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SW London girls independent/grammars 2020 PART 2

157 replies

ColaPip · 02/03/2020 10:47

I'm not sure Autumn is around during the day, so starting a new thread to maintain our lifeline Smile

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ColaPip · 21/03/2020 11:06

@RevolutionofourTime pleased to hear you're doing ok and back in HK, hopefully you can relax a little more being at home.

Good to hear how homeschooling has gone for you. I'm dreading it! Planning to treat this first week as an early Easter holiday until we get things sorted.

All the best everyone

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hedwigshandbag · 22/03/2020 09:22

@Thesunalwaysshines us. And like the socially responsible people we are we quickly turned down a place at a good over-subscribed state school - oh if we could turn back time and be a bit more selfish!!! I actually remember calling up my husband to check before rejecting her place and jokingly said 'you won't lose your job any time soon will you' Confused.

Just unbelievable to think I spent so much time fretting about her getting an offer at an indie, then had about 3 weeks of joy/relief, and then corona happened. I'm self employed and my work will be thin on the ground for the foreseeable, and husband's job, while he is personally ok for a while, is in an industry that has been hit very hard and he'll have to take a substantial pay cut.

I know absolutely a very much middle class problem to have and a lot worse is going on, but still am so sad. Won't tell DD until decision made but I can't see a way around it.

Thesunalwaysshines · 22/03/2020 10:04

So sorry to hear that, hedwig I hope things sort out for you. Can you get back on a waiting list for a state school?

hedwigshandbag · 22/03/2020 11:20

@Thesunalwaysshines thanks. I spoke to the council and it sounded like I definitely wasn't the first person to call in - the guy in the phone practically finished my sentence for meGrin. On waiting lists. Just a bit galling I gave up a place at a state school I was quite happy with, just had made a personal choice to go private. Have to keep reminding myself that this is nothing compared to other people's worries.

abc79 · 25/03/2020 11:15

We are all fine here too...getting to grips with homeschooling...have spent most of my days running up and down the stairs to help them as they keep shouting ‘mum, help’! I hope every one is doing ok and that we can go back to normal life soon...

Stircrazyschoolmum · 30/03/2020 15:47

Hi Ladies.

Just checking in and giving a hug to anyone who needs it.

Hedwig I feel gutted for you, I have followed this thread since the Autumn and appreciate the stress, hardwork and nail biting that’s gone on.. it seems so cruel.

Slowly adjusting to homeschooling my Y5 daughter.. luckily her tutor has been amazing at offering remote sessions so I’m getting a little respite! No idea where this will leave the Wandsworth test or early pre-tests for WHS / JAGS etc but these are small concerns right now.

If anyone wants a distraction from co-vid19 discussions, I’d be interested to hear views on WHS’s head leaving for Alleyns.. she was very pro single sex education when I went to their open day....

Thesunalwaysshines · 30/03/2020 17:21

She (the head at WHS) is also very ambitious. Nothing wrong with that, but that's the way it goes when you're at the top!

Stircrazyschoolmum · 02/04/2020 16:36

sun I agree she seemed v ambitious when I met her! Would you see Alleyns as a step up or a step sideways? I ‘think’ WHS has historically outperformed Alleyns (due to all girl intake lending itself more to exams) but I guess heading up a Co-Ed provides her with another string to her bow.

Alleyns is on our ‘list’ so it’s interesting to follow - makes me curious who will fill her shoes at WHS though.. (not till Jan I think?)

over11plus · 02/04/2020 18:08

The current deputy head is taking over at WHS in September

Singingrain1223 · 09/06/2020 16:55

FYI, for anyone on a WL I heard for a dd who was offered WHS today. She will reject a less academic school to take the place but will have to pay fees at both for Autumn term.

Thesunalwaysshines · 10/06/2020 07:48

I hope that if the family giving up the place are experiencing financial hardship, the school won't take the autumn fees from them if they fill the place. I know this doesn't usually happen, however.

Thesunalwaysshines · 10/06/2020 07:50

hedwigshandbag how is your situation now? Have things improved for you and your DH in terms of your jobs?

sandybayley · 28/06/2020 13:53

Apologies for resurrecting the thread but if anyone needs Putney High uniform I have a big box for collection from SW20. PM me if interested.

montlieu · 08/07/2020 23:04

any thought on how Alleyn's will change under the new leadership ? I hear it's quite a relaxed school in many aspects. do we think that will change ?

Jullyria · 09/07/2020 03:20

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tiggermummy70 · 07/09/2020 07:37

Just checking in and hoping everyone is OK.

DD2 starts FHSS today.

Good luck to all your Yr 7's.

mummyme2016 · 07/09/2020 09:19

Thank you @tiggermummy70.
Good luck to your DD and all other children going back this week.

Hope everyone settles well and make new friends

dinosaurinmybelly · 01/02/2021 10:01

Hello - hope everyone is well in these strange times. Have just been through the SW London Girls Grammar / Independent process this year with DD and the results will be dropping onto our doormats in the next couple of weeks.

In the absence of open days and offer-holder days, it would be really helpful to hear how all of your lovely DDs have settled into their new schools. I know there was only really one term physically in school, but were there factors that you hadn't previously considered that became important? Any features that don't come up on an open day visit that might be important. How has the remote schooling provision been?

stellagibbons · 01/02/2021 10:19

Same as @dinosaurinmybelly I’m very interested in hearing how the schools have handled transition and settling in and remote learning in particular!

LackBladder · 01/02/2021 11:57

@dinosaurinmybelly and @stellagibbons DD is Y7 at SCHS. She was the only one from her (state) primary to go, though she did have friends from other schools joining. Settled in instantly and absolutely loved her first term. The start and end of the school days were staggered by year groups, and the girls all had to wear masks everywhere but in the classrooms and lunch. No inter school sports obviously, but still had early morning training for netball and hockey each week, and Wednesday Kinza happened too. They all have iPads and all homework is generally submitted via Teams.

This term - provision has been outstanding. Full timetable via MS Teams, including PE, with usual morning break and lunchtime as per their timetables. Where they would work in pairs or small groups in person, they are continuing this via FaceTime, break out rooms, or similar when instructed. This week and next is test weeks - she has maths in a bit for eg.

I have to say that while she is missing her friends, she is absolutely loving the Teams lessons. The teacher pre lockdown and now are extremely approachable and the girls are encouraged to email them if they have any concerns or questions - DD panicked about a couple of things as she couldn’t see that her work had been submitted even though she’d done it. She emailed the relevant teachers and they responded v fast. Another time we had Wi-fi issues, the teacher emailed me to check if she was ok, then gave her extra time to complete the class work.

She’s honestly so so happy and has gone from being close to school refusal for the last two years of primary, to bouncing out of bed ready to go each morning.

Her friends are scattered between the usual SW/Dulwich schools (apart from PHS), plus LU, G&L and SPGS. Also Graveney, Kingsdale, CG and Ricards Lodge in the state sector. A couple at Woldingham too. All the indies appear to have a very similar day to DD (except Emanuel who have fewer live lessons).

Hope this is of some help, and everything crossed for you all next week.

stellagibbons · 01/02/2021 12:08

Thank you so much @LackBladder - SCHS is one of the schools we applied for so that is all really positive to hear - I’m glad your DD is enjoying it so much!

ColaPip · 02/02/2021 09:45

Hello all. It's been a while!
DD is now happily settled at WHS and I'm more than happy to help with any questions that this year's 11+ gang have. What a rollercoaster you have all been through. I really feel for you all and your DDs.
For background - DD had various offers/wait list places and we also got our first choice state school, so we were in the fortunate position of tortuous deliberations. If I can help with any of that, just yell.
Best of luck!

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FlumePlume · 02/02/2021 15:32

Equally, if anyone from this year’s thread would find it helpful to PM me (my dd did it two years ago, she’s in Y8 now) then do. We also had a choice to make (scholarship offer, offer, waitlist, Tiffin place).

bashstreetkids · 02/02/2021 16:26

Hello everyone, We also went through this last year and had a difficult choice to make between PHS and FHSS. Whilst we really liked Putney, we went for FHSS as we felt it was a better fit for our daughter. She’s very happy and settled into year 7 without much difficulty. I have been very impressed with the teaching staff and the care taken with pastoral care (especially at this time).

dinosaurinmybelly · 02/02/2021 16:31

So lovely to hear about DD who have been through this and are happy and settled in their new schools. Which school did you choose in the end FlumePlume?

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