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]

My son did them over a month, one subject per week. In retrospect it probably wasnt the best way as it dragged them out somewhat, but it did give him extra time to practise the reasoning questions as VR & NVR came last. I agree it's not a level playing field, and I really agree that you can improve your scores with practice. My son improved his VR scores hugely with a month of practice and simply figuring out how to tackle the different types of questions.

Just to add to the mix above. WHS have said they hope to offer a place or waitlist space to everyone reaching second stage.. it sounds like there’s some uncertainty all round as to place take up ratios..

Did any of the other schools ask which other schools using ISEB this year you were applying to? JAGS did, and I've been wondering whether that will count for or against us - and whether applying to fewer or more other schools was an advantage or not.*

*I may have been overthinking this a lot.

Really @stellagibbons? Wow!! JAGS didn’t ask us about that question.
I guess because we didn’t do it with them, it would’ve been obvious we applied to at least one other ISEB school.
None of the 3 ISEB schools asked us that question

@WarmAndco3y - It was in the form we filled in to sit the ISEB at JAGS, so I suspect it was purely procedural - but it did feel a bit odd giving them that information, especially if none of the other ISEB schools asked it.

I guess also, for them ( and other ISEB schools), it’s actually trying to make sense of how to offer and likelihood of acceptance. Honestly I think it’s going to be a headache for them as much as us. In the end we didn’t increase the number of schools we sat, partly because of timing but also realistically distance to travel would simply not work for us.
Tough times......

I also think it is just to figure out what the chances of acceptance are, it shouldn't work for or against you if you respond either way. They just want to have some more information on the candidates and the competition.

Hey everyone
Ex PHS student here. The school has some very good qualities and I know that most of my year really enjoyed it, however the social pool there (and at WHS) is very small and all composed of very much the same ‘type’ of girl from all the same background. It can be a very difficult place to be if you don’t fit into this, and I found it to be quite an isolating experience. I would really advise considering this when deciding which school to go to.
Good luck to everyone though! I remember the decision time well and it was all very strange, and I can’t imagine how much more difficult it may be this year

The prep school which hosted our DC's ISEB exam asked us to provide them with a list of ISEB schools we were applying to and they also asked us to highlight our first choice, so that they (the prep school) could use the specific code of that first choice school when they entered the login details for the exam. This ensured that the first choice school receives the results immediately. We were told all other schools have to contact ISEB to request the exam results.

Interesting comments @slipstitch1 Were you at the school recently and do you think it's now addressing these issues in light of the BLM movement etc? And do you think other selective girls schools in London are really any different? Genuinely interested to hear your perspective.

This is just a good luck message for those doing 11+ now.

I know there are almost 600 interviews being done at our school tomorrow!
I found the process quite challenging last year and the idea of doing it all now following the past year

I bow to you all.
Fingers crossed for all!!!!!

It’s all rather mindblowing. How many members of staff does it take to carry out 600 interviews in a day!!

Perhaps group interviews???

School has no live teaching tomorrow. Just preset work.
But her home school timetable is 9-4 each day.
Her older sister (dif school yr9) is finished by 14.30 🤷‍♀️

But it is mind boggling how they will do it.

Yes some schools are doing group interviews but KGS are doing all their interviews on Saturday. I’m in awe!

Just heard from JAGS and DD has an academic scholarship interview next week! Very relieved (and proud of her, even if she doesn't get it) as I'm assuming this means she's got a place at the very least?

Anyone up for a scholarship interview has got at least a normal offer!

Congrats!

What wonderful news @stellagibbons

Yes, I'd say good odds on a place at least!

Fantastic news @stellagibbons! Well done your DD!

Congrats @stellagibbons .All those anxious times of ISEB moving around has ended in a pleasant outcome .

@tiggermummy70 which school is that ? wow

Well done to your DD @stellagibbons wishing her the very best. That’s a relief, I’m sure

Wow, JAGS are early too, sending out emails

I think it's FHSS? We are sitting surrounded by marshmallows, spaghetti & penne pasta waiting for a 9.30 interview. They are using one of those systems that just cuts you off once your slot is up so no room for overrunning!

@PatoPato I hope it went well albeit I'm sure very quickly!
When DD2 interviewed they had to name words from a picked letter then use model clay to illustrate. So mine made a guillotine with decapitated body to represent Executed! They still offered her a place.
They did this for parents evening. Booked all your appointments with relevant teacher and then call started automatically at booked time and ended after 5 mins..
We did have a bit of a game going by the end as we had gaps between some of ours. So if teacher was still talking when it cut off I had a drink & DD2 a chocolate If we were talking it was a lap of the garden! Glad to say we didn't get caught out.

@stellagibbons Congrats and good luck with next interview.