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?

Yes, dd was at Surbiton today. She said she finished the maths. The FAQs said it wasn’t meant to be finished, so now I’m worried she missed half the questions. She liked the Kitkat and Ribena, that was the best snack so far, apparently!

Ah, the snacks may well decide the school!!

DD did SHS today. She finished the maths but wasn't sure her English paper response to the story prompt was any good.

Our DD sat too. We weren’t going to but decided to do it as a backup as our prep head has told us that Surbiton basically tend to offer to everyone, unless they absolutely bomb - it’s a banker - so I wouldn’t worry too much! At our prep everyone had offers there for past three years. DD prefers another school, but we don’t want all our eggs in one basket! Mind you it is a bit different with interviews this year. I am sure almost all girls will be shortlisted for interview - will be interested to see what happens, though

Due to get WHS stage 1 results some time this week. Does anyone from last year know if they email or send a letter? Or perhaps it was mentioned at an open day?

@HighRopes last year WHS used the ISEB so there weren’t multiple stages. We found out in January if they’d got through to interview or not that was all

@HighRopes WHS said they will send the results ON Friday 3rd (not by), so I wouldn't frantically check emails all week (although I am of course doing just that ;-) ). I am expecting an email on Friday (just as DD sits Emanuel).

So far which schools have sent out result for first stage?

Thanks, sanam. I will stand down the email checking .

We’ve not had any results here, apart from stage 1 Tiffin, Meimng.

@HighRopes last year the WHS shortlist for the group tasks came through by email . Group tasks were online last year because of COVID but not sure what will be the change if it is in person this year.
Went through the stress last year (DD in WHS now ) and all the very best for all the results . Nail biting weeks !

@Trialsat11 how do you find WHS? Is DD settling in great? Thanks so much for coming back to this thread and showing your support!!

@HighRopes 3 more days

@Meimng she loves it . There is ample time given in for settling in and there are lot of activities . Lot of emphasis is placed on girls being independent and teachers are quite accessible . You can always message me incase you need any more specific info

@Trialsat11 Thanks for your kindness. I will if DD gets through the first stage now let me keep my fingers crossed

We got a "no" from WHS via letter today, really disappointing. She has a high CAT score and thought it went really well, came out happy and all. I haven't told DD yet. Not a great start!

Oh swgeek, I’m sorry. I think that format at WHS is very tricky, with just the VR and NVR. We got an email from them rather than a letter, oddly.

We got a no too! I haven't told DD as I think it's best for her to focus on others at this stage.

I have heard in recent years WHS has surprised many, with teachers unable to predict who would pass and who would not any more.

My older dd got SPGS offer, but WHS waitlist a few years ago - so yes, it does throw up surprises.

So sorry to hear about the early no’s. Did either of you apply to PHS? DD is in y7 and really enjoying it. It’s a fab choice for sporty, academic girls.. don’t be fooled by the small site!

Sorry to those who have got No from WHS. Got a yes from WHS by email today, which quite frankly surprised me. DD didn’t do well at all in the Wandsworth test, although she is pretty strong in VR/NVR (from the few bond book we did). Her explanation was that because the W test was in the classroom and they were told it didn’t matter, she didn’t really try.
Applied to WHS as a bit of an aspirational thing, so really I am quite surprised. Like everyone says, it is so hard to pre-judge and really entirely depends on the day they are having.
Good luck to everyone and I’m sure they’ll all end up in the school that is right for them!

@swgeek @Meimng we've got a 'no' as well by letter - exactly the same, she came out very happy and said it went well! We thought she'd make the interviews...
This doesn't bode well for ISEB, SPGS, PHS which she has done so far. She had exactly the same feedback on all the exams! I just dont know how to tell her. She's got LEH and LU left and I'm genuinely worried.

@LAgirl I disagree. WHS always throws up some odd results. DD has v high CAT scores and didn't get in. She's been predicted very high GCSEs in all subjects. She got an academic scholarship elsewhere and is very happy. There are so many good schools around here it really doesn't matter where they go in the end. At the time it all feels so important but in the longer-term it all settles down. I agree with not mentioning the result yet if you can hold off. Although other girls hear in the school and then you are forced! Good luck to you all. x

@LAgirl please try not to worry. The PHS exam is English and Maths based (at least it has been traditionally) and not overly academic as they are looking for good all rounders who will throw themselves into lots of things.

The ISEB is particularly weird and threw up some really odd results last year. Again English and maths feature and its as much about keeping calm under pressure and as getting right answers.

I wonder if the schools are being stricter with their first round selections to make the second round easier during the pandemic?

@HermioneHere @Stircrazyschoolmum thanks both for your kind words. I'll take comfort in the fact that WHS results are just odd sometimes. DD is actually quite academic and had quite high CAT scores, that's why we're surprised about the early no from WHS. What's done is done. I'm not going to tell her and she can focus on the ones she has left! . Trying not to pass on the stress

LAgirl - fingers crossed for Tuesday, then, but I do think WHS is an odd one and it’ll probably just be an anomaly for your dd. Did she do Tiffin? When my older dd did 11+, getting through stage 1 Tiffin was a much better indicator than stage 1 WHS.