Wallington Girls

[LesterKnopf]

We are thinking about Wallington High School for Girls for DD - just wondered if current parents would recommend it? DD is currently in year 4 so we have about a year to decide to register for the entrance exam. I really like the school and I'm confident DD would pass the entrance exam but would want her to put in extra effort at school over the next year to boost her chances (I don't believe tutoring is a good idea). The journey there is a bit awkward so I want to be sure it's worth it before mentioning it to DD but I don't know any current parents /ex pupils (I didn't grow up in this area).

It is a very good school though obviously a super selective grammar so interested in why you are really confident about getting in - especially as you sound out of catchment - are you?.

It is also very easy to drop marks unless you are tutored for the test and you will need many more of them OOC.

Agree with ChristopherTracy- it is super selective and not easy to get into, I don't think anybody should say that they are confident that their dd will get a place. If you are out of catchment you need to get a very high score, I know many very bright girls who have not made the cut.

You also mention that it is an awkward journey- why would you want to put your dd through that for 7 years?

My friend's v bright daughter is there. She was tutored to within an inch of her life to get in. It seems to be necessary now (v different to when I went to a grammar back in the day).

The awkward journey won't necessarily be a problem. Because of the nature of the school people travel from quite a distance for it.

It’s not a bad thing to have confidence in your daughter’s ability - why would you go down the grammar route if you didn’t think she’d get in?! I have a different experience to the ones above - independent prep, no extra tutoring, place at wallington offered.

If you’re not tutoring there’s less pressure - just turn up and see how it goes.

OP- I suggest you go to the 11 Plus Exam forum Surrey section, there is lots more information regarding Wally girls and the 11+ process on there. Have you considered Nonsuch at all? My dd is very happy there.
www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewforum.php?f=30

Good luck to you and your dd!

I think 'independent prep' is tutoring tbf - just because you are doing it yourself and not paying someone doesn't mean you aren't preparing them for the exam.

The reason people do both is that they want to give their dc the best chance possible - and yes you will probably sail 10 marks over the waitlist score but most people are committed - they dont want to just turn up and see how it goes if they aren't happy with their likely school allocation. You wouldn't turn up at a music exam or a driving test without practice would you?

No, that’s true but all this you only stand a chance if you’re tutored within an inch of your life is rubbish. They need preparation and practise which can be done at school or at home. Our prep school knows nothing about grammar prep and has no interest in finding out - they no help at all.

The OP seems to be challenged over her confidence and I don’t see that as a problem.

Does anyone here have a sense/ experience of the differences between Nonsuch and Wallington. Thanks

My daughter is currently Y12 at Wallington Girls and has been pretty happy with the school as have we. She went to a local primary school that did no prep for the entrance exam, so she was tutored for eight months (once a week 1h) before the exam. We opted for an external tutor to avoid conflict at home and my knowledge of the tests was quite limited. She was not tutored intensively, but she was well prepared. I would also recommend the mock tests that are organised by Sutton Grammar. It gave her a chance to precise sitting a timed exam in a big hall with lots of other children. Wallington Girls gives you lots of opportunities to participate and my daughter has made great friends during her time there.

DD is at WHSG in year 9, and has been happy with the school so far. We are very local, DD was not tutored but did do the mocks that the various boys grammars hold.

There are girls in her form who travel in from all directions - from the Croydon area, several local, and at least one who comes in from Hampton Court every day.

Thanks for the responses and tips about the mock exams at other schools - I didn't know they were an option.

To those questioning why I am confident she will pass the exam - well if I didn't think she stood a chance on her own merit why would I even consider the school. I don't believe in getting an external tutor because it's not sustainable throughout her time at the school. If she can't pass on her own merit /effort she won't be happy /able to cope at the school long term. We will help her at home, do practice questions etc because that is more reflective of the support she will have after she starts at the school. We will also be looking for non selective schools she could be happy at so there is not too much pressure on her at exam time.

I completely understand and respect your opinion but the line between getting in and not getting in can be so thin and lots of the girls would thrive. DD was only 10-15 points over the IC mark and she's now top five in a few subjects. On a bad day she could have easily not got in so you do need a buffer if you're not a risk taker.

@LesterKnopf

Thanks for the responses and tips about the mock exams at other schools - I didn't know they were an option.

To those questioning why I am confident she will pass the exam - well if I didn't think she stood a chance on her own merit why would I even consider the school. I don't believe in getting an external tutor because it's not sustainable throughout her time at the school. If she can't pass on her own merit /effort she won't be happy /able to cope at the school long term. We will help her at home, do practice questions etc because that is more reflective of the support she will have after she starts at the school. We will also be looking for non selective schools she could be happy at so there is not too much pressure on her at exam time.

LesterKnopf- your second message clarifies a lot and I think what you're planning is a sensible approach. We had no outside tutor either, but DH and I helped our dd's with the work at home, so did home tutoring as do many of the other parents that I know of whose dc's get places at grammar schools.

I think there is a difference between saying that you are confident that she will pass without tutoring with only extra work at school (as you said in your original post) and saying that you want her to pass and will provide help at home. From your original post I got the impression that you didn't think tutoring is a good idea, but home tutoring is tutoring too, so I thought you were just relying on the school helping her prep for the 11+, which doesn't happen unless your dd goes to a private school.

I hear this all the time that tutored children will struggle if they get in. This will be true for some, but tutoring can really help unlock a dc's potential that may not have been realised at their primary school. My oldest dd is very shy and quiet and fell completely under her teachers radar at primary, once we started working with her towards the 11+ at home it made such a difference to her confidence.

You'd be surprised how well they adjust without the need for extra support once they are in. My dds are thriving and I don't remember last time I've had to help with any school work. There will of course always be exceptions, but having 2 dc's at grammar schools I have seen first hand how the peer group has a big impact, it's cool to be clever and studious at these schools and it's contagious.

Definitely a good idea to look for a non-selective that you are in the catchment of so that you have a good plan B. We really bigged up our local comp in case dc's didn't get into the grammars. It took a lot of the pressure off.