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

[MumsRule20]

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]

Yes, well, nobody really believed a word the schools were saying, did they? They’ll do what makes their lives easiest, fills places and keep their results up. They are businesses, after all.

Asking about personal circumstances during lockdown was just PR. Most of these very academic schools want to come across as inclusive and caring but this is far from their number 1 priority. Exam results and marks is what matters. I wish we could opt out of this system but unfortunately it’s not really possible where we live.

Agree, @Oceane11plus. I went to one of the schools in this thread (not fair to say which one as my experience was more than 30 years ago), and it was an academic sausage factory. It was very effective, I got fantastic exam results out of it and went to Cambridge, but it wasn't a particularly happy experience even for me (sixth form was better). It was really rubbish for anyone bumping along in the bottom sets.

@DrRamsesEmerson I could not agree more as this is also my experience. I went to a similar school (albeit in a different country), there was no such thing as pastoral care and pupils’ wellbeing and they would kick pupils out to maximise their results. I did well as I am quite resilient but remember being quite stressed at time (and some DCs taking their own lives ). I swore to myself not to replicate this experience with my DCs. That’s partly why we turned down SPGS for DD1, I knew she would do much better in a slightly less academic school. For her as for many DCs it’s all about confidence and happiness to fuel a virtuous learning cycle.

Happy Monday ladies

@PatoPato well done on your offers. I’m glad you’ve put SPGS behind you, although I’d imagine a natural, quirky answer is far more memorable than a rehearsed wooden one.

@Trialsat11 I’m sorry to hear of your experience. I can only guess the schools put you through to 2nd round to guarantee you were waitlisted and they knew you were very likely to get a space that way?

I’m trying to keep myself busy with practical info between now and Friday. Suddenly making a choice (and a large financial commitment) seems quite daunting!

So far I have..

Form entry.. PHS and WHS 4?? Not sure about JAGS and Alleyns.. bigger campuses?

Sports.. PHS play lacrosse rather than hockey.. SCHS have teams down to E (Is this standard across all GDST schools? Jags and SCHS have facilities on site, PHS/WHS have to travel.

Drama.. New facilities at PHS and SCHS, massive theatre at Jags.. Emanuel’s also seem good. SCHS state anyone brave enough to audition will get a part, not sure if this is common practice?

Building work. PHS and WHS largely finished. Emanuel due to start large project. No clue about Alleyns/Jags?

Heads.. New ones at Jags/Alleyns/WHS Is Suzie Longstaff likely to move?

Class size/school day/lesson length - all broadly similar? Commute for us all broadly similar..

What other things are useful to consider?? (I

@Stircrazyschoolmum JAGs is 5 forms of 24, occasionally 6 (we watched the open morning video again a couple of weeks ago!).

Thank you @stellagibbons depending on Friday’s outcome I might need to do that!

@DrRamsesEmerson @Oceane11Plus could not agree more about the virtual circle of confidence. I’m looking for that more than anything else - where will DD feel confident? I was middle set in a very academic selective. Destroyed me, confidence-wise, in spite of great results and uni. I’d rather DD was in a school that saw her and helped her feel good at something! That’s why we avoided some of the more selective schools as she is upper average, but not amazing! I don’t think enough is made of the link between confidence at school and future success - especially in self esteem. Seven years in a pushy hothouse did nothing for mine! Just worried that all schools in SW London are now like this. Hopefully I’m wrong.

@Stircrazyschoolmum

some thoughts below :

• Access to teachers: some schools share teachers email's address while others don't (like Alleyn's where everything goes through the tutor)
• reporting to parents : how many times a year, do you get reporting ?

think Alleyn's and WHS is only twice a year (November and June) while other schools send grades reports before every half-term and holidays

• size classes (think PHS is quite high)
• whether they are set for subjects (maths) from Y7 or later
• languages options/path (which ones and when do they start 2nd language)
• music (how many bands/orchestra, choir), how inclusive is it ?
• GCSE options ? how many do x3 science against 2x ?
• Sports: how inclusive sports is, are teams fluid or not.
• Week-end activities: i.e. Saturday sport or others activities
• school trips ?

What is Emanuel's building project ?

Thanks !

@Iamsodone Here are details of the new Emanuel building project in place of the building which is next to the swimming pool, and not attached to the main school building from what I recall when we visited. Construction is delayed until 2022 and I forget how long it will take to complete: www.emanuel.org.uk/support-us/estate-development/

@MumsRule20 thank you ! they mentioned it when we visited but I had forgotten about it

@Trialsat11 out if interest did you call or email waitlisted schools for info? I’d love to get a better idea for DD (still haven’t told her) but am not that confident when it comes to emailing the schools - stupid I know!

@Tr0ubled I called the schools for info

@Trialsat11, thank you!

We didn't apply to Emanuel as not keen on co-ed for DD, but their site is great and they are obviously keen on developing it from the plans above. I liked the school for DS, but they didn't play football and so he ruled it out. Now, however, they are a football school and even have a girls football team.

The lovely Mr Turner from Alleyn's is also joining Emanuel as Deputy Head - he is amazing with the kids.

For anyone attending offer evenings , any idea on how many offers were made ? Just trying to gauge if the schools have over offered this year or not

@Trialsat11 are those online ?

Would be interesting to know how many were interviewed too at PHS and WHS, then as per above how many offered made (though I doubt we will find out)

thanks

@Iamsodone thank you for your detailed points above.. lots to think about!

WHS offers this eve topped out with 148
Joiners. Some likely to be staff or pupils and some likely to be unable to attend so draw your own conclusions!

The turnout for the WHS offers holders event was larger than I had expected too. But then I thought perhaps it included the junior school too...?

According to my Prep Head 2 thirds of those interviewed at PHS will have received offers.

I already know many who will turn down both WHS and PHS once SPGS, Latymer Upper, Godolphin, Alleyns and JAGs and some boarding school offers are sent out.
My DD was pretty strong, but not the strongest, in her year and we definitely didn't give her extra tutoring like so many others did which I now wish we did in order to keep up.
These schools offered on the basis of the highest ISEB scores and they know this would have worked against many children who had a bad day. So all in play.
Horrible process I have to say and this year more than ever!

@Trialsat11 the schools always over offer - the mystery is the in the margin

@eglantine7 two thirds of those interviewed sounds way too much as they would have interviewed atleast 300 if not more . 200 offers for 60 places ?
I would have assumed more around the lines of one third of the those interviewed
@ Aveeldon would you have any idea on the margins for schools like WHS and PHS ?

200 offers for 60 places would not surprise me and is the number I had in mind. The top 100-150 will most likely be offered a range of other schools they might chose instead of PHS. If each girl applies to 5-6 schools on average, this is quite likely.

We’ll see at the PHS open morning on Friday I guess! My historical knowledge suggests the WHS waitlist moves more than PHS as it’s competing for girls who have lots of choices. (Grammar options too)

150/60 was not a surprise as it’s broadly half of who they said they would interview.