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

@Mycatslovedreamies , it was SHS that I was thinking of, they have public heath England checking their processes at the moment. Its better to know now than have a last minute change.

We got an email from Alleyn’s today, confirming the ISEB route. To done this side of Christmas. With interviews ( academic & specialists), in January with some modifications. More information to be sent out over the next few days.

Thanks for updating @WarmAndco3y - the website is still the old information so this is very useful to know. We may well apply now.

I've also been wondering how on earth the states that do banding are going to handle the banding tests. In normal times DD would be sitting 3 of those as well (Lambeth, Wandsworth and one school that sets its own) - no word yet on whether these are going ahead as planned as none take place in her state primary!

GHS have just announced they are switching to CEM and moving test to November....quite w change as in the past they didn’t even do verbal reasoning. From what I can gather it’s a one hour test so I am thinking perhaps the school report is going to be just as important?

I realise it’s not a girls school but just adding for completeness that Emanuel seem set on running their usual exam process (albeit over 2 dates and with slightly shorter exams) on 9 and 15 Jan. This is a possible back up to having all eggs in one basket with ISEB, although I’d be surprised if existing parents are that thrilled to be having 1200 candidates and their parents on site at the beginning of the spring term..

Interviews will be by zoom, second half of this term.

I just had a look at the CEM pretest details...it’s only one hour long?! How can you differentiate between 600 - 1000 candidates on the back of a one hour test? It feels like a lottery...

I'm struggling with all the changes and a 'fairness' issue.
G&L have pulled out of the Consortium in favour of the ISEB. It doesn't mean any more exams for us but the date is early (though not as early as PHS)
There will be applicants for WHS who will sit their ISEB almost 2 months later than DD. I know that the ISEB is age adjusted on the date satand 'no special preparation is necessary' but am concerned that the adjustment might not take into account the very concentrated practise time available over the month long Christmas holidays. There will be some that practise on adaptive platforms 24/7 over that period and it could make quite a difference.
Not all time is equal!
I guess because WHS moved their pretest to post Christmas then later changed to the ISEB they felt they could not move the date to pre Christmas again. It does feel unfair that some will have had so much longer to hone their skills before sitting the ISEB. Sigh

totally agreed ! I don't think the age adjustment is worth the same as the last minute concentrated practice ! grrr
so now debating on whether to apply to PHS

@PatoPato You are completely right in saying that 1-2 months make a huge amount of difference in children' preparation. So much more can be learnt in this short time frame when working intensively.
I do however believe that the vast majority of girls will be sitting the ISEB exam in November or early December at the latest. There can't be many girls applying to WHS that are not applying to PHS, and these will have to sit the test early.

Unfortunately for me there are a few of girls at our school who are sitting WHS but not PHS so it's all I can think about, especially at 2am in the morning!
I know the system is meant to work but I've got little faith in the offer methodology this year.
I could 'ask' WHS about this on the Q&A at Saturday's Open Event but don't want to stick my head above the parapet as a completely bonkers, overly-fussing mother (which I guess I am but try not to be). Might go anonymous

It is a very fair question! I actually thought about asking the registrars about it but didn’t do it for the same reason... Also because I am pretty sure about the answer I will be given, along the lines of “these tests can’t be prepared, they test innate ability blah blah blah”. My son sat the ISEB a few years ago and told me afterwards that all the work he did proved to be very helpful, especially in maths!

I think it will be very interesting for schools like JAGs whose girls go straight through but are still sitting the ISEB to compare the results of their girls in the Prep vs external candidates - and the different times the ISEB is actually sat.

I also think that this year, with everything being all over the place, that there will end up being more anomalies than usual in the whole process.

The uncertainty has been doing my head in, to be honest, but I've taken a step back now and we're just doing the best we can with what we've got.

pato I feel your pain and have had the same internal debate around WHS / PHS. The cyncher for me was all the Dulwich schools are working to a pre-Christmas deadline and many applicants will be sitting more schools than just WHS and will sit ISEB before Christmas.

My DD bores quickly.. at present she is loving atom due to the novelty factor and I can probably keep her interest up to half term. By Christmas she’ll be tired and worn out. An intense period at half term will probably bear more fruit and she can have a well deserved break over Christmas.

I realise every child is different but I’m trying to find positives to hold on to my sanity! 😬

The ISEBs have become very widespread now, Tormead in Guildford (my old school) are now using them too.

www.iseb.co.uk/getmedia/74a04c0d-0651-4639-996e-3901db330542/Documentation-CPT-Senior-Schools.pdf.aspx

I’ve heard that most of the London HMCs schools have banded together to switch to ISEB testing (and bringing forward tests) this year as a ‘group initiative’. I know a head at a HMC school and they have also agreed that there will need to be considerable consideration across the group when taking into account disadvantages with regards to study time and missed schooling. It’s Hard not to worry about less time, but schools will make appropriate adjustments when considering applicants results.

I'm feeling v flat tonight. I'm all booked for the SPGS Open Day tomorrow having already done one (which DH couldn't make as it was midweek) and for the second time in a row the links for the event have not been sent through as promised per the booking confirmation.

Luckily the Registrar picked up my email and sent me a link that was 'secure' but which I am unable to open in Gmail. I've never had this before.

When I let her know (very very politely) I got the distinct impression that I was being a pain in the arse.
Anyone else had this issue? All the other schools have worked really well with no issues.

I feel like my card has already been marked & I'm upset as I hate sticking my head above the parapet but was forced to. Arrgh

@PatoPato can you forward her email to a non gmail address and try again? Best of luck, feel for you!

SPGS sent a link out 10 minutes before the start of the webinar so all good.
It's been an interesting morning trying to simultaneously attend 3 virtual open days. For the record the HT of WHS did address the issue of the ISEB potentially being sat much earlier than WHS requires by stating that it is age adjusted on the date sat.
I still maintain that not all time is equal. Wasn't brave enough to make that point out loud though!

I attended the WHS one. Interesting they didn’t address the question (despite it getting asked twice) around prep school children sitting the test over a couple of days whilst girls on site in Jan will do it in one chunk.

I’m really liking the new WHS head. I found the girls all very articulate but found it a bit of a shame the linguist was planning to study natural sciences at uni. Flipping that thought I guess it’s good that the girls are encouraged to pursue their interests rather than pressurised by the school to do something specific..

I also really liked the new WHS head. She felt 'normal' - really good energy levels without being too theatrical

Pato, don’t worry about your card being marked. I guarantee you’ll have been one of many with the same issue. Plus, and if anyone knows otherwise pl correct me, but your interaction with registrar has no input on selection! If anything they should be courting you at this stage - you will pay their wages if your child goes to the school!

How is everyone finding the virtual presentations? I'm liking the opportunity to pose questions during the presentation and feel that JAGS, WHS and PHS have done a great job. I haven't been able to visit WHS and PHS but feel like I've had a few opportunities now to get to know more. Alleyn's however - the presentations on their site are sometimes still referring to the old examination. I've asked if they could have a live presentation. Anyone else looking at that one?

I agree @dinosaurinmybelly. While I would still like the opportunity to tour the school and see it in action, meet the actual girls etc I have to say I much prefer the online presentation/ q and a sessions. They feel more focused and relevant to me, plus I quite like doing them from the comfort of my own home!

Yes, I agree too.
Alleyn’s appear not to have updated all the information.
Do JAGS have a sibling policy? Can’t find any information on this. I think I read somewhere that Alleyn’s do