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

That’s a good thought - I forgot that the postal service has issues in some areas.... I don’t understand the need to send a letter either - especially during covid! Some schools were making a big deal about having to quarantine papers for 72 hours before marking them....

We are not in the Emmanuel process, but I am shocked that they have not offered a refund to those that want it at this stage. The application fees are not cheap and their process has been botched. Anxiety is running high about Friday in a lot of households and everyone could have done without that. The JAGS process was also a little unnerving for us with the creative writing task based on trust and the late change to CAT test for some of the candidates. Sending virtual hugs to those involved...

Nearly there... we are also waiting for WHS news on Friday. The WHS and PHS process has been the most carefully supported in my view. Hats off to the admissions teams at those schools.

Eitel and wagonwheelcoffeetable hoping there is some good news coming your way soon. I too have had early disappointments in previous years, only to have everything work out for the best.

@Stircrazyschoolmum I know - not fun is this? I am still in shock from email yesterday. Glad they addressed there was an issue and have tried to make amends but it all seems pointless now. Certainly, if not invigilated it is left open to “cheating” or chances that parents eager to get their child in might help. They have put their trust in us for that children complete it on their own with integrity. We can only hope all honour this.

It really would have been fairer to cancel after the issues from last week. They have enough other info (enhanced interview, report, reference etc.) A real lottery.

Like you, I do also wonder how they will now assess the work and combined efforts and their expectations are now in selecting applicants?

@MumsRule20 I think where it’s a candidates first choice school because their sibling is there and/or there are perhaps limited other options and/or it’s very local, there will be a strong temptation to ‘help’ (I think this is slightly more the case for boys locally but that’s anecdotal and by no means implying parents of boys cheat more than girls!!)

I think the majority of parents will approach it as a lesson in integrity, but given how competitive the spaces are I simply can’t see how some unscrupulous/desperate parents won’t try to help their offspring.. it’s biologically programmed. At one level this might mean a tips sheet, at another use of a calculator or dictionary, and in the extreme, a sibling or parent completing the exam!

I’m wondering if they will discount the exam almost entirely and are only going ahead with it because they have completely messed up some kids Christmas’s! If they binned it, they would have to offer to return the registration fee I guess? (Actually, no, probably not as so far they seem to have done whatever they felt like!)

Handhold to all those waiting for post today.. fingers crossed for you all. x

@dinosaurinmybelly absolutely that is a good point re: the application fee refund! Also about anxieties already running high for all.

I have to say I am glad Emanuel acknowledged impact of all this in their letter yesterday and various other points as a result of today’s circumstances / process etc. I guess so many factors and such a tight timeline, that it must be very difficult for them. I think some of us knew it was ambitious trying to take a 2.5hr paper exam online in a short space of time and for it to run smooth and it was at that point it should have just been scrapped or else shortened big time...

Good luck to everyone still waiting on news,
exams, interviews, call back assessments etc. Try keep faith and if we don’t get the outcome we wish for and for which our DC have worked so hard for, it just isn’t meant to be, nothing lost...to look at positive experience DC’s would have gained from this brutal and unfair process (more brutally so than in the history of 11+). As parents, I think it has been hugely taxing on us - how we have had to keep up with all the changes, timetabling and quietly and calmly working out how to schedule and adapt to it all several times over. I also think all state school applicants are more disadvantaged than ever for this year’s entrance despite each schools attempts to recognise this and adjust in their favour. The gap is even wider...

@Stircrazyschoolmum lots of good and very valid points. Just all doesn’t bare thinking about does it? I think you could be very right in saying they will probably discount it altogether and am sure against the child’s interview and reports etc. they will be able to easily spot who would have had any help so it won’t go in anyone’s favour to cheat or assist their child.

Pls remind me, is the school your back up or preferred choice?

Got the letter from LEH and DD has an interview next week - now I’m trying to remember if they said they were going to interview everyone...?

Congrats @yossahughes . Is it an A3 or A5 envelope ? Spare my craziness but I'm just trying to preempt before the letter comes in

It’s smaller than a4 and bigger than a regular envelope (can’t think what then size is called) and has LEH emblazoned on the back ...

We got a letter too! And an interview for DD! Hooray!!

We got it too . I'm feeling light headed with the nervous excitement!

We got an interview too.

Yey, DD too! One of our top choices so fingers crossed! Well done everyone.

Fantastic news on all the interviews! whoop whoop!

@MumsRule20 it’s definitely not in our top three.. we applied (ironically) because their process was different to ISEB.

I agree it’s been an uncertain and stressful year. I love it when parents from my elder class tell me how ‘easy’ we’ve had it due to ISEB!!

Everyone in DDs class who applied got an interview so I am now panicking that perhaps they said they will interview everyone?...which is absolutely fine (and maybe they should as the test was so brief) but I don’t want to get ahead of myself with too much excitement yet...

@Yossahughes it’s so hard to tell isn’t it? How many places are available? Do they have a junior school?

They definitely don’t interview everyone in normal years, but could well be interviewing more this year to compensate for the short test. Everyone I know who applied has got an interview too.
Just got to remember an interview is not an offer! Can’t relax just yet.

@flossietea I think they you are right and perhaps they are interviewing most of the girls to ensure a fair process. A few girls in DDs class were very surprised to be asked for an interview as LEH was a long shot for them (I.e. those in the lower sets).

@Stircrazyschoolmum I hope you tell them (those friends and premts), there has evidently been absolutely nothing easy about ISEB as some of us are discovering. We haven’t had any of our schools invite back for interview following ISEB, l and neither have some others on her too and many that I know. It is not considered an easy test. Previously only the super elite schools used this for testing. I think schools decided to opt for it due to COVID disruptions, as it was the most readily available comprehensive computerised online testing. I have heard many prep school children found it extremely hard and even teachers were shocked.

I guess when the school isn’t in the top choices it does make it harder to then cope with the least favourite school’s chops and changes. Must all seem a bit pointless. I wouldn’t say it is our top choice but favoured by DC.

They do have a junior, so only about 60 places I think. 😬

Is there any significance with the order of interview? I.e. earlier/middle/later in the process? Yep, probably starting to overthink this

@Flossietea Whilst not in the area, I do know a few friend who have applied in the past and understood they have always been quite generous with interviews and expect they will be more so this year to get an absolute
full picture.

@dazedandconfused11plus I have often wondered that...although as the interviews will also be to determine who to award an academic scholarship to l think it will be more relevant WHO interviews you as the potential scholars will probably be seen by the same person. Likewise borderline candidates. Probably less stressful not to overthink it though!

@MumsRule20 I completely agree with you. I’ve had to grit my teeth and bite my tongue to avoid clonking a couple of ‘well meaning’ commentators!

@dazedandconfused11plus it’s easy to overthink it all. I’ve convinced myself DD scraped in as the last interview for PHS as it came so late!

I think if you get interviewed you’d have to do something completely awful to not get waitlisted, perhaps they want a bigger group to ensure they can react to unpredictable take up and going with schools they would usually select from gives them an idea of who they will be getting? (From a cultural fit perspective?)

@Stircrazyschoolmum I can just imagine! Poor you - infuriating!! I have a friend who barely speaks to me now as she thought I was being overly neurotic when worrying about the exams in October as some started to switch to ISEB and questioning how it would all play out. Her daughter at state got a couple of scholarships and places at all 3 schools they applied last year. She was so chilled about it all and thought I was worrying about nothing and kept saying to not overthink it.

She recently sent a message to ask how it was going and bearing in mind she wouldn’t entertain me before, she hasn’t even responded when I explained what happened at Emanuel last week. She probably thinks that is acceptable and normal too.

Point being, some just don’t “get it” or want to even think that it could be more difficult than it usually is. Only those of us who have experienced this year’s off the radar stressful process will ever understand and that is why this thread is so supportive because we all totally “get it” and are in this same exceptional rocky boat x