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?

thisisconfusing thanks for the LEH advice, super helpful!

Nowfeeltheneedtopost thank you for the GC intel. It looks great. Bit nervous about the walk but plenty of families we know are happy there.

Skatingpark97 I feel our usernames are at one!

@Skatingpark97 @SkaterGrrrrl True!

[quote Skatingpark97]@uk2020 , yes from Nov/Dec the private secondary schools send out a reference form to your dc's current school. The type of questions varies. Prep schools are use to completing 5 or so forms for each pupil so it becomes a bit of a conveyor belt process. The prep will also check with the dc re outside activities - ballet, guides etc.

Re the state sector, it's a more varied process and references are sometimes only chased before an offer is made. The secondaries know that state primaries resist completing private school references and will understand reduced content or lacking detail. [/quote]
Skatingpark97: thank you so much for your response. If my DD is already studying in a private prep school and offered a place for the attached senior school which is a good one, does it look bad if I apply 10 outside private secondary schools which then ask my DD's current school for reference? The reality is that we are now living in Oxford and I have been thinking about moving to London when my DD is moving to secondary.

@uk2020 , of course you can apply to other schools esp if in a another geographical area. Just drop the head of the prep a note when you enroll your dd for the other secondary exams. I have lots of experience of school offices and as much as a private school may seem cosy and invested in your dc the bottom line is that they are a business and they are use to dc coming and going for all sorts of reasons.

Hi all, I think I ask this question in a very silly way but I am a bit stressed.
What percentage is needed for passing Stage 1 test for 1) grammar schools and 2) independent schools?

Not tried to compare with other tutored kids but I think so far my DD has not achieved a nice milestone yet as she is obviously resisting any maths practices. So far, mock test has put her at the band of around 65-70% correct. Now there are 3 months ahead . Is it sufficient time for her to progress further?

@Mumalsoasfriend

Hi all, I think I ask this question in a very silly way but I am a bit stressed. What percentage is needed for passing Stage 1 test for 1) grammar schools and 2) independent schools?

Not tried to compare with other tutored kids but I think so far my DD has not achieved a nice milestone yet as she is obviously resisting any maths practices. So far, mock test has put her at the band of around 65-70% correct. Now there are 3 months ahead . Is it sufficient time for her to progress further?

More contexts: 1, we are in SW London - an SS area 2, DD is bright and good in subjects - she is a top mark earner in her class for maths and English, but it's a state school; 3, Her current practicing test outcome relies largely on her mind - she does not want to try practicing (at her age I think it understandable) 4, we started preparation kinda late- from spring this year- but that time she can basically do 60% correct- so no significant progress?

@Mumalsoasfriend Does she have gaps in her knowledge or is it mainly calculation errors/time pressure?

All three of those things can be improved in three months by the way, but knowing where she's losing the marks will be useful.

@BumbledBee
From the answers I can't spot clear gaps- I mean the mistakes are random and varying from test to test. Or shall I say everywhere?

Mistakes came from miscellaneous aspects- mindlessness, carelessness, don-know (she said) and so-claimed vagueness of the question ( in some maths based inference as she argued to see an alternative clue and I confess it's hard to think as bystander why not).

I tried to convince myself that there was a progress indeed, which may give me hope. Otherwise I should start to stress now.

How far is DD behind the line? And what should be a line in the real exam? Some parents suggested 85% and above- for grammar school like Tiffin?

How about independent ones? From top down SPGS (CEM-styled) how much? CLGS? PHS?

Any view? Thx.

Hello lovely ladies!

Having gone through this process last year (with the horror still fresh in my mind!) I wanted to offer you my support as countless others did for me and my year group.

A couple of small pieces of advice, firstly, see as many schools as you are able to with your DD whilst pandemic loosening allows.. last year things changed very quickly despite assurances it wouldn’t! Secondly, push your chosen schools to tell you how they will examine this year.. and what their back up is. Be prepared for all eventualities and if possible have a mix of approaches so your eggs aren’t all in one (ISEB) basket.

I am so grateful to the awesome group of mums that supported me through last year.. it was mumsnet at its best. I’m looking forward to any help I can give you guys. For now I will lurk in the background but in the Autumn term I’m more than happy to help with entrance questions or general wobbles! (We didn’t try for the grammars so sadly no help there.)

Ps. For those with particular interest, my DD chose PHS (from 6 offers) and has her first induction on Friday. So far they’ve been totally brilliant and I’m more than happy to chat about all things putney to anyone considering it as our exposure/experience grows.

@Stircrazyschoolmum That's lovely! Thank you so much !

I attended PHS's virtual open event 2 weeks ago and can sense the enthusiasm from every detail I received from the headmistress and deputy. I have forgotten why PHS enters our choice set but clearly, there was a "lure" from one of an earlier parent from this forum's other posts saying it is a nice senior school where girls are thriving happily. So nice to have your attention and help here .

@Mumalsoasfriend It’s weird, I saw it a couple of times when DD was in yr 3/4 (accompanying friends) and loved it. Then I visited the Dulwich schools had a complete change of heart and wasn’t going to even bother applying! ISEB came along, DD asked if we could include WHS and PHS as no more exams and promptly fell in love with Putney! Very much against the grain for where we live but I respect her decision as she did the work!

In the early stages my suggestion is to keep your options as open as possible and avoid them all having ISEB or consortium as the entrance criteria. x

@Mumalsoasfriend where did you find the link for Tiffin girls registration? I can’t find the link on the website, thanks.

[quote Lockdowndramaqueen]@Mumalsoasfriend where did you find the link for Tiffin girls registration? I can’t find the link on the website, thanks.[/quote]
@Lockdowndramaqueen the link is here: www.tiffingirls.org/Our-School/Admissions/Year-7.aspx

My DD is currently in year 8 at WHS, I found these threads useful for her year so am lurking. I'm currently going through the process again for DS who is in year 5 but find the girls threads much more active.

Stircrazyschoolmum

Hi
We are currently in y5 and looking at independent or grammar in SW London. Or Surrey. Ideally thinking girls only. Does anyone know what is happening about open evenings or mornings? We are booked onto a few but will they be cancelled now? Does anyone know of any happening soon? DD is desperate to see some schools! I know lots of people had to make decisions about secondary without seeing schools last year.

@1forward2back Sutton High seems to have an open morning coming up (23 June I think). Epsom College just cancelled theirs unfortunately but they do offer individual visits during the week, so nothing would stop you from visiting.

Thank you @sanam2019 I have just booked to attend and seems to be going ahead in a new format due to covid. Will be great to see a school in person! Where abouts are you looking? Are you also y5?

@1forward2back mostly co-ed: Emanuel, Kingston Grammar and Epsom College, but have thrown WHS into the mix as well. How about you?

@1forward2back

Hi We are currently in y5 and looking at independent or grammar in SW London. Or Surrey. Ideally thinking girls only. Does anyone know what is happening about open evenings or mornings? We are booked onto a few but will they be cancelled now? Does anyone know of any happening soon? DD is desperate to see some schools! I know lots of people had to make decisions about secondary without seeing schools last year.

Surbiton are doing open mornings on Tues 14 Sept and Thurs 16 September.

Radnor House in Twickenham are doing an Open Day on Sat the 2nd October.

LEH are doing self guided tours of the school on weekends (ie no staff or girls to chat to - just a look around buildings and facilities). We are going this Sunday. They say they will do proper tours in the autumn but not date yet.

@1forward2back we are also looking at a very similar rooster of schools: Emanuel, KGS, LU, PHS, WHS and Surbiton High. We got discouraged on Epsom due to distance and Saturday attendance but I have heard great things about them.

[quote Skatingpark97]@uk2020 , of course you can apply to other schools esp if in a another geographical area. Just drop the head of the prep a note when you enroll your dd for the other secondary exams. I have lots of experience of school offices and as much as a private school may seem cosy and invested in your dc the bottom line is that they are a business and they are use to dc coming and going for all sorts of reasons. [/quote]
Skatingpark97: Thank you so much for your detailed answers. In the case if my DD has already accepted an offer from the attached senior school, does it still look OK if I apply for other 11+ independent schools?