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

[Emo76]

Continued

@fashionables I'm a parent of a DD at a GDST junior school (lurking on here to get a sense of what awaits us for 11+!)

I had been worried about teachers leaving too, but given the fact that over 70% of independent schools have already rejected the TPS, I'm not sure where all the striking teachers think they're going to get jobs elsewhere with better pension schemes. (I should say, I'm in favour of the teachers getting decent pensions, and supported the strike, but the view amongst most GDST parents I know is that the offer now on the table is a pretty good one. And my understanding is that a lot of GDST teachers have accepted it already and are back at work).

PHS have definitely been one of the most politically active schools during the strikes (with a lot of teachers on the picket line) so I totally understand your concerns. But I think the fears about there being a drain on good teachers within the Trust schools is perhaps being a bit exaggerated - as I say, in order to leave, they'd be seeking a better pension offer elsewhere and I'm not sure they're going to find it.

Does anyone know if the LU reserve list has moved yet and/or are there people still waiting on it?

Thanks @LondonMum20222 - it’s great to get a viewpoint from a current parent and that was what I was after- not that my daughter has a place yet but fingers crossed!

@Fashionables Glad it was helpful! And fingers crossed there's WL movement soon at PHS. I know the WLs are unpredictable year-on-year, but if you do get an offer, I wouldn't hesitate to take it. I have lots of friends with DDs there and it's a lovely school!

Thanks for your post re pensions @LondonMum20222. Very sensible and reassuring. Glad you still love PHS despite it all. We are sticking with it as our decision and maybe see you there.

@squirrelofsw19 We're not actually at PHS - we're at another London GDST. But the pension issue is obviously across the board. ACAS are now involved, so everyone's more optimistic for a good resolution. I have no doubt your DD will be really happy at PHS. As I say, I don't know any PHS parent who doesn't love the school. Fantastic sport, music and academics, and lovely, well-rounded girls - what more could you want! Your DD's done brilliantly to get a place - I hope she's really happy there.

@LondonMum20222 thanks so much. That’s lovely to hear. We’re off to their gala concert tonight as DD will be a music scholar. Really looking forward to it and agree it’s the grounded well-roundedness that we hope will continue to be a key feature of the school.

@Fashionables

Blimey- I see that you mean about lively…..

posts are from a number of very unionised teachers.

If I were offered the new pension terms in my current job, I’d be biting their hand off. It is extremely generous and shows just how gold plated the TPS currently is.

We’ve had messages this morning to say that Alleyns and FHSS have closed their lists now! Has anyone received an offer from the PHS waiting list? I called on Friday but they said there was no movement. We’ve accepted another offer but wondering if they ever got as far as WL at Putney!

@Cinnybuns, I had the same message from FHSS (even though I had previously told them we no longer wanted to be on the WL) and also NHEHS. No news from PHS.

I accepted DD's St Benedict's offer last week and she is looking forward to going there.

What does closing their lists mean?

They have filled up all their places and will only have a place available now if someone drops out.

So I have an unhappy DD. We told her over the weekend that we would accept KGS and turn down Claremont. Cue tears and anger. I know its the right thing to do - distance alone swings it let alone all the rest, but so hard to see her face crumble. Am hoping chatting with her firends at school today will bring some persepctive. This is hard!!!

Congrats @SophyRivenhall so nice to have décision made!

Thanks @Cinnybuns. Have you accepted the offer which you held?

We have, but we’re going to keep DD on the list in case there is any movement. This has definitely been the worst bit of the whole 11+ process!!

Happy to hear of decisions being made, and options being kept open - someone told me there can be movement right up to the start of the school year, I am not sure my sanity could have taken that though but I really really feel for those still waiting.

@Cinnybuns, worst for the parents but the girls will probably say the whole rigmarole of exams and interviews was far worse!

Did anyone else here of more WL movement yesterday? We luckily weren't waiting for anything but I was surprised how little movement there seems to have been from hearsay. I heard a few places opened from the SPGS / G&L waiting lists, maybe a few at Emanuel and FHSS? But not many at all clearly. Would be interesting to hear from candidates for the next years.

Curiously, looking at state school application statistics in our borough, some popular schools saw a 10% drop in applications, I found that quite surprising.

@swgeek when I asked PHS at the end of last week whether the pension issue had affected their acceptance rate they said they were close to full even on Friday. I heard from a colleague with a DD at a SW London prep that their Head had said PHS had even more girls than usual transferring up from Junior school so perhaps fewer external offers than most years. She also mentioned that LEH had a bumper application year. So maybe more people going down independent route post pandemic but I realise I am jumping to a conclusion based on few data. I agree though WL movement seems very quiet this year compared to previous.

Compare to the last time I did this, there does seem to be substantially less waiting list movement. That year, the WHS waiting list moved a lot, PHS didn’t really, I didn’t hear of any SPGS offers from the waiting list, but there was a scattering of other ones moving (Sutton and KGS, from memory). But I’m at a primary so this is all about people who posted on MN, it’s not something that’s talked about at school. I’m sure someone with a dd at a prep would have a better overview.

The deadline for responding on state places is 14 March, so I think there might be some movement after that, as people who have paid a deposit to have time to think about an unexpected Tiffin offer potentially take up that offer and free up a place.

We haven’t been through this before but I have to say we were anticipating a bit more WL movement - eg around the time of the state school offers (not just us but DD’s classmates who were/are waiting too). I do know someone who got an offer from Emanuel’s list and one to FHSS. I think JAGS might have moved but that is total friend-of-friend hearsay! Maybe the schools called it right or maybe people are paying more than one deposit (?) Has LEH or G&L gone to waiting list?

I agree. I’d expected the WLs to move more by this stage. Know people still waiting for Ibstock, Radnor, LEH and Tiffin Girls. LU added people to their WL. It’s all a bit confusing.

@Cinnybuns I have heard of a few WL spaces opening up at LU and G&L over the last days but very small numbers it seems. Definitely expected more movement.