Part 2: SW London Girl's Indies 11+ Pandemic Panic!

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www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3962084-Upcoming-girls-independent-SW-London-schools-11-exams?pg=40

Hello all, this thread continues from the previous "Upcoming Girl's Independent SW London Schools 11+ Exams" thread set up by @Oceane11Plus.

@PatoPato cleverly noticed, message slots were running low for the epic long thread as above, so all chat now continues here...

[Post edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

Well done @Yossahughes! I’m glad she enjoyed it. Weirdly it’s increased DD’s liking of the school - she thought the teachers were really kind.

What time does ‘evening’ start?!?

Well done to your DD @Yossahughes, I’m not sure who is more excited 😛 you or her

It’s nice when you can tell they feel well about themselves and they’ve had a good time. Hoping for good news all round.

@stircrazyschoolmum and @warmandco3y I think wine o’clock might be early tonight!!! 🥂

@dazedandconfused11plus I totally sympathise with your DD - an assessment like that is not suitable for all personalities and doesn’t give everyone a chance to shine like a 1:1 interview. However the loud ones can sometimes come across badly for being too overbearing as well....it’s difficult to “be yourself” and get the balance right...but at the same time a school needs all types of personalities so there shouldn’t really be a right or wrong way to behave. I hope the school are perceptive enough to work that out.

@dazedandconfused11plus - the Alpha in our exercise dominated proceedings too but didn't manage to solve the puzzles, DD did. The role of the observer is surely to pick up on this - I'm counting on it!

There was also a lot of 'hyperconscious to demonstration of teamwork’ in our group too - you put into words what I was eye rolling about. It just didn't feel that natural to me but then we don't watch lots of American motivational tv in this household. Some of the word choices in the first section had me sniggering. DD chose her own selfish word then was a bit shame faced having to explain why. She was never going to 'grow' . These are woke times our daughters are growing up in but I find some of it hard to swallow

@dazedandconfused11plus sorry about your experience . I can tell you for sure that WHS is a firm believer of selecting girls who are humble and don't overpower .That was the only advice given by our prep school for the WHS creative assessment .
They would have definitely noticed the quieter ones as well

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. @PatoPato you crack me up

[quote PatoPato]This is the video transcript of the Atom ISEB seminar which some might be of interest for anyone going through this next year. Attendees were sent the link afterwards.
vimeo.com/468916518[/quote]
@PatoPato Thank you, that's really useful!

I thought it was very telling that the observer teacher did not say one word during the assessment. She'll have definitely seen what you heard @dazedandconfused11plus - tell your DD that. Has she gained any satisfaction about being the problem solver - I'd also big that up to her. Teachers are used to the mix and will be familiar with all the 'types' - imagine a class full of alpha types. Nightmare!

@dazedandconfused11plus just wondered where you got your information re G&L interviewing 400? We are also waiting. Didn’t realise it was 400?! Eek! Couldn’t see that in any of my emails but I may have missed it. Thanks!

I can't say too much @PatoPato (MN is my new guilty secret, haha) but there were a couple of bits where I did an air punch Fingers crossed they picked up on it (not my air punch).

But overall I do think the exam result (followed by the references) will be the deciding factor.

@Jojogabor it was a stated in an email sent in May. However, obviously lots has changed since then so I think the Admissions team/website would be better to find accurate information than MN!

@dazedandconfused11plus thank you! Actually just found their Q&A doc sent last term which said they would interview half candidates after ISEB test. And as they usually get 900 applicants, then yes, around 450! That must have been a very busy day seeing as they did all on one day.

Just got email from Alleyn’s, unfortunately DD didn’t make it to next round. I know she will be very disappointed. It wasn’t really top choice for us, but now makes me anxious for the rest of her options.
I’ll tell her tomorrow, I think. She is having a virtual evening with her friends today.

So sorry to hear your news @WarmAndco3y at least it wasn't a top choice. Hope your DD isn't too disappointed. I think you said you had other schools?

So sorry to hear that @WarmAndco3y & hope you can ease the news onto your DD with minimal upset. Of course it's going to give you a little wobble but hold your nerve re the rest of your options. Reading back over the 'SW' threads from the last 2 years, everyone found their place & ended up happy.
Can you pass the news on breezily or is she very emotionally invested in the process.
Virtual evening with friends sounds just lovely

Sorry to hear that @WarmAndco3y I think Alleyns is particularly tough for girls as the standard is vv high. Perhaps hold off until your other post comes as you might have good news to counter it with?

@dazedandconfused11plus I’m certain WHS are attuned to listening to the little voices. The group dynamics were luck of the draw and I can’t see how an overly dominant person would fare better than a quieter problem solver. The facilitator stressed the importance of LISTENING at start of ours!

@WarmAndco3y Sorry for disappointing news. Yes, prob best to wait to tell her tomorrow and you will hopefully feel more at ease too. Hope she takes it ok and you can all do something fun this weekend to obliterate it. Keep faith for some better news to come soon.

@WarmAndco3y sorry to hear that, hope your DD takes it ok.
I still haven’t received an email and am dreading bad news as my DD is aware the email is coming today and keeps asking me.

It’s no good.. I’m opening the wine.. looks like takeaway tonight as I’m in no mood for cooking!!

Thank you all for your kind words. I think DD is just sometimes hard on herself, and that will be the disappointment, not the school per say. She prefers girls only to co-Ed and it’s the only co-Ed we applied too.
We saw the schools last academic year and she preferred single sex ones.
As you say, I’ll find a way of dropping it in conversation tomorrow and take from there.
I can hear her now, happily chatting to her friends, they are having a virtual movie night and we’ve planned this for a while, so I don’t really want to give her any negative news tonight.
@Stircrazyschoolmum and @Tr0ubled I hope you both get better news, I can live vicariously through you
They said the numbers were huge this year 950. I don’t know how many apply usually.
Maybe they are getting the nos out the way before they send out the yes(es). So rooting for you both

@WarmAndco3y you sound very level headed about the whole thing and I know where you are at with the single sex thing, I think for girls it has so many benefits.

One of DD’s closest friends (boy) got a ‘yes’ 45 mins ago.. I’m wondering if we’ve been forgotten!

@Yossahughes @Tr0ubled have you or anyone you know heard anything?

We didn’t apply there as it’s too far afield for us....@warmandco3y I am so sorry you got bad news, especially on a Friday. This process really sucks ☹️

Received our email about 10 minutes ago and it’s a yes!
Interview process looks pretty daunting though

We are a yes too!!