically sick now, as reading between the lines ds probably hasn't got a place if they aren't wanting to visit us and he has so set his heart on Wus that he is going to be really distraught if he doesn't get an offer.

[FOVapa]

Hi @leeloo1 , I was going to ask if you had any news. just checked and no email from them. I have pm you.

[leeloo1]

@MrsPatmore - thanks for your helpful information about the bursary visit. It looks like we won't be needing it now, but it was still reassuring to read. It's lovely that the visitors were interested in the books he was reading too. 🙂

How frustrating that you had the offer, but no bursary information to go with it! That's a big part of the decision making process, I'm sure.

I'm so glad it worked out for the best for your ds though and fingers crossed it does for all our boys too.

[leeloo1]

@MrsPatmore - thanks for your helpful information about the bursary visit. It looks like we won't be needing it now, but it was still reassuring to read. It's lovely that the visitors were interested in the books he was reading too. 🙂

How frustrating that you had the offer, but no bursary information to go with it! That's a big part of the decision making process, I'm sure.

I'm so glad it worked out for the best for your ds though and fingers crossed it does for all our boys too.

[MrsPatmore]

Thanks leelo1. Don't give up just yet on WUS as people do turn down places. Bursaries, as you know, are so competitive. We will consider it again for 6th form but ds happy where he is and I too was worried about the travel at 11 years old. My ds would have had to navigate S to Central London by tube himself - they need to be street wise from an early age!

[leeloo1]

It was a no for ds, but I've heard from a couple of other parents who have had offers. Well done to all the boys for getting so far and especially those who got places.