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Secondary education

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

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

999 replies

SkaterGrrrrl · 27/05/2021 14:25

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?

OP posts:
whycantwegoonasthree · 12/09/2021 15:12

I have DD1 yr9 at KGS and a DD2 yr7 at Surbiton - let me know if anyone would like any insights for ether of those.

In addition we visited, applied and sat exams and got places at PHS, WHS, St John's, Sutton High, and Ibstock, happy to share my reasoning for the choices we made too if anyone would like that.

But since I'm not going through it myself, because, (thankfully) 11+ is now in my past, I'll only add to this thread if anyone asks. Aside from that, I'd just say. have friends with daughters at pretty much all of these, and experiences are overwhelmingly positive. We're very lucky to have such great choices.

1forward2back · 12/09/2021 15:23

@whycantwegoonasthree if you can offer insight into your choice, that would be great as we are looking at some of these schools.

HighRopes · 12/09/2021 15:43

Whycant- Hi! We were on the same thread three years ago, but I’ve name changed since then.

I’d be very interested to hear about Surbiton. Wasn’t our our radar for dd1, but dd2 loves football and tennis, so looking for somewhere that will allow her to play those (not necessarily very well!) while also being academically stretching for those who need it. She’s inclined to coast if there’s no competition. Location also an issue if she’s going to be there late / early for sport (we’re in Wimbledon).

I was thinking SPGS, WHS and / or PHS, Sutton High, Tiffin for her in terms of applications. But am wondering whether to swop Sutton for Surbiton.

whycantwegoonasthree · 12/09/2021 15:52

Happy to. Ultimately I have two very different DDs. And I think this is the key thing to keep in mind - there are no 'better' or 'worse' schools - it really is horses for courses depending on your DDs personality.

I'll start with DD1 - who is very academically able, and very focussed on that (too much, possibly, and I'm encouraging her to engage in more co-curricular stuff this year). Had decided she wanted to be a human rights lawyer in yr6 for example. Also sporty.

Knew she was bright, but figured we all think that, and also found it hard to gauge how bright. So went for a bunch of options: KGS, PHS, WHS, Surbiton, Sutton and St John's. She got places at all except Surbiton, (more on that later) and a couple of scholarship offers.

We chose KGS because we all, including DD1, loved the energy of the place. It felt very dynamic and forward-looking but also quite down to earth. It was clear she would be academically stretched there too, which is what she needed and wanted.

Our experience has been really good. They are pragmatic and attentive, have high expectations of the kids, both academically and wrt to self-sufficiency. It's not the most nurturing or pastoral place, but DD1 didn't especially need that. It's very close to home too - and that's a more important factor than many give credit to in this process.

In fact, I'd ensure that location is near the top of your selection criteria - a short commute makes weekly school life so much easier and more pleasant for the kids.

She starts rowing this year, and their boathouse and facilities are amazing. The only downside is the small campus can sometimes feel a bit cramped, and they have to commute to games at Ditton Field - but the kids don't seem to mind, and ultimately this has not been a thing. Ditton Field is brilliant when you get there.

The ones we didn't choose and why (briefly):

PHS - should have been the natural choice, both for location and the fact that I'm a GDST alum. Ultimately found it a little, well anaemic. It all felt a little formulaic and I just didn't get that sense of dynamism that I got from KGS.

WHS - fell too much of the side of an academic hot-house for me. Lots of talk about being broad and the arts and whatnot, but visiting and the whole process made it very clear that it's not really their thing. The art rooms were the most dismal and uninspiring that I saw at any school, for example. I was sad because I had a bit of a crush on the headmistress and very much wanted to like it, but ultimately just didn't.

Sutton - I really love this school. I wish it was closer to us, and that was the biggest factor is us deciding to go elsewhere. They're seen, unjustifiably as a bit lesser than their GDST sister schools, and for that reason I think they try a lot harder at everything. They suffer mostly from their location I think. But on heart alone, this school was my favourite actually. I love their attitude, their approach and they handle the admission process the best out of all of them. Handily their exams happen two months or so before all the other schools - and it's really friendly and kind, and that actually helps the girls not feel so scared of the process going forward. But it's a very pastoral, very balanced school, who work REALLY hard because they don't have the luxury of complacency.

St John's. Facilities are stellar. Location is a b*tch. They offer flexi-boarding which DD was very taken by and might mitigate the commute a bit. DD2s best friend has an older sister who transferred out of KGS to St John's for sixth form and is loving it, her younger sister (DD2s friend) has just started. Fees hike a LOT in yr9. More old-fashioned than a lot in feel, but by all accounts very pastoral and social - which is what it takes from its history as a boarding school. Ultimately the additional costs and location weren't sufficiently mitigated by the facilities.

Also, they were the least friendly to deal with by some margin - which put me off. DD got offered to come in for a scholarship interview - which she duly did, with all the prep that was required. (They had to prepare and bring in stuff.) She had a horrible experience and then ultimately we never heard another thing about it - we assumed she wasn't offered the scholarship, as we were just offered a standard place, but they never bothered to let her know - which was poor form IMO and left a bit of a bad taste.

Ohmickeyyouresofine · 12/09/2021 16:13

Happy to help as well- got a DD at WHS and DS at LU. For DD had a choice of WHS, PHS, KGS, SHS and Emanuel. Suspect she would have been fine at any of them!

whycantwegoonasthree · 12/09/2021 16:15

DD2 is a very different kid. She's mad about art and music, and despite being every bit as able academically as DD1 (possibly moreso, naturally) that's just simply not what she's passionate about. She asked me in about year 4 if she had to go to senior school and whether she couldn't just go straight to art school at 11.

So I was looking for a place that would genuinely nurture that creativity in her - I had been to a GDST school that had viewed my desire to go to art school with absolute horror wanted me at Oxbridge doing classics (with a view to law) and kept telling me how art was "a lovely hobby, but it's not a career" and refused to support my art school applications in any way. That was the late eighties and early nineties and I know things have moved on, but I didn't want a whiff of that for DD2. Art and architecture are her great passions and I wanted a school that would really take that seriously.

So we applied to: Surbiton, Sutton, St. John's, Ibstock and KGS (only because DD2 insisted). She got places at all but KGS, (which Iw as relieved about) and a brace of art scholarships.

We chose Surbiton because they took their art scholarship processs very seriously, even in lockdown, which led me to think they take art seriously. WE're only a week in, but I'm loving it. Co-curricular is a massive thing here - far more than at KGS and the range is HUGE. But they're very pastoral and seem to be taking great care of the girls - it's a big school and a big campus, and they're very aware of that and the need to mitigate that in the first few weeks. DD2 is full of excitement and happy as larry so far. She's signed up for a million clubs, they're very aware that most girls over-subscribe themselves to begin with, but are keen to let them try as many things as possible to find out what they like, but equally that it's ok to drop things if you find you;re doing to much or that something isn't for you.

(Contrast that to KGS who only allows their yr 7s to sign up for a maximum of 2 co-curricular clubs to begin with so as not to get in the way of their academic studies… both approaches are valid, but you see the lie of the land.)

And because DD1 and DD2 are so different - the fact that this was the one school who turned DD1 down, was exactly what made me think it was probably the right school for DD2.

WE didn't choose Sutton or St John's for the reasons stated above – found turning Sutton down a second time genuinely upsetting - I think DD2 would have been very, very happy there.

Ibstock was a bit of a wild card. It's know for being arty, which is what attracted me to it - and it genuinely is. It's a little left field in some ways too - which I also liked - they do horticulture in years 7 and 8, for example - they learn to grow vegetables which are then used in home ec. classes. I bloody loved that. They have a dedicated dance studio. Just lotfof little strange bit. Grounds and facilities are lovely, location is good for us, their music performances at open days were genuinely deeply impressive.

But they're weirdly old-fashioned in some ways - half their comms is done by letter only, which is weird, and it makes comms really hard because you're checking back through emails to try and find something, only to discover it was sent in a letter only. They're slow to get back to you on things, and I found that frustrating and assumed it would only get more frustrating if DD2 was at the school.

They also offer a bunch of scholarships in dance, drama, music, etc but not art. Which is odd IMHO. I kid of felt that the general arty atmosphere would make up for it, but that night have been an error.

They'r more expensive than the other options too, and ultimately I felt we wouldn't be getting sufficient extra bang for our extra bucks. That and a general, well, weirdness...

Anyway, hope this is helpful to some. It is just a very personal insight. And liek I say, I have friends with kids at all of the schools and they're all really happy. It's ultimately about finding the right fit for your DC and you family.

Top line take outs - location is really important, trust your gut, and stop thinking about some schools as inherently 'better' than others.

1forward2back · 12/09/2021 16:31

@whycantwegoonasthree thank you for this. We got a great feeling at the Sutton open evening in the summer. Going back for a second look this Saturday - they have added a school minibus that goes near us and seems reasonable - I liked the ethos. Also looking at the others you mention, but looking now at girls only.

HighRopes · 12/09/2021 16:47

Thanks, whycantwe! Really detailed summary, and so useful for the ones I know less about.

I’d add that Ibstock (from close friends) is very strict on things like uniform, lots of prep, but really amazing dance teaching. Not for us (two buses with an isolated change), and as you say, quite old fashioned in some ways. They only allowed girls to wear trousers very recently!

GandTtime · 14/09/2021 09:39

I have dc at Ibstock and I would say it is changing lots since the new head took over!
New school buses to collect from various locations, less strict on skirt length etc and even prep amount has lessened. All in all it’s a lovely school and my dc are very happy there. Also, there is a new 7+ entry in the prep school which guarantees a place in the Senior School!!

refusetobeasheep · 14/09/2021 19:37

Did anyone do the Sutton exam today?

wowsaidtheowl · 14/09/2021 20:11

Yes! Apparently the maths was hard but English better - I didn’t get a lot more info past that.

refusetobeasheep · 14/09/2021 20:34

@wowsaidtheowl ---- that's more info than my DD's friend gave - which was just "it was fine"!

wowsaidtheowl · 14/09/2021 20:56

I don’t know what ‘hard’ actually means - I think maybe that could be positive! Really worried that the English wasn’t actually easy, she just didn’t get it! Who knows?! The queue was staggering and made me realise what a long shot this application is.

refusetobeasheep · 15/09/2021 08:35

i'm wondering whether a lot did the Sutton exam as practise as it's pretty much the first one, so may be not as long a shot as it seems?

whycantwegoonasthree · 15/09/2021 09:36

@refusetobeasheep I think a lot do, yes, and also a lot do it considering it their 'banker' option while also applying to some schools they consider harder to get into.

I really feel for Sutton on that basis, because it's a stunning school and I think they have to wade through a tonne of admin each year around places allocation and offers to people who are really unlikely to accept them.

SkaterGrrrrl · 21/09/2021 22:06

Super helpful whycantwegoonasthree

OP posts:
refusetobeasheep · 22/09/2021 15:09

So of the open days we've attended so far (in person at last - hurrah!!) my DD loves Claremont Court Fan the most. Does anyone have children there / feedback? It's the furthest away of all we're looking at (although a handy coach service near home) but I'm also not sure if it would challenge her enough? I feel DD will coast if allowed ...!

1309username · 22/09/2021 21:42

@refusetobeasheep, we were there on Saturday and loved it too.

We have a friend with 2 daughters there, the older one did amazing at her GCSEs this year. She’s very hard working and her dad said she had amazing support by all teachers.

I’m trying to find out how many kids stayed on for sixth form, I guess it would give us a clue as to how happy they all are.

All the teachers we met on Saturday seemed so friendly and happy, I was joking with my daughter that they may have been actors…

One downside for us is that there’s no hockey, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

refusetobeasheep · 23/09/2021 11:57

@1309username yes, it was such a beautiful day on Saturday I'm sure that helped too! Thanks for the information about your friends' daughter, it all helps draw a picture.

1forward2back · 24/09/2021 11:40

Just had a reminder email from Sutton High that they close their applications for 11+ next week. It’s so much earlier than the others so I had totally forgotten. Just in case anyone else had too! Is anyone going to the extra Surbiton open event? Also had an email about that!

refusetobeasheep · 24/09/2021 12:14

@1forward2back we went to Surbiton on Tuesday. Was very busy so I can well imagine they need extra days!

Flossietea · 30/09/2021 13:47

Hello to everyone on this thread! I was where you are a year ago. DD is a few weeks into year 7 at LEH now and absolutely loving it. We applied to PHS, WHS, Surbiton, G&L, FHSS, NHEHS, and LEH. DD got into all of them so we had the luxury of choice and it was genuinely hard to turn a lot of them down because they’re all amazing schools. But LEH is absolutely wonderful so far and DD has taken to it like a fish to water. It’s so nice to see such a great outcome from the slog that was the 11+ process.
To all of you just beginning that slog - I found so much support and solace from the similar mumsnet thread last year. It is an all consuming experience and it’s so nice to have an outlet where you can talk about it with other people going through the same thing because everyone else in your life is sick of hearing about it! So you’re in the right place.
Happy to answer questions about the process and how we decided. Good luck to you all! I promise it’s worth it when you see your DD flourishing at a school that is right for them.

refusetobeasheep · 30/09/2021 14:48

Currently we have 6 schools on our list - do those who have gone through this before think that is too many or manageable? There's 4 before Christmas and 2 after. I'm especially concerned about one weekend where we have St Catherine's exam on the Saturday and LEH on the Sunday. Will she be too tired for the LEH exam? In theory St Catherines should not stretch her, but LEH will be the hardest she will do, so I don't want to be tired at the start!

Flossietea · 30/09/2021 15:15

@refusetobeasheep

Currently we have 6 schools on our list - do those who have gone through this before think that is too many or manageable? There's 4 before Christmas and 2 after. I'm especially concerned about one weekend where we have St Catherine's exam on the Saturday and LEH on the Sunday. Will she be too tired for the LEH exam? In theory St Catherines should not stretch her, but LEH will be the hardest she will do, so I don't want to be tired at the start!
We applied to 7 schools but 4 were on ISEB so just one exam. I wouldn’t have put DD through 7 different exams as I think that would have been too much.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about a weekend with two exams though. I’ve heard of kids doing two in one day which is a lot! But one on Saturday and one on Sunday is manageable. She might even be less anxious doing LEH if she’s just done an exam the day before and she’s in the groove already.

Most of the exams are only an hour to 90 minutes or so long so not a massive ordeal. Unless St Catherine’s is an all day testathon she won’t be tired on the Sunday.

cricketjoys85 · 30/09/2021 15:54

@refusetobeasheep lots of dd will be sitting St Cats and LEH that weekend, your dd will be 1 of many.