Claremont Fan Court School

[EshSchools]

Does anyone know when CFCS is likely to send out invitations to interviews? Any other experience or info on the school also welcome! Hoping to hear soon.

Yes, agree it is by no means an easy school to get into. The offer letter stated over 400 applicants, and I heard a rumour that the current Y6 cohort in the prep school had all been offered an unconditional place in Y7 so I don't think the numbers are exactly in the favour of those coming from other schools.

Also just a weirdly unkind thing to say whether it is or isn't a competitive entry.

@EshSchools

Also just a weirdly unkind thing to say whether it is or isn't a competitive entry.

Totally agree @EshSchools

CFC might not be as academically selective as others in the area but there is still an entrance exam - it might be a rather lower, gentler academic bar than the likes of KGS etc but there is still a bar and you won't be offered a place unless you can get over it.

Also, by definition, any co-ed school is automatically harder to get into because boys and girls apply so half the places available to each than there would be in a single sex school. AND any senior school which has its own junior school will have fewer 11+ places as many from their junior school will take places. @BarfSimpson is correct (we have friends with DC at CFC so know it to be truth, not rumour) that the current Y6 did not have to take their usual exam for the senior school this year. Not sure if every Y6 child there has been offered an automatic senior school place but almost certainly there will be more than usual.

Any child who has sat 11+ in 2021, whatever they get offered - whether it's scholarships, offers, wait list places - has gone through a hugely stressful process this year even more than usual and should be proud of their efforts.

@withmycoffee, this was completely unnecessary. Did it really make you feel good writing this. If so, you need to think why.

Couldn’t agree more @FlyingPandas

We received an offer from Claremont today - really pleased! I know it's impossible for bigger schools but DS loved his interview with the head, even if it was freezing! As he didn't get to see the school before this really helped.

@EshSchools

Also just a weirdly unkind thing to say whether it is or isn't a competitive entry.

@FlyingPandas @Singingrain1223 @GrammarHopeful You and a few others seem to have taken my comment completely the wrong way. I was trying to calm people down as I KNOW how stressful the process is. I have been through the process with 3 DC and I have learnt from experience that apart from a few very prestigious (I'm not saying better - I am saying 'prestigious') public schools, the vast majority of schools actually end up with spaces come September. So Please don't panic. The best school is the best school for YOUR DC. I am making no judgement. I am trying to open your eyes to the ridiculous system where the schools like to promote the image that they are hard to get into thereby increasing the demand for spaces. Fact is, once you get there (in pretty much any school) you will find some VERY ordinary to low achieving students and you will realise that YOUR DC had nothing to worry about. Now stop assuming people are being nasty when they are not!

[quote GrammarHopeful]@withmycoffee, this was completely unnecessary. Did it really make you feel good writing this. If so, you need to think why.[/quote]
and perhaps you should think why you read a well intentioned
comment and automatically assume it is nasty...

Well this is what you said:

. "If your DC doesn't have 3 heads, it is highly unlikely they won't get an offer from CFS"

And I was thinking of the lovely girl in my son's class (and there will be more) who didn't get an offer there. Lovely girl, doesn't struggle at school and certainly doesn't have 3 heads. I hope her mun isn't on here.

@EshSchools

Well this is what you said:

. "If your DC doesn't have 3 heads, it is highly unlikely they won't get an offer from CFS"

And I was thinking of the lovely girl in my son's class (and there will be more) who didn't get an offer there. Lovely girl, doesn't struggle at school and certainly doesn't have 3 heads. I hope her mun isn't on here.

You could take one sentence in isolation....or you could read the whole thread and take a view on that basis. But hey, you go take a single sentence out of context and knock yourself out. Why you would choose to do that, I have no idea.

OP I hope you don't mind me asking a general question in your post to those who have received and offer at CFC and yourself.

We are slightly confused and maybe a little bit too hopeful, as we got an email from CFC thanking us for the academic scholarship application, and to let us know that they had to change the process due to current circumstances for all deferred placements sitting the academic scholarship exams.

Did anyone else received this email? We know that you don't apply for Academic Scholarships at CFC. All the applicants who do above expected grades are invited to sit the academic test, hence we are slightly hopeful, but the email is actually addressed to "Dear Parent" so we are wondering if this is a "generic" email that everyone got or not.

thank you ... and well done to everyone who got a place offered. We put our dc down for this school under the recommendation that it is in the up and they have a good Russell University programme.

First of all, well done to everyone whose DC managed to get a place at CFC - a real achievement especially this year. For those whose DC didn't get a spot, don't be disheartened - they should all be very proud of themselves given the increased number of applicants. As @BarfSimpson said, they had around 400 applicants this year which I believe is an increase of around 50% from last year.

Does anyone know how the acceptance process plays out now? My DC got an offer on Saturday and we are thrilled for her but are also awaiting other offers. I believe the acceptance deadline for CFC is early March. As long as we accept the offer before then is she absolutely guaranteed a place, or if the school has over-offered, could all the places be taken up before then (kind of a first-come first-served basis)? Thank you!

Read the small print. They say ‘subject to availability’ which we read as a cheeky way of making exploding offers...

Good morning,
Congrats to those that have been offered a place.
I’m very keen on this school for my DD next year.
Could anyone let me know if the English paper involved the usual grammar, comprehension and creative writing?
Thanks a lot!

Thanks @Mammamiammy. Yes I did see that phrase and wondered what the implications were! Hmm...was hoping to be able to wait until the end of next week before accepting... tricky one.

Hi @User647647 - yes it involved those as well as a short spelling test (which according to my ds wasn't too hard).

@BarfSimpson, Thanks a lot!

@mumsalky23

We also wondered that, but husband reminded me how we were told that they don't really have placements for Y9 when we were first enquiring, and yet we were offered a deferred placement.

Also, in the same paragraph it says to let them know as soon as possible in order to make the place available to a family in the waiting list.

It's hard as you want to have all the facts in front of you before making a decision, but with the fees to pay on acceptance, I pretty much doubt it is on first come first served basis, maybe they want to make us wonder
if that could be the case, as it goes in this area, parents are now applying to an average of 8 schools, so I can see why schools want definite answers as soon as possible.

Personally I wouldn't leave it until the dead line, but also, I would wait if you are waiting for other schools to respond. Which is what we are doing, despite CFC being out top choice.

@SpLDLSA Thanks so much.

I do appreciate what a challenge it must be for Admissions departments at all secondary schools right now. On the whole I do think they've done a fantastic job throughout this entire pandemic.

We do really like CFC, very impressed with the Headmaster and of course the beautiful grounds. It's actually my DD's first choice - she really likes it - but the distance is a real issue for us which is why we are awaiting potential offers from other schools at the end of next week. But still turning it over in our heads as to how to make the daily journey to CFC and back work.

[quote mumsally23]@SpLDLSA Thanks so much.

I do appreciate what a challenge it must be for Admissions departments at all secondary schools right now. On the whole I do think they've done a fantastic job throughout this entire pandemic.

We do really like CFC, very impressed with the Headmaster and of course the beautiful grounds. It's actually my DD's first choice - she really likes it - but the distance is a real issue for us which is why we are awaiting potential offers from other schools at the end of next week. But still turning it over in our heads as to how to make the daily journey to CFC and back work.[/quote]
@mumsally23 how far away do you live? I have a daughter at the school and we are one of the furthest (Woking) but the school bus makes it all manageable

@mumsally23 we have a similar issue, I think we are about 5 miles from the school and have other dcs at more than one other school, but the school bus routes look like they'd work for us on weekdays.

@Teenagetrials can I ask whether your dd at the school is involved in weekend fixtures and if so, how do you find those journeys?

Also, thinking about the social life of a teenager... roughly what areas do other dcs live in?

[quote BarfSimpson]@mumsally23 we have a similar issue, I think we are about 5 miles from the school and have other dcs at more than one other school, but the school bus routes look like they'd work for us on weekdays.

@Teenagetrials can I ask whether your dd at the school is involved in weekend fixtures and if so, how do you find those journeys?

Also, thinking about the social life of a teenager... roughly what areas do other dcs live in?[/quote]
Good question re sports. She only started in September so I haven't had to cross that bridge yet!! I would say her friends are very spread out - from Twickenham out to Woking

@Teenagetrials @BarfSimpson we live in Kingston so about 5 miles away. We'd be totally reliant on the school bus service - which I'm sure is fine - but this would mean DD missing out on any extracurricular activities after school.

@mumsally23 have you checked the K3 bus route? Obviously depends where you are in Kingston, but it goes close enough to the school to make it feasible.

Also worth checking with the school when extracurricular activities take place. If they're generally at lunchtime, the odd Uber is possible for evening stuff.

All that said, transport has been one of our main reasons for choosing schools. But in the grand scheme of SW London schools, I don't think 5 miles is that much if you can use the school bus most of the time.

Does anyone know how CFC is doing with their offers now that the deadline has come and gone?

I heard (total rumour) that they did offer a placement to all of their own Y6s this year, does anyone know how truthful this rumour is?