School search for 11+ / Geographically open

[Ahmedmadeha]

Arrived in UK during the lockdown. We are unable to visit schools. Our son (Feb 2011, 10 yrs) has been with IB system in Singapore. In my hunt for good IB school with holistic approach, I have come across KCS Wimbledon. As I understand it is exceptionally competitive. I still want to give it a shot for 11+, am I out of my mind?

Our choices are v limited between ASL (St. John’s Wood) and ACS otherwise. Is it really silly to aim for KCS, Wellington College when your child hasn’t come from the rigorous prep. He had great experience across 4 countries, have been lucky to land at best Intl schools there with excellent academic/holistic approach.

Unsure if you are wedded to London, but you do realise don't you that state schools and colleges also offer IB? I don't know London any more but even in my own county of Cornwall, Truro College offers it alongside A levels, and students do very well indeed.

Thanks. I wasn’t aware of it. Let me research

We do however prefer London to remain accessible with possible job prospects for myself

Forgive my possible ignorance, but I thought the IB was at A-level level?
So surely it doesn't matter where he goes up to GCSEs, and then if you are still wedded to IB he could move for 6th form?

Thanks for your response. That was a lot of new terminology but I have now understood. Yes, that’s correct. However, some schools take the inquiry based approach in learning from the younger years vs a defined curriculum (like conventional UK curriculum). So I am hoping to find a school which has the holistic approach, inquiry based learning etc

I know for sure Whitgift has IB, since you are a bit worried about getting into KCS. It's in that direction (SW) with lots of transport links.

You will usually have to apply by the summer. The tests will depend on Covid I suppose. Before , exams for 11+ were written in January, but some schools were doing ISEB around October during lockdown.

If you are considering boarding schools like Wellington etc., then he would still have to sit ISEB this year too even though the application is for 2024.

I should think a great school international school in Singapore will meet the standards.

You say you moved here already, are you in a prep currently? Your Head should point you in the right direction.

Also look at Halcyon in Mayfair and Southbank International. Both IB only schools. International feel in both. Good luck.

Really appreciate your feedback. Does it mean that iSEB is required on TOP of entrance exam by the school itself like KCS?

Thanks so much. Am checking these out

OP
Regarding ISEB for 11+, I was not referring to a specific school, just what took place in 2020 in general due to Covid. So I am not sure what KCS (or even Whitgift) did during lockdown. But the ISEB tests for those schools who asked for it, replaced the normal entry test. So DC wrote ISEB and got invited to interviews, got accepted and that is the end of it.

For the boarding schools at 13+ , ISEB is the normal way to sit exams and then you get invited for an interview (each school does things differently, but that is the general norm). It's 13+. but it is sat at 11yrs old in year6. After you get a firm offer, you then come back for a test in year8. for setting purposes.

Lots of schools do IB at A levels or you can change at 6th form. Most of the academic selective schools in London have a pretty wide curriculum and are not teaching solely to pass exams. Lots of 'inquiry based' learning etc.
I don't think KCS Wimbledon has an approach that is more holistic than anywhere else so I'd look at other schools as well.
Where will you be living and would your prefer singles sex or Co-Ed? Where is your son now?

Have you checked out the IB schools website? Very few UK schools follow it at Primary or Middle Years but a number , mainly private, do the diploma during sixth form, years 12 and 13. However if you plan to stay in UK long term it may be worth not narrowing down choices on that basis alone. He could always move for sixth form. What school is in currently?

Wellington is 13+ entry rather than 11+(year 7). Are you looking at day/boarding?

List of IB schools in UK
www.ibo.org/programmes/find-an-ib-school/?SearchFields.Region=&SearchFields.Country=GB&SearchFields.Keywords=&SearchFields.Language=&SearchFields.BoardingFacilities=&SearchFields.SchoolGender=

KCS is only IB in 6th form and then it's an option so your ds may choose A levels instead. KCS normally have their own entrance exam, I'm not sure what they did in Jan 2021.
Have you looked at Sevenoaks? You can live in London as your ds can travel out on the train.

KCS went for Iseb during this last covid year. However those boys who got through to interview also had to sit a creative writing test (since that aspect isn’t tested on the Iseb, obvs). It’s unclear what they will do for next academic year. I think they felt the Iseb worked well, but that they also like setting their own tests. In a way, that’s what they did this last year.

Dwight school in North London follows IB from primary all the way to a-level and has lots of international families. Might be worth a look.

Are you fixed on choosing an IB school? There's a huge range of schools in and near London but most aren't IB as that's not the "standard" curriculum. You'll have far more choice if you would also consider schools which do A Levels.

Haileybury in Hertfordshire offers both IB and A-levels and is co-Ed. They have a wide range of bus routes for day students covering north London and popular commuter towns like St Albans. They also have a few buses for central London for weekly boarders.

It is a very child focussed place - individualised curriculum etc. Excellent results and every child I know there is ridiculously happy. So much extra curricular stuff going on due to the boarding element and has a decent number of international students - even if your son is a day pupil they will be sensitive to the differences in culture etc he may experience due to the relocation.

Have you checked any gaps in his knowledge - if he's already been to four primaries he is likely to have some and a competitive 11+ would probably not be suitable.

@Ahmedmadeha

Arrived in UK during the lockdown. We are unable to visit schools. Our son (Feb 2011, 10 yrs) has been with IB system in Singapore. In my hunt for good IB school with holistic approach, I have come across KCS Wimbledon. As I understand it is exceptionally competitive. I still want to give it a shot for 11+, am I out of my mind?

Our choices are v limited between ASL (St. John’s Wood) and ACS otherwise. Is it really silly to aim for KCS, Wellington College when your child hasn’t come from the rigorous prep. He had great experience across 4 countries, have been lucky to land at best Intl schools there with excellent academic/holistic approach.

Have you considered Sevenoaks School?