Alleyns 11+ 2021

[89fomveg]

Hi, I just wondered if anyone knows how many kids got through the first stage of the Alleyns assessment process this year? Any idea of the number who applied and the number passing through after the ISEB exam?

I also wondered if anyone knew if Alleyns is running their 11+assessment/ selection differently now that they have a new Head (Jane Lunnen)? My DC is applying next year so am trying to find out more info now if possible.

They are sticking with the ISEB pre test and then depending on how kids do in they, they get invited back to sit the english and maths written papers ('no idea how many do ISEB pre test vs papers). Interviews are final stage

Normally its around 800-900 who register for the 11+ process. Around 250 make it to interview stage for 150 places (including 48 guaranteed for junior school students). I'm not sure how many drop out at the ISEB stage but you can ring the registrar to ask. They are very open about the process and numbers involved.

@schiffman do you have children there? Is there any more detail you can give please?

Just to add further questions @schiffman - I note that you say that parents are unhappy due to the new head but also that no real change has come from the change of head. Does this mean that the concerns you allude to were there before Jane Lunnon was head - eg when Gary Savage was in post?

What are the concerns that parents have with the new head please?

How do you feel it differs from other academically selective schools in the area? All of them select based on performance in testing and interview so I would imagine that the idea that their results are influenced massively by the kids they take is fair, but just trying to understand how it differs at Alleyn's please?

If you have any further detail it would be really helpful.

@northerngoldilocks Alleyn's modelled themselves on the liberal side, like SPGS
we have family there
some people will say it is too relaxed and lacking structure, other will say it has a soft touch and is nurturing, giving time to the children to find themselves...
lots of things are optional there which are mandatory elsewhere like clubs, fixtures, very little pressure in the first few years at least, so it suits very bright but also very driven children who know what they want and will go and get it
I also know that there is less grade reporting than in other schools i.e. less often and less detailed which reinforces the relaxed feel.

I think it depends what type of school you want and what type of child is yours.

Thanks @Iamsodone that's interesting about the culture and can see that there are differences in that respect. Appreciate you taking the time to add input.

I'm really more interested about the points raised above by the other poster re parents being unhappy and whether there are specific concerns I should know about?

So true @Schiffman, not to go by league table but to understand the real culture and underlying values of a school. But it is sooo hard to always go by that. The so called top league schools give us that extra recognition that our DCs are smart and talented. Visiting a school might give you some idea, but I always see that same as how before an "arranged marriage" a couple only gets few hours to understand each other and make a decision that will affect their entire life.

just popping in here to provide a different view - have a dd there at the mo and am willing to post my opinion - despite the statement above that no one will their kid is there?!

Am not aware of general unhappiness amongst parents and don't know of anyone leaving due to new head? dd does have friends who are moving for 6th form but that's because they're trading up (Westminster et al) or going state.

new head does indeed send weekly flowery emails. and am not aware of any real shift under her leadership. But on the other hand am not aware of anything that needed addressing either? We are v happy. DD v happy. DD is bright and motivated but there is a full range of kids there - by no means are they all geniuses.

It is v liberal and lovey. And fairly relaxed IMO. The teaching is not always A1 but has improved as she has travelled up the school. (have a ds at the boys school as my benchmark ...)

As for the Me too thing - the new head has been less than impressive. She has wanted to appear very right on and has written lots in the press. But on the other hand am not aware of any sexism/bias that dd or her friends have suffered. The whole movement seems to have empowered them and Alleyns has sponsored that. They are all confident and sassy teenagers.

Agree entirely that school decision should not be based on league tables but on whether the culture seems to fit your family. If we made the decision again we would still 100% want Alleyns for dd.

On the 11+ - if you get through to interview it seems like you just need to prove you want to go and that you're an all rounder and you're in? You've already jumped the academic hurdle - they are then looking for someone who'll join in and get the most from the place.

Thanks for the reply @Schiffman. It is a difficult decision as if you don't have children already at the school you can only go by what you see on the open day.

We went to DC and Alleyn's open days and DC did address the whole sexual assault / consent, 'Me Too' issues head on whereas Alleyn's didn't mention it at all. DC at least were very clear about how they were tackling it and what they saw as the right approach.

I note the point about grammar schools but for anyone living near the Dulwich Schools the grammars are just slightly too far away really and would result in a long commute. The choice locally is really the state academies (which are obviously well regarded and a good choice) or the independents. I think though that in terms of numbers the 'big fish / small fish' thing is similar state and private as the local secondary has around 160 in each year group.

@ChnandlerBong i think that you mentioned comparing it to the boys school - in your experience is the lower school teaching stronger at the boys school?

It is a school that has very talented and academic children and I would say it suits a child that fits that, and feels confident in their abilities to a certain extent, as otherwise it is pretty big and many dc who stand out.

I would recommend it but it has to suit the dc

The new Head seems good but I can’t compare the previous one.

Personally it suits us better than other schools but that’s because it’s a good fit

I’m just going to say again. I am a current parent and do not recognise the school @Schiffmanis talking about.

No one in my dd’s year has been managed out. Not the dyslexic kids, not the anorexic kids and not the Trans kids. It’s a very diverse school in many ways.

I do not know anyone who’s leaving at 16 due to dissatisfaction with the teaching and no kids at all gave left her tear between 11 and 16.

I have always given open opinions on here. The idea that the current parent group can’t because staff monitor the site is just wrong.

I don’t feel my daughter would have had a better experience anywhere else. She’s musical and sporty and has made the most of what the school has to offer.

While the school may not have mentioned Me Too on an open day, they have been working hard internally and the kids feel empowered.

I do think the standard of teachers is much higher at DC- which feels more like a university in comparison. My ds has been treated as an adult by his teachers fir much of his 7 years there. The liberal studies and off curriculum studies at DC are fab. BUT Alleyns has improved during the journey up the school and we have no hesitation in staying there.

Like lots of selective schools, they get good results because they are selective. But there really is far more to education than exam results and league tables, and for us Alleyns has been an excellent all round choice.

I don’t recognise it either Chnandler but we are new so I’m glad to hear re later on it’s the same

With any school there’s a chance another could have been a better fit for an individual child but I don’t see the dissatisfaction below

The opposite pretty much

Can someone also comment on the diversity at Alleyn's? I know the school is trying to improve the BAME numbers, but does it have much real impact apart from making its brochure and website looks more inclusive?

Aren't these the issue with majority super selectives? Majority very bright children, so kids who cannot keep up feel left out? Not sure if maths etc has SETs in the school by ability as that helps to be with kids of similar level and taught by teachers who are aware of the level. I must say very good top of the league grammar schools are not good either and in many ways worse as pastoral care in many cases just do not exist. So many girls leave from our local super selective grammar as they cannot keep up, feel inferior even though they are actually very bright. Yes parents are not paying for the school, but many then switch to independent where they feel much better and their concerns are properly addressed. Lack of funding, staffing issues are making grammars worse by day.

@Schiffman we will have to disagree. I don’t know when your daughter left but this is not the school we see. You make them sound like a sinister organisation when in fact they are a selective independent school with all the pros and cons that implies. There are kids with autism, dyslexia and a range of mental health issues including anorexia in her year. They are not being managed out- they are being supported and allowed to drop subjects.

Am really sorry your dad had a tough time but her world is university now- not the school that she used to attend.

@MrsLavBerry it’s not as diverse as Jags or DC IMO but they claim there is a renewed focus to resolve this. The Asian community is probably better represented than the black community. The LGBTQ community is well represented and supported in the school. HTh

I have no experience with Alleyns. I understand if it is a fee paying school parents should expect better communication and pastoral care. My son is in a top of the league grammar. He is now in final yearA level. Started from year 7. I have not paid much for his school fees apart from odd donations but I can say if child do not fit in just not paying fees do not make parents feel any better. One of my son’s very good friend ended his life sadly. Had massive impact on my son. School could not see it coming. Poor child was withdrawn and in few instances bullied. Few top academic boys behaves like they are from Mars. There is no separate pastoral department. Teaching quality bit of hit and miss. But because majority kids are bright they always do very good academically. But there is so much more than academics.
I think keeping up regular conversation with kids is very very important to understand their feeling. If parents feel any thing odd they need to shout out loud enough. Fee paying school here helps as parents are paying and so can demand an answer. We do so much to make sure our kids perform well in 11 plus and get into good school. Sadly our work do not end there. We need to be really vigilant and make sure all our kids concerns see the daylight.

It does depend on the dc

I have dc at another school in the area and they are very happy there and wouldn’t suit it

On flip side dc at Alleyn’s is better there than DC (although haven’t experienced it, just going on character)