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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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:
finallywokenup · 20/01/2022 01:38

Hello everyone. I am so happy to find this thread. Schools and exams seem to be such a minefield! I have been literally living under a rock inspite of which my son has ended up with a 13+ interview at Hampton's and 11+ at KCS (Even I don't remember why we chose different entry points with both).
I agree with the previous messages about KCS exam experience. We did the Friday evening. My son did not enjoy doing the paper at all and lost his usual confidence. We were somehow lucky that we still got an interview.
Can anyone here pls tell me what to expect in the English and Maths assessment with Hampton?
And KCS interviews are straightforward?

11Plus2022 · 22/01/2022 17:43

Interviews all now done. DS is very very pleased that all the tests and interviews are over. Now just the wait for Feb 11.

Hope things are going well for all your DSs.

@finallywokenup, well done to your DS for getting through to interview at KCS and Hamptons. Hope they went well.

finallywokenup · 25/01/2022 17:03

@11Plus2022

Interviews all now done. DS is very very pleased that all the tests and interviews are over. Now just the wait for Feb 11.

Hope things are going well for all your DSs.

@finallywokenup, well done to your DS for getting through to interview at KCS and Hamptons. Hope they went well.

As expected , I was told he doesnt remember what he was asked and doesnt know how it went !

Must say KCS was

finallywokenup · 25/01/2022 17:05

Continuing from above.
KCS was not as simple as we had expected. A couple of very random images were given to be talked about.

Overall KCS exam and interview were both quite hard. Guess they receive a lot of applications and this is their way of filtering!

Iamnotsoexcited · 25/01/2022 18:31

So the interview at Hampton was v tough. Particularly for maths. 4 questions. My DS only got 2 out of the 4 right….
I am now thinking this rules him out.
Did any child doing them get them all right?

11Plus2022 · 25/01/2022 20:50

Does anyone know if the KCS interviews are now all done? I found the information on a previous year’s thread about KCS really helpful, so was thinking I might provide some details for next year’s applicants, but it seems fairest to do so only after all this year’s interviews are over.

Sunshine6363 · 25/01/2022 23:15

A lot of schools still have interviews going on after the arranged dates due to children who couldn’t attend them due to covid. I would probably wait until after the results are out to be sure.

7plus11plus · 26/01/2022 23:03

It’s the opening page from Where the world ends. It’s about a group of boys stranded in a remote island, old times. Puffin was normal food for them I guess. It’s a must read in some schools.

7plus11plus · 26/01/2022 23:06

@13milebeach

DS said that he got a short comprehension where DS couldn't understand why the mother in the comprehension gave her son a 'puffin' to eat - he kept thinking the author must have got it wrong and must have meant to write muffin instead!!! (we now recognise the book and author and, strange though it seems, it was a puffin)
I meant to reply this, sorry!
finallywokenup · 27/01/2022 16:17

I dont think getting them wrong should be a problem as long as he was thinking in the right direction about the problem. By the way, how did you son know he got them wrong? Did he do 11+ or 13+
I really hope he isnt worrying about the interview.
To get an interview in itself is so good, I think it just boils down to fate as to where they get a place.
All the kids brave enough to sit the exam must be more or less equally competent.

Thisonesfortheroad · 03/02/2022 17:43

@Iamnotsoexcited i just asked my DS about his experience as he hadn’t mentioned maths questions at all previously (typically). His words: “mummy, they were really complex so I did what I could and forgot about them straight after!”

Couldn’t agree with DS and @finallywokenup more, it’s done now, let it be.

Mominafix · 03/02/2022 18:00

Hello ladies, did anyone get the results for reeds today. They were meant to be today, but we haven’t heard anything.

Naturenurture · 03/02/2022 18:04

I thought Reeds was posting today so should arrive tomorrow?

Thisonesfortheroad · 03/02/2022 18:08

Can’t believe we’re in Feb already… 🙈

Mominafix · 03/02/2022 18:34

@Naturenurture, Yah they were, my anxiety must have got the best of me then!!!

Thanks

Naturenurture · 03/02/2022 18:42

@Mominafix you’re not alone!!!

Mominafix · 03/02/2022 18:48

Ha!! I thought 1 wait was over but clearly not.

Sweetnhappy1 · 03/02/2022 19:23

February is going by so slowly 😭

Naturenurture · 04/02/2022 11:04

The postman finally delivered! We have an offer. The absolute relief.

11Plus2022 · 04/02/2022 11:12

Good news @Naturenurture.

Agree that February is dragging by very, very, slowly. DS and DH now have Covid and we’ve had to cancel our half-term holiday, just to add to the joy. Sad. All our letters are only due next week Friday (by a combination of email and post). Hoping the postman delivers earlier than usual…

travelturtle · 04/02/2022 11:15

@11Plus2022 I feel your pain! We have covid in the house too and also waiting for all the results next Friday. It’s going to be a long wait. Which schools are you waiting for?

11Plus2022 · 04/02/2022 11:26

@travelturtle, KCS, RGS Guildford and one other slightly less competitive option. KCS is probably our first choice and the one I’m most unsure about, as part of his interview didn’t go that well (he had no idea what was going on in one of the pictures he was asked to talk about).

Which are you waiting for?

travelturtle · 04/02/2022 11:37

LU, Emanuel and a couple of other less competitive ones. Fingers crossed!! It’s going to be a really long week…

Mominafix · 04/02/2022 17:35

@ Naturenuture Congratulations!! That’s really fantastic. We got an offer from Reeds too. DS is over the moon yo have 1 assured place. Now the wait continues

Naturenurture · 04/02/2022 17:52

@Mominafix congratulations to you too! We are so relieved to have a place in hand.