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Secondary education

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Original poster

SW London boys 11+ 2022 entry

412 replies

Sweetnhappy · 18/05/2021 17:01

Hi, my DS is in year 5 and we're struggling with not being able to see schools in person. We're having a think about where to apply and at the moment KCL is a favourite geographically but we haven't seen it so don't have a feel for the vibe. We went to see Hampton and KGS before the first lockdown without DS and liked them both. The Emanuel tours booked so quickly when they were released a few weeks ago, I think they are releasing more slots soon. Just wondering if anyone can give us a feeling of the vibe of these schools. Does anyone know what is happening with the headteacher at Kings? They seem to have an acting head at the moment.

OP posts:
sandybayley · 19/05/2021 07:04

The KCS headmaster is retiring. He's on sick leave at the moment. I believe the new Head is due to be announced very soon.

Iamsodone · 19/05/2021 10:57

Emanuel will defo be releasing more small tours. they are shooting up in many aspects, including academically as a lot of changes have been made since the current headmaster arrived, for instance they have made some changes to the intake, to the teaching provisions, smarten up the grounds, widen the clubs and sports provision, broaden the outreach and diversity. they are working very hard at the moment compared other more established schools we looked at (who came across as being a little complacent of their status- but none of the ones on your list though).
yours are all great schools and very selective, maybe you will have a preference on gender/location/access/having grounds/pool on site /GCSE options/clubs/A level versus IB ?
good luck !

Thisonesfortheroad · 20/05/2021 10:20

Hi @Sweetnhappy

KCS are planning an open day this September, COVID rules allowing.

We looked around a couple of years ago and really liked the feel of the Junior School and it’s pupils. The teachers, pupils and admin staff were all very easy to talk to and respectful. We were really impressed by the boys who showed us round. My son took to them so well, almost like they’d known each other for ages and this made us feel very reassured coming from a less than pleasant time at state primary (being teased for being inquisitive, engaged - a nerd apparently). The facilities are top notch.

The headmaster, however, gave off a slightly different vibe which perplexed us a little. Left us with a slight doubt as to whether there was a difference in experience once you scratched under the surface. But the boys who showed us round pushed that thought back out of my mind.

It is very selective as I’m sure you’re aware. DS was the only boy in his queue for the exams who hadn’t been formally tutored or been anywhere near a Kumon it seemed! The other boys were aghast when DS had no idea what they were on about. They told him he was lucky as they had been going to tutors for several years and had no let up over the Xmas holidays. They were only 8 Confused

Anyway, needless to say though he thoroughly enjoyed the assessment process and loved the school DS didn’t secure a place.

Original poster
Sweetnhappy · 26/05/2021 18:12

@sandybayley

The KCS headmaster is retiring. He's on sick leave at the moment. I believe the new Head is due to be announced very soon.
Thank you so much @sandybayley! I hope he is ok. What do you think about the school? My son can be a bit sensitive, is this ok there?
OP posts:
Original poster
Sweetnhappy · 26/05/2021 18:14

@Iamsodone thank you! We've managed to book a tour for next month. We've actually seen it multiple times (and liked it) when we were looking for my DD but DS hasn't seen it yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sweetnhappy · 26/05/2021 18:16

@Thisonesfortheroad thank you! We had a similar experience when we looked around years ago but didn't apply at that time, he wouldn't have been mature enough to sit an entrance test. DS was so young then, we're really keen to look again. He has changed hugely over the years. Where is your DS? Will you try again for 11+?

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singersmom · 27/05/2021 09:46

KCS parent x3 here. Head announced yesterday that he won’t return. Interim head till summer term 2022. Lots of change going on there at the moment. Lower school now ending @ year six. New head. International expansion. Starting an online school.

jeanne16 · 27/05/2021 13:11

Any idea why the Head is leaving?

CloudPop · 27/05/2021 13:14

Retiring. Had planned to anyway, but has brought it forward due to a period of ill health. He'll be supporting the acting head until his planned retirement date but won't retake the reins

singersmom · 27/05/2021 13:22

The letters about him leaving are very vague. Acting head is strong but a hard time to have one less senior person at the school.

Original poster
Sweetnhappy · 30/05/2021 12:22

@singersmom how are people feeling about the changes? My DD has had a change of head at WHS where the former deputy head is now the head. This went really smoothly and the new head is excellent just like her predecessor, hopefully it will be similar at KCS.

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singersmom · 30/05/2021 12:35

Feelings are mixed. As I said, timing is awkward. With an altered exam system, pastoral investigations and two years of kcjs moving to the kcs umbrella it’s a tough time to have one less senior administrator. Many parents happy for a change. Many very sad to see him go. Implementing all the site improvements has been a huge undertaking for Mr Halls. Raising money isn’t easy.

11Plus2022 · 30/05/2021 16:52

Hi @Sweetnhappy, thanks for starting this thread.

We’re also considering schools in SW London and Surrey. It has been very difficult to get a feel for the schools from virtual information sessions, so would be especially helpful to hear from current parents. RGS Guildford is also on the list, so would be good to hear from parents there too.

We finally had an in person tour this week (Reigate Grammar School). It was a parent leading us round, and she was too on message for us to get the sort of feel for the school we’d have got from a current pupil, but it was still so much better than anything virtual.

Thisonesfortheroad · 31/05/2021 18:21

Hi @Sweetnhappy put it this way, we haven’t discounted yet as an option. We’re prepping (still DIY) with a slow and steady attitude and will take a decision based on where we are nearer the application deadline. In the meantime I’m trying to learn more about the whole process from other MNers as none of our peer group has experience and we were quite naive!

One of the biggest revelations has been the level of tutoring, but aside from that has been the fact that the academic level required is higher than DS will ever cover at his state by the time the exams come round.

Thisonesfortheroad · 31/05/2021 18:23

Anyone considering the state Grammar schools in Sutton/ Kingston?

0ldandgrey · 31/05/2021 18:42

@Thisonesfortheroad

Hi *@Sweetnhappy* put it this way, we haven’t discounted yet as an option. We’re prepping (still DIY) with a slow and steady attitude and will take a decision based on where we are nearer the application deadline. In the meantime I’m trying to learn more about the whole process from other MNers as none of our peer group has experience and we were quite naive!

One of the biggest revelations has been the level of tutoring, but aside from that has been the fact that the academic level required is higher than DS will ever cover at his state by the time the exams come round.

DS did the exams last year for the lots of the schools being discussed including KCS. He was at a state primary and had covered all the topics etc that he needed for the exams. The bit the tutoring/ home prep needs to concentrate on is exam technique, Verbal reasoning style questions etc.
Thisonesfortheroad · 02/06/2021 20:54

@0ldandgrey good tip regarding exam technique - our DS was (in hindsight) ill prepared with regard to such things. I think we will have to do some practice papers over December to refine this.

I’d like to think our primary will cover the syllabus by the time of the exams, however due to lockdowns and homeschooling, they only started Yr 5 syllabus for maths when they returned in March. At parents evening recently, our class teacher was clear that they were still behind but were planning to catch up by the time the SATs come around. So I think there will be some topics to cover. It may depend on the school however.

Original poster
Sweetnhappy · 09/06/2021 23:05

It looks like the new Kings head has been announced today: www.kcs.org.uk/senior-school/news/kings-college-wimbledon-governors-announce-head-s-appointment

OP posts:
Thisonesfortheroad · 04/08/2021 12:25

Ooh and she’s female!

Gettingcloser21 · 08/08/2021 10:42

We are applying for the SW London independent schools and I wondered if anyone knew how long the composition/essay writing for KCS is. Having looked at some of their older specimen papers, is it only 30 mins?

11Plus2022 · 24/11/2021 11:21

Hi. As the boys start their entrance processes, I thought it would be a good idea to revive this thread.

How are your DS’s doing? My DS is writing the ISEB this week, then has the KCS entrance tests in early December. I think the fact that some schools are doing Nov/Dec assessments and some reverting back to early January makes it really tough on the boys.

11Plus2022 · 24/11/2021 11:23

@Gettingcloser21, hope you found the answer to your question when KCS published their specimen papers. I think the creative writing is only 20 mins, but balanced by some rather long comprehension questions.

Gettingcloser21 · 24/11/2021 11:32

Thanks for responding. 20 minutes is short to think/plan are write. I think the specimen only required two paragraphs to be written which should be doable in 20 mins…I hope.

We also have ISEBs this week and then on to KCS on 3 Dec and Latymer on 11 Jan. I agree re the gap before the Jan exams, although most are doing theirs in December I think.

WCC1985 · 24/11/2021 12:32

I have looked at the KCS specimen math paper. Is it a bit easy compared with most other schools, and so does it imply they expect almost full score?

WCC1985 · 24/11/2021 12:34

I have also looked at the English paper of KCS. It is also relatively easy compared with many other schools. Given KCS is in the top tier, wonder what mark would they be expecting ?

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