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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:
Gettingcloser21 · 13/12/2021 20:09

@Mumchumof2 I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. Check junk folders or perhaps they are working alphabetically/by school etc. Hopefully, you’ll hear something tomorrow. FWIW they’ve confirmed 2nd stage is-
Comprehension - 45 mins
Composition- 45 mins
Maths - 60 mins

Mumchumof2 · 13/12/2021 20:52

Thank you @Gettingcloser21, will keep my eye out for tomorrow, well done to your DS! All the best for the next round!

user5756757987 · 14/12/2021 11:20

@Mumchumof2 we also haven't heard from St Paul's yet. It's not among our top choices but I wanted to know if DS got through to the second round to gauge how well he did in the ISEB for another school we've applied to .

Mumchumof2 · 14/12/2021 11:59

Hi @user5756757987, I emailed the school. DS did not get through, they emailed everyone yesterday but they inputted the incorrect email address. A shame as DS felt really good after the tests and thought he did well... will be a tricky one to let him down gently, but we knew he would do better on written assessments so time to focus for the next one! They won’t give you the ISEB results sadly.

user5756757987 · 14/12/2021 12:17

Sorry to hear that @Mumchumof2 - we still haven't heard, I'm not holding out much hope. As you say, time to focus on the next one.

Gettingcloser21 · 14/12/2021 12:49

Sorry to hear that @Mumchumof2. @user5756757987

St Paul’s is undoubtedly a stretch for DS so he’s really pleased to have got through but still very early days. I have no ideas of the statistics. They did mention this in the Open Day but DH attended and he now can’t remember.

Good luck for the Hampton results which I think are out on Friday.

VC75 · 14/12/2021 12:51

Hi All, Does anyone know what does Critical thinking includes for the Whitgift 11+ examination? Is it non-verbal reasoning? thank you

Mumchumof2 · 14/12/2021 13:51

Thank you @Gettingcloser21
DS was equally content after the Hampton exam as he was post St Paul’s.. so not sure what to make of that 😆 but I do think he would have done better in paper. Fingers crossed!
Best of luck to your DS, he has done exceptionally well to get this far x

user5756757987 · 14/12/2021 14:00

@Mumchumof2 I no longer ask DS how things went because I won't be content either way, if he says it went well I worry that he didn't get some of the questions, and for ISEB that he didn't get exposed to the harder ones and if he says it didn't go well I of course also worry. If I do slip up sometimes and ask DS how he thought it went, he replies with 'it was okay', which is the correct answer.
gosh, can't wait for all this to be over.

Mumchumof2 · 14/12/2021 14:19

@user5756757987 how very wise of you! Totally agree! DS seemed to think the st Paul’s exam was somewhat easier than Hampton or Tiffins, so I actually think now he may have not had the strongest start which led to an easier test... is that how it works? But all is not lost, we are waiting for Friday and then have some more in Jan... sigh

user5756757987 · 14/12/2021 14:33

@Mumchumof2 yes, DS was getting wildly different test scores on Atom and I asked the Atom admin team why this was and they mentioned that if you get one of the earlier easier questions wrong then you don't unlock the hardest material which is what gets you to the top marks. DS was getting anywhere between 117 to the maximum 142 on Atom and he's prone to silly mistakes and rushing through the test . which can cost you on the easier questions at the beginning.

Also, my experience with doing practise tests at home with DS is that he generally did better on papers that he thought were harder than on those that he thought were easier. Given his tendency to do things quickly and in his head with no working out (even though I've told him time and again to write things down as it makes it easier to visualise the question and avoid unnecessary errors in mental calculations but to no avail), my guess is that the harder ones require him to concentrate/focus more and so we avoid some of the silly mistakes. Was reading somewhere that given a seemingly straightforward question (that wasn't actually as straightforward as it seemed), participants did better on that question if the font was smaller as they had to focus harder.....

Who knows. However, the problem of silly mistakes isn't easy to fix. I do prefer the written tests format.

Mumchumof2 · 14/12/2021 14:40

@user5756757987 it seems we have the same child! 😆😆😆 you have literally described my DS, am sure it is something they will grow out of and perhaps for those very reasons St Paul’s wasn’t the right school (for my DS) 🥴

user5756757987 · 14/12/2021 15:56

@Mumchumof2 Grin yes, I've been told they grow out of it and it improves with maturity.....still waiting :)

11plusoveryet · 15/12/2021 19:27

@user5756757987 did you hear back from St P’s in the end? I hope it was positive news.

user5756757987 · 15/12/2021 20:07

@11plusoveryet yes, DH got an email even though I didn't, unfortunately DS didn't get through to next stage. A bit demoralising but it is what it is. My problem is I feel we've reached some plateau and not sure what else to do to improve scores. Just hoping he does better on the written tests.

Gettingcloser21 · 15/12/2021 20:21

@user5756757987 sorry to hear that. I am sure this is no reflection of how he will perform in written tests.
Good luck to DS.

11plusoveryet · 15/12/2021 20:22

Sorry it wasn’t the news you wanted @user5756757987

Pyrfwondering · 15/12/2021 20:38

Sorry to hear that you didn't get the news you wanted @user5756757987. when my DS did his entrance exams 2yrs ago, he did best in the final exam of the 3 he sat. practice does make awesome. Good Luck!

user5756757987 · 15/12/2021 20:40

Thanks @Gettingcloser21 and @11plusoveryet.
Good luck to your DCs too!

user5756757987 · 15/12/2021 20:45

Thanks @Pyrfwondering - that's encouraging to know! I think we have like 4 tests in Jan, so he'll get plenty of practise 😆

Sweetnhappy1 · 16/12/2021 15:09

Hampton have been sending lots of lovely emails with news from their school, a link to their carol concert etc but every time one lands in my inbox my blood pressure spikes up! I keep thinking they've sent the results early.

Today's email started with: we are delighted to... And that's all I could see on my message preview. When I clicked on it, it went on to say ...send you a link to the latest edition of News from Hampton. GrinGrinGrin

lookhappy · 16/12/2021 15:41

@sweetnhappy1 oh god, they did that last year. I remember trying to work out if any of it had any meaning. For example, they were 'delighted' to invite us to the carol concert. (By this time my son had sat his ISEB so they had his results.) We did get a place. But seemed no correlation. I think everyone got that invite. They then started sending boxes of goodies to people who had interviews.

I will say their marketing department are VERY good. My son liked his bloody box. They got it right! Look beyond that, though, when you make your decision.

DO NOT BE SWAYED by the friendly marketing!! If you get an offer, only accept it IF the school - teachers, location, ethos - seems right for your son.

PS: they didn't send me an acknowledgement email when I turned down the place, despite all their super duper friendly emails while decisions were being made. Cold. It's all a front I tell you! (Only semi-joking.)

Mumchumof2 · 16/12/2021 16:42

@lookhappy 😆😆 do you mind sharing what school you went for?

@Sweetnhappy1 we’ve had those emails too! 😆😆

mimisilly · 16/12/2021 17:05

I am having very good impressions about Hampton as this is the only school who cares about their 11+ candidates. All other schools only send emails regarding exam dates or interview invitations but Hampton seems try to connect with those candidates whether they are in or not. I agree @lookhappy. They are really good at marketing.

Gettingcloser21 · 16/12/2021 17:56

I agree. Hampton have been great at keeping in touch.
As a 10+ applicant, at Easter, DS received a box with some Easter activities and chocolate. We also made a last minute (late!) decision to sit the scholarship exam and they were very accommodating.

The good luck card from Mr Knibbs was a lovely touch.