Upcoming girls’ independent SW London schools 11+ exams

[Oceane11plus]

Are there any parents on this board with DDs due to sit independent school exams in January? If so where do you stand in terms of shortlisting schools, revisions etc Are you planning to do any work over the summer?

We are still in the process of fine tuning the list of schools... We will probably end up applying to about 4/5 schools, of which 2 are in the same consortium which means 3/4 exams max.
As far as I am aware, our prep has not recommended any specific revisions for the summer, but I was still planning to make her write some maths, English and VR/NVR past papers, as 2 months without doing anything seems too much so close to the exams. I was thinking of making her do one paper a week in each subject, on top of reading and boosting her vocabulary, with two weeks in August without any paper/formal work.

Any tips on what we should be doing at this stage and over summer holidays, notably from parents with past experience, would be super useful!

Thank you

@PatoPato I’m sure they will use some similar elements of the written papers in the interview and the efforts wouldn’t b in vain .
All the best to your DD for the interviews !

For anyone doing Surbiton from home , any idea what the online component on English implies ? Would the kids need to type or just choose an option . I’m not confident about my DD typing long English comprehension answers on the timer and hence the question

@Losingthewill01 We have an offer from Sutton High and quite likely to accept and not pursue some of our other independent options now - considering withdrawing from Surbiton as it’s a similar school but DD not keen on larger size and the online test will be a nightmare for us with three devices! Waiting on grammars in March, but hearing not great things about Nonsuch now. We have visited Sutton’s online events and it feels the right fit (I’m also looking for younger DD at 10+ and have DS at a prep near enough to make it workable). They have appeared friendly and quite well organised throughout all this and we have some friends with DD there who are very happy - lots of recent positive google reviews (which I’ve resorted to in the absence of school tours!) . Still thinking about it, though, but currently first choice for DD as she had a good lesson on the entrance exam day and was able to tour too. She liked the girl she met. I think it can be a ‘banker’ so expect lots on here have offers, but two from DDs prep did not get in this year. Did your DD get to tour and have a lesson?

Anyone else received the detailed Emanuel email about their plan B invigilated zoom exam? We are also very disappointed with SPGS and DD is already having a massive panic. Also has anyone heard from CLSG?

@Iateallthesmarties894 totally agree with you. I think in some ways (trying to think positively here) at least we have had a window into each school’s ability to organise and communicate! It’s good for making decisions, especially when not able to actually see schools.

@Brot64 Yes just received this, finally. But at this hour on NYE!!

@PatoPato so sorry to hear about SPGS (not one of ours). Remember that they will already have your Dds first round score, which will be great. There are some great videos on YouTube about interviews on zoom which give some good tips - I’m absolutely certain those Uber selective schools will ask academic questions in interviews I’m sure your DD would shine in those. Good luck

@ Corblimbea. Thanks for your reply. Yes my daughter had a lesson and a tour. She was one of the first to sit exam way back in November. I have been so impressed with the personal attention and communication from both the head and the admissions team. It’s our favourite by far and like you I have decided not to go ahead with a couple of our other exams as it seemed such a faf with duplicate devices, driving papers to schools within the hour, that we have decided on accepting Sutton in the next week. It was my daughters fav choice, she loved the tour and the fact the school had a lot of outside green space. She also liked the tour guides and found the school to be super friendly. I hope it works out for you to in your decision. Out of interest is your DD at a school near by to Sutton?. We are near to Wimbledon so not too far on train.

@Brot64 above re: Emanuel and on your question re: CLSG - do you mean have I heard about the interview? Successful applicants following CEM won’t hear re: invitation for interview until 8 Jan

@MumsRule20 thanks re: CLSG I was not sure about the date and was panicking as have not heard anything re interview yet. I am a mess with all the schools but glad Emanuel finally communicated, although as you said, at this hour on NYE!! The process has been a nightmare.

Congratulations @Corblimbea on your DD's offer to Sutton High. Sounds a lovely nurturing school from everything I've heard and well done to them for getting their admissions process sorted (school too far for us unfortunately). @Trialsat11 we're also very confused about Surbiton, especially the bit about the girls photographing the paper, emailing the images to the other device, downloading the images, then uploading to the web form - all within a 10 minute time period. They are 10/11 years old!! At least that's how I've interpreted the instructions; hopefully I'm mistaken though and my DD will explain everything!

Also what is happening with the consortium exams? Anyone heard anything? DD was to sit on the 8th and yet to hear from them unless I have missed an email.

I cannot believe that we have to go to the school to collect the papers one day and then return the next!

@MumsRule20 I know. I had to read that twice because I just couldn't get my head around it. Would have thought posting it back to the school as we did with school reports would suffice. They could also of course post the exams and still have them sealed and still have the opening requirement of when the child sits the exam.

@Brot64 - FHSS, part of the Consortium, emailed yesterday to say next Friday's exam is pulled and will not be rescheduled. They are going on interview & school reference alone.
Someone has posted on the elevenplusexams forum that the Consortium as a whole is taking this approach

@PatoPato But only those London Consortium schools who did not switch to ISEB in November / Dec as a number of them did (FHRP / SHHS and a few others)...

was just in reply to Brot's question about her DD's Consortium exam on the 8th so one that did not switch to ISEB

@PatoPato thanks. We are yet to here from the two we applied to that didn't have the ISEB and had the exam scheduled for the 8th.

Hear.

So the chat over on elevenplusexams.co.uk/independent schools is that the non ISEB Consortium schools have pulled and are selecting for interview on the basis of school reports. It's a bit of a blanket statement and doesn't hold true for FHSS who were always going to interview all applicants anyway.
I've no idea on what basis the statement was made but there is reference to a number of schools in the consortium that have pulled. I'm tapping away on my phone (in front of crap NYE telly) so can't do a clicky link but it might be worth a look. Though unless you've heard from your school I wouldn't trust hearsay....they can be a bit intense on that website

Sorry it has been such an anxious time for al. It has been really consoling to see the support here and to vent our frustrations on the whole maddening process...Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and a brighter time ahead and deserved success for our DC’s who have worked so hard and tirelessly whilst adapting to all the changes and demands made upon them!!

Hmmm, sorely tempted to bin Emanuel but without any knowledge of how ISEB has gone it feels like a gamble.

I don’t have a gripe with the invigilation process per se as I get they want to keep kids safe. I’m not sure they understand the difficulty in getting kids to follow the process though.. it’s their home.. it doesn’t feel like an exam.. they are 10! If DD has a meltdown mid way through what do you do?! Perhaps having someone on camera will make them behave differently but from the email sent there seems like plenty of opportunity to invalidate yourself!

Ps.. happy new year lovely ladies.. couldn’t be going through this without you all!

JAGs have just confirmed the ISEB will be going ahead as planned next week as per DfE guidance and there will be no more than 6 candidates per room. I'm so relieved.

@Stircrazyschoolmum I agree with the process - there is no way DD would focus at home in the same way she would at school/ an exam venue. Let alone the fact that we are open plan with two younger DC so would have to find something to do with them to keep them completely quiet for 2 or 3 hours!

@Stircrazyschoolmum - sorry if it's been detailed up thread but what is the process for Emanuel? Though I'm on the floor with disappointment about the changes that have been forced up on us I'm still quite fascinated about the variety of approaches the different schools are taking.
I went on that 2 hour run and my toes are still bruised today - must have really pounded the trails of Richmond Park in anger!

@stellagibbons that is brilliant news. You must be soooo relieved.