PART 3: SW London Girl's Indies 11+ Results, Decisions & Panic Over?

[MumsRule20]

WELCOME TO PART 3!!

Previously…

PART 1 started by Oceane11plus in July 2020 for the SW London Girl’s 11+ 2021 cohort (pandemic year).
PART 2 continued the journey (exam pandemic panic).

Both Part 1 & 2 quickly reached the MN quota of 1000 posts!

Will PART 3 be our final episode? Keep supportively posting as we make our final decisions on offers, WL movement & starting Year 7 (hopefully post-pandemic)...

I’m happy to start a WhatsApp group for LEH if people are interested. PM me your info

Thank you Stircrazyschoolmum. Have a warm feeling about Putney that just don't with the other schools (albeit without actually visiting them)! Well done to your daughter on her offers.

If there are any other parents out there please let me know your insights about Putney! Thank you so much

And thank you to everyone in this conversation who have been so open and helpful by sharing their experiences of the 11+ process.

Wow, we have been busy on here
Congratulations to those who have made the decisions and it’s nice the offer holders events have gone well, gives us a little bit of an insight, even though not quite the same as visiting the school.
I know what you mean by choosing a less academic school, I agree it’s important to go for what feels right for each child. It’s funny as I listened in the virtual offers’ holder’s events for Woldingham, I really ( and DH), began to warm up to the idea that it might be a good fit for my DD. Although she isn’t having any of it at the moment, I think it was when they mentioned that they take the girls’ phones away during school hours that put her off. She hasn’t got a phone now, but all her older siblings do, so the anticipation is beyond anything else . She is a very sociable person and would do well in the environment and would relish the idea of being a boarder once a week. As well as staying on in the evenings to have meals with her friends and do homework socialise with them every now and then. I’ve been to the school a few times and also drive past it on my way to work.
We are awaiting state allocations tomorrow, I looked back and saw for DD1we got the email around 6:30pm.
@Mumof2SW12 we also have offers from 2 of the schools you mentioned.
Wishing everyone the best for the week ahead, it’s going to be quite busy/active and those WL will start to move. I pray in the end we all get what is best for us and our DDs.

I think most schools ask children to put away their phones during the days in lockers (until sixth form).

Good luck for those waiting on state places tomorrow. Though for some may just add to the decision-making quandary....

Yes most schools do, I agree. Some schools not as strict with enforcement. But I don’t know of any other than Woldingham that physically take the phones away. Personally I agree, and like that policy, especially in the earlier years. Heads stuck in phones, are a bane of my life

I hope Alleyn’s do.

They are bringing in devices in class not sure how I feel about that. Maybe I’m sick of screens now and having that reaction.

What are other schools doing?

Ie devices to do research on in class, each child has one for school. Feel really overloaded with screen learning right now.

Thanks for this thread. We are on a waiting list for 1 school so hope there is a movement next week.

@WarmAndco3y , St John's leatherhead use to take phones physically away for first 2 years, not sure now.
Surbiton high definitely don't!

Anyone with a DC going from Wimbledon to LU?

We are almost 100% convinced on LU, but as many we are thinking about the the commute on public transport for DD.

@Stircrazyschoolmum Thanks for letting everyone knows about JAGs session. We are on waiting list for JAGs so we are hoping there is a moment next week. We have other offers but my DD is very keen for JAGS so finger crossed.

Congratulations to all the offer holders.

For the school using devices in class for research are those devices provided by the school or bought in addition by the parents ? If so how high are the specs for the devices ? Do parents have to buy the latest state of the art or is there so leeway ?
Not all schools have devices in class though!
Thanks

@Pigtastic

Anyone with a DC going from Wimbledon to LU?

We are almost 100% convinced on LU, but as many we are thinking about the the commute on public transport for DD.

I have a DS at LU. I don't think there will be many coming from Wimbledon but he gets on a few steps further up on the District Line and it's a very straightforward journey.

Iam by the parent I think not sure on spec.

I’m also thinking about how they will have to lug them around and hopefully not on public transport (keep at school?)

Devices...
LU give Chromebooks
SHS give ipads
PHS give Ipads (or used to anyway)
WHS- Windows device provided by parents. Does not need to be super top spec although some will invariably have that.
Others give Ipads, chromebooks etc (I say give but obviously all built into the fees...)

Both my DCs school use tech extensively which certainly made it a very smooth transition to home learning.
Both schools have also recognised that there has been too much screen time for all in the last few months and have said will be using more traditional methods where they can once back in school.

They have to take them home every night and charge them. Most homework etc is set on them but work is often done in books. With home learning photos taken of work and uploaded to device etc.

Re phones- all the schools seem to say phones should be in lockers during the day but it seems to be routinely ignored. DD always has her in her bag...
DS said they have been confiscated for the day if found at his school, but they have to be found...
Last term especially I think there was a it more leeway at lunchtime etc as Covid meant less lunchtime clubs and more segregation which meant hanging out in classrooms more than normal. Lots more lunchtime tiktoking!

Thanks 2at that’s really useful

My DCs have iPads at their prep. The senior division has had them for a while but they were introduced for years 3 and above this school year as it was recognised that they made the transition to home learning much easier for the seniors in lockdown 1. The prep children were taught how to log on, access Teams and all the other apps they use for learning. All their reading books are accessed via the iPad. It has made things a lot easier this time round. Also, when one of my DC’s had to isolate for a day in the Autumn term while they worked out close contacts of a Covid case, it meant that the class was up and running for home learning at 8.45am that day. Due to the risks of self isolation my DC’s were instructed by the school to bring their iPads home every day.

Thank you @2atschool!

Hallo everyone. I have posted here before - and we have been through this before. Congratulations to the regular posters! This very energetic SW thread (always) wins over the dying/dead North London thread.

Things should start moving Tuesday - after the state allocations are announced tomorrow. Wondering if people are waiting for Tiffins, Nonsuch, Wallington, (Henrietta Barnet – saw a few posts today) and some of Wandsworth and Dulwich super schools. Even places at Camden School for Girls, St Marylebone, Lady Margaret’s, Grey Coat, Sacred Hearts – can make parents rethink.

As already mentioned, schools normally over offer – and they have done the maths of number of offers versus expected returns – before going to their WL.

But many girls have multiple offers.

Likewise, if a school normally has 4 forms of 22 students and 96 confirms, the school will then re-evaluate whether to extend each form to 24 or to open up a new form and get 14 more students. (I hope my math is correct!)

Going through the thread last year:

SPGS – Tiny movement in their WL just right after state allocations/indie deadlines. One poster last year was offered from the WL, but the offer was returned and the family opted for G&L.

G&L – Not sure. There was an email sent to parents that the school will not use their WL. Any current Year 7 parent out there that can attest as to whether how many forms are there this academic year?

CLSG & SHHS (South Hampstead) –
Movement in their WL. Know somebody who turned down CLSG for SHHS. Both schools were careful in over offering – from lessons of the past (exploding offers and bulging years). Both schools were also very persistent about offers, asking parents by email at least (and by phone for SHHS) to confirm ASAP. Given that CLSG and SPGS did the same tests this year, I wonder who will win in luring young 11 yo (and their parents) to their camp.

LU – I think it moved. There must be a separate list for girls and boys.
WHS – moved
Channing – moved
PHS – Not sure. Less movement here than WHS in the past years.
NHEHS – Not sure.
FHS RP & SS – moved
QCL (Queens College London) – moved
Emmanuel – moved

However, IT HAS BEEN A STRANGE YEAR – with having the ISEB (families applied to more schools than ever), invigilated tests, financial woes and with Atom being so popular …. Even those from prep schools applied to more schools than recommended by their heads

Great to hear that offer holders are enjoying the online events – and that some were more personal/simple (aspirational schools - CLSG, LU, G&L, SPSG) versus more marketing, frilly and ‘fun’ (SHHS, JAGS).

Hope you guys will update on WL movements for the next set of parents to see/digest.

One more night or two! Hope you enjoyed the warm weather yesterday and were able to have some G&T or do some running …

@Tomorrowonce thanks for consolidating and sharing the information . Very helpful .
@Stircrazyschoolmum congrats for making a decision (I know so many others who r still contemplaring) and I’m sure PHS will not disappoint you
We received an update from WHS on Friday that this year response has been unusually slow and they are waiting for people to respond to make a decision on the WL ‘s . I hope the state school offers sorts that out .
We are waiting for Tiffin and Sutton grammars as well.

[quote Trialsat11]@Tomorrowonce thanks for consolidating and sharing the information . Very helpful .
@Stircrazyschoolmum congrats for making a decision (I know so many others who r still contemplaring) and I’m sure PHS will not disappoint you
We received an update from WHS on Friday that this year response has been unusually slow and they are waiting for people to respond to make a decision on the WL ‘s . I hope the state school offers sorts that out .
We are waiting for Tiffin and Sutton grammars as well.[/quote]
Apparently St Pauls sent a similar email at the end of last week- still waiting for loads of replies- funny old year! Although when both my DCs sat many people waited until the last possible minute.

@2atschool I have a strong feeling the state offer cutoffs will go up this year and a lot of people will accept them on account of COVID financial impact
I know a few waiting for Tiffins and holding onto SPGS offers

@Pigtastic I think there will be a lot more people going from Wimbledon to LU in the upcoming Year 7 as a lot of people applied because of ISEB.
Might be worthwhile checking with LU if they can give you information about someone travelling from Wimbledon in previous batches or accepted in the upcoming one

I think people will have waited for February paydays to pay deposits, too! perhaps there will be lots of acceptances or withdrawals tomorrow! It’s so hard this year and I agree more will accept state grammar/good comps, if offered tomorrow. Such a strange year. I also know of families who are paying multiple deposits for some reason, hoping to view schools after they open again, which is very annoying for those on WLs.

@Corblimbea So true. Families paying multiple deposits and also keeping their state (grammar) options. Happened to a Grammar school in north London last Sept - kids do not show up in grammars at the start of school.