SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2022

[SkaterGrrrrl]

I watched with interest the information and support on this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4177427-PART-3-SW-London-Girls-Indies-11-Results-Decisions-Panic-Over and wanted to start the same thread for South West London parents with daughters who will be applying for secondaries (independents and grammar) for places in year 7 in Sept 2022.

Where are you applying, how are the virtual open days going..... and to tutor or not to tutor?

@HighRopes the confirmation email said "details to follow in coming weeks". So I got a bit relaxed, since Berlin schools are still open next week.
I got the tickets for the 2nd January to fly to London, but God knows. We have an option to write it in our school, which we initially didn't want to take, it was important for my daughter to sit exam in St Paul's, but probably we'll now do it in our school or any other way.
Francis Holland offered online interview.
We are waiting for the replies from G&L and SHHS, but those will come later in January.
I will send them an email first thing tomorrow, hoping someone will check it still.

@Sweetnhappy1 - fingers crossed! My concern is that they will have to prioritise keeping their schools open and will be wanting to avoid their staff coming into contact with hundreds of children from different schools/areas just after Christmas. Was thinking this as I saw the education minister today begging for retired teachers to come forward to fill in gaps in January.

SW17cleocat - am also wondering if Epsom switches to ISEB last minute, I think it would be straight-forward, I imagine 80-90% of their candidates have taken it already anyway and the rest could come in to do it at Epsom, still easier than inviting hundreds in for the on-site exam (plus tea with parents - how likely is that going ahead?).

@confusedmomfromBerlin I think you main risk might be flights getting cancelled, so it is probably safer to take it abroad.

I hope whatever the schools decide, they tell us in the coming days and don't wait for drastic announcements until 3 Jan.

I agree - it’s not easy to sort out the devices, time, space and quiet for a remotely proctored exam in our house. Some warning would help. And dd is at a primary and hasn’t done ISEB, so that option doesn’t work for us.

How sis the online exam for spgs work last year? Did they do all papers? What about interviews did they do those online too?

Also any idea about Latymer upper and what will happen?

I'm not sure if this applies to y7 entries but my daughter had to attend the exam for sixth form entry at Francis Holland in person even though it was during lockdown (schools open, shops closed). Her interviews were online.

Kudos to WHS, I just got an email with their back up arrangements in case of lockdown. Very reassuring. I’m hoping to get that sort of email from the other January exam / interview schools.

Yes WHS seems to have it in hand - their email was very detailed and reassuring. One hour sessions rather than two and a half. I hope the other schools say something - have heard nothing yet from Epsom or Alleyns, and those are where the written tests are

Hi everyone, happy new year. My DD is sitting SPGS this week 5 Jan - relieved to hear they’re going ahead with it in person as was worrying about it flipping to online. Anyone else’s DDs sitting it this weds too? Good luck to everyone

@RM46 Mine as well! It was very chaotic till the last minute. We didn't know if we'd be able to come to London.
But we managed to fly, did our PCRs and are ready to go 👍🏻
Good luck to everyone!

Oh that’s great @confusedmomfromBerlin so glad she can be there in person, it must have been stressful not knowing if it would be possible to travel. Hope you have a safe trip and good luck to your DD 🤞

Good luck to all the SPHS exam takers! Great that it is going ahead. I think this post will start getting busier this week!

Dd will be doing SPGS tomorrow too. I’m a bit worried that she’ll find it hard to wear a mask the whole time as her glasses tend to steam up, but at least it’s not online.

Very glad to hear you got here, confusedmom!

Ugh yes the mask wearing throughout isn’t ideal but I understand why they’re doing it and definitely prefer that over switching to online.

I think you’re right @1forward2back it’s going to get busy on here again - looking forward to getting these next few weeks done and dusted!! Good luck to everyone

Ok, so WHS have just said they will be going to contingency plan of having creative assessment online. One hour slots.

Epsom College going ahead with exams this week - no masks and they’re still hosting the tea party for families afterwards. The tea party surprises me to be honest!

Surbiton interview yesterday - DD thought ok.

Anyone heard from LEH yet?

Good luck to all the SPGS second round exam takers!

That’s good to hear @SkaterGrrrrl my DD has Surbiton interview next week - wasn’t expecting the “academic discussion” but hopefully it’ll be ok!
Not heard from LEH yet no. On their process flow chart thing it says we should hear “mid Jan” so maybe next week 🤞

Thanks RM46!

DD at Epsom College today, including tea - which also surprised me, but she was very happy about! I think they want to make sure the process is personal and families get to know the school and what it is about despite the times we live in. Tomorrow it is KGS and then we are done, at least with exams, what a relief! Good luck to all for the final stretch!

Hi all ..anyones DD sit for st georges today ? how did they find it ?

Hi everyone how did you dd find spgs today?

@RM46 what other schools are you considering?