Senior school application options

[TerribleTiming]

Hoping for some advice.

I’m currently making a long list of senior schools for dd1 who is in year 4 at a local prep school. Looking for schools which obviously suit dd but will also give us options. Is it acceptable to apply for a boarding place for 11+ entry to see whether she is successful but then ask if it can be changed to a day place or a 13+ start if we feel it’s more suitable?

The pandemic has made us wobble on the most suitable path for dd, socially and emotionally she has taken a hit and whilst boarding at either 11+ or 13+ was our ideal I think we need the ability to choose the most suitable option much closer to the time of entry.

I think most would not transfer a place from one sitting to another unless there were exceptional circumstances. Is there a significant boarding intake at 11+? What does your prep smt suggest?

You can apply to schools in Y4 / 5 and just write on the form you are undecided but by the time it gets to Year 6 and exams and interview start you need to have made a decision.

At our school if you are offered a boarding place, you cannot then switch to a day place. If you have a day place then you can switch to boarding so long as there is space available.

You still have time before having to make a decision and hopefully will be able to visit your shortlisted schools too. We found that the more we got to know the school (we were invited to lots of events), the more my daughter and us felt boarding would work.

Not spoken to our prep yet. Not wanting to sound ridiculous if it’s a real no no. All the schools we’re considering have boarding, several are commutable on a daily basis but I’d probably prefer weekly boarding to make full use of school life and to ease my commute between schools for dd1 and siblings.

Will of course take advice from our prep but would like to confidently discuss options rather than sound a bit clueless - which I feel currently.

Just trying to gauge whether if you apply for boarding it can be swapped to a day place, and also if you are successful for yr 7 entry whether you could then change that to be considered at yr 9 instead, by reapplying if necessary.

Zodlebud - thank you. This is the kind of information I need. I’m an over thinker, and really try to get things clear in my head before trying to have sensible conversations on the topic!

It typically used to be that 11 plus entry was for state school kids and 13 plus to prep school kids. Not exclusively the case but I think due to an understanding that private secondaries didn't sabotage the viability of years 7 and 8 at their local feeder prep schools. I should add this is for boys, I believe the girls system is different again.

That said, in our area (Herts/NW London), there's been a move to earlier testing in the last couple of years. Prep school children are tested for many of the schools in year 6/early part of year 7 but for 13+ entry still.

Having gone through 13 plus admissions with two kids, my advice would be to book an appointment with your head to discuss secondary options and don't be embarrassed at not having all the answers or looking a bit clueless.

Placing pupils in the right school is their goal. My friend's a prep school head and feels this is an area where he can particularly "add value" for want of a better word.