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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London boys, 11+ grammars and independents

734 replies

Jumpalicious · 29/11/2020 13:32

Hello, I know there’s an excellent thread for the girls. Not sure if there’s one for the boys? Anyone want to come on board? I know we can’t divulge details of round two grammars since there will be late sitters, but was thinking more of a support thread. Any takers?

OP posts:
DonGray · 04/03/2021 11:12

Whitgift deadline noon tomorrow

TW79 · 04/03/2021 11:36

We have the same predicament between indies and Tiffins and this is what I have posted in one of my threads:

We have decided to go with Tiffins. Spoken to quite a few current and past parents and one current year 9 student. Have heard only good things. They all have nothing really to complain about. One on my DS friends mum called the school and have spoken to the deputy head and he said don't judge us by the looks of the building.

It's a personal choice and a really hard one . My DS got academic scholarship at Hampton, academic scholarship and music exhibition award at LU and St. George's and a place at KCS.

I still cannot see the delta difference between independent school and Tiffins worth at least 175K over next 7 years. I feel my DS will be happy and whatever we will save over next 7 years will only help him in the Uni.

It was a hard decision to make and I have just emailed all all the schools to decline the offers. Hope this helps.

Iffiyas · 04/03/2021 11:58

@TW79 congratulations! Your son has done incredibly well. Out of interest for DS2 who will do his exams in 2 years, do you mind sharing the value of the academic scholarship at Hampton?

TiffinIndieChoice · 04/03/2021 12:17

Well done for making a decision TW79

We did the same last year - spoke to parents, pupils and teachers!

nesebe7331 · 04/03/2021 12:19

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Goingcrazy101 · 04/03/2021 12:34

@lookhappy I'm not sure which school you have bursary for but my DS1 is at a school that is know for offering generous bursaries and part of the reason they do so according to head is to encourage a wide mix of boys from different backgrounds. His school has boys from very wealthy backgrounds as well as those on bursaries - we really love that mix, so please don't worry about him being perceived to be the 'not well off one'.
Inevitably some kids are spoiled more than others but IME this has nothing to do with wealth.
If I was offered a full bursary I would def go with the independent school.
You can't compare the two!
HTH

harmitag · 07/03/2021 19:47

@Teacakes100 Reed’s WL is moving as my son was offered a place on Tuesday

FlyingPandas · 07/03/2021 19:53

Congratulations @harmitag!

I have also heard that Halliford’s wait lists has moved. But not sure about any others.

Judging from comments on the girls’ thread, a significant number of schools have confirmed that they are unlikely to go to waitlist this year as they have filled all places from the initial offer round. Be interesting to see if the same is true for the boys’ indies.

Teacakes100 · 07/03/2021 20:06

@harmitag many congratulations to you and your DS. I hope he is very excited.

schoolcookie · 07/03/2021 20:17

[quote harmitag]@Teacakes100 Reed’s WL is moving as my son was offered a place on Tuesday[/quote]
Congratulations! Our son also got offered a place at Reeds on Monday, we're all very happy and relieved . We got a great feel for the school despite not being able to see it in person. Now to get our son that's not in to any team sports ready for September!

notabirthday · 16/03/2021 08:43

Well done to all of you with offers accepted and decisions made!

Has anyone had any offers after 1st March from any of the Sutton grammars? Wondering when /if we might see waiting list movement. I am trying to big up the comp we've got a place at but DS1 hasn't got his heart in it!

blowonitthen · 16/03/2021 09:11

@notabirthday

Well done to all of you with offers accepted and decisions made!

Has anyone had any offers after 1st March from any of the Sutton grammars? Wondering when /if we might see waiting list movement. I am trying to big up the comp we've got a place at but DS1 hasn't got his heart in it!

Which one are you hoping for? Wilson's: there are usually a couple of places in April and then a few more over the summer months, but not much movement overall. SGS: typically go to around 40 on the waiting list by the end of the summer. I'm not sure of numbers for WCGS but it's usually more because the above movement has a knock-on effect. You should be able to get waiting list positions soon. Good luck!
Thisonesfortheroad · 16/03/2021 09:21

Thank you for your honesty. This alongside some of the highs and lows experienced by some here, does help give me some perspective on the whole thing. Finding it extremely difficult to get a tutor at this late stage too.

It’s also so disheartening however - our local comp is definitely not a good fit.

Original poster
Jumpalicious · 16/03/2021 10:22

@Thisonesfortheroad is this for exams in 2021? You are not too late and I do not think you need a paid tutor. But you do need to get yourself some books so your child can work through them.

I found cgp the right level. Start now with bond, if you like, then move to those shortly before the summer. Easier said than done in our case, but a secret weapon is to read, read, read. Reading plus complete coverage of the maths syllabus = potential success.

We went with a tutor initially, but stopped because of COVID. It all worked out. Though I didn’t know that at the time, and found it worrying!

OP posts:
Thisonesfortheroad · 07/05/2021 11:57

Hi, no one appears to have posted in a while, so I thought I’d check in and see how everyone is doing.

DonGray · 08/05/2021 09:29

@Thisonesfortheroad

Hi, no one appears to have posted in a while, so I thought I’d check in and see how everyone is doing.
Just waiting for uniform fitting appt and otherwise we are all set - ordered 11-15 zip card and now need to teach DS the complicated journey!
yetmorewaiting · 13/05/2021 22:44

We got an offer just before Easter for Wallington and I'm now in a WhatsApp group for new intake. Someone has left the group today as they received an offer for another grammar so there'll be another place there now too. Good luck if anyone on this thread is still waiting!

Lapras · 15/05/2021 00:13

@yetmorewaiting, would you mind giving me details (PM) about the WhatsApp group? How did you get on it! I feel totally out of the loop as we don’t know any other Wallington families. Thank you 🙏

Thisonesfortheroad · 20/05/2021 10:27

It does seem that every boy finds his place eventually. Well done all x

schoolcookie · 15/06/2021 16:32

Hi all, just wanted to see what schools are doing regarding induction days for our boys going into year 7.

I am currently waiting for an update from the school but feel awful that DS will be potentially starting in September having never actually set foot in to the school building or meeting any other boys as we don't know anyone else going there.

The crazy process we've all gone through this year continues!

Pyrfwondering · 15/06/2021 17:59

@schoolcookie try not to worry too much. Your DS won't be alone in not visiting his new school. Last year there were virtual visit afternoons and Zoom meeting for the boys to introduce themselves to their tutor groups & form teacher.

DS's school use Classlist and connected new parents together that way and arranged a meet up in a park (with a café). Maybe not perfect, but it was something. The boys played football and chatted, so they weren't 100% strangers on Day 1. First Form had the school to themselves on Day 1... and the school are doing the same again on Friday 3rd Sept.

Lonestar123 · 15/06/2021 18:50

@schoolcookie, we're in the same position as you - just waiting to hear what the plan is now! My son is pretty laid back about it all...think I need to follow his lead...but was kind of looking forward to the cake :) :)

schoolcookie · 16/06/2021 14:42

Thanks for your replies. I'm definitely more stressed out than DS is about the whole thing!

Scaffoldhell · 16/06/2021 19:12

We have a whole day Induction this term, a sports trials day late august and then a new starters afternoon on the Friday before term starts in September

MarshaBradyo · 16/06/2021 19:15

It’s a big shame our events have moved to virtual

So fed up with zoom

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