Late entry SE London Independents?

[SE22schoolpuzzle]

For complicated reasons we are wondering about whether we should try and find a place for our DD at an independent secondary, having missed all the application processes for year 7. We are in SE London. Is there any point even approaching schools at this point? Do places come up during year 7 or even at the start of yr8? She does have a good state secondary school to go to, so it’s not a crisis if we have to wait a bit.

DD is pretty academic. We did some tutoring earlier in the year in case we wanted to apply for private schools and it looked as if she had a realistic chance for jags or Alleyn’s, but at the time we decided against it. She’s quite musical, obsessed with reading, loves languages, totally uninterested by sport. Are there any independents in proximity to SE London it would be worth approaching now?

@WombatChocolate , the GDST dispute is over with current teachers allowed to stay, see other thread.

@WombatChocolate

I think you’d get interest from GDST schools. As others say, lots are not very over subscribed, especially as you go out of London.

Bear in mind the GDST is in an industrial dispute about leaving the teacher pension scheme. There are a number of strikes and also teachers leaving to go to other independent schools which aren’t leaving the pension.

@WombatChocolate This has been resolved now. No further strikes planned.

www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/private-school-pension-deal-ends-strike

Even schools which are very oversubscribed have occasional places in year 8 and 9. People leave for whatever reason - international parents who move, not coping academically, haven't made friends - in my experience in year admissions are also a lot less competitive - bums on seats are needed for the fees. You'll probably need to keep contacting them.

Sweetnhappy, thanks for pointing that out. I hadn’t seen the update.

Just had a read on a couple of sites. Yes, the industrial action is sorted, but Teacher Pension not offered to new staff joining from Sept 2022. It will be a relief for existing teachers but will make it harder for GDST to recruit top teachers. Those looking for new jobs will always choose one with the teacher pension scheme if they can have it.

@Toastfiendish

Even schools which are very oversubscribed have occasional places in year 8 and 9. People leave for whatever reason - international parents who move, not coping academically, haven't made friends - in my experience in year admissions are also a lot less competitive - bums on seats are needed for the fees. You'll probably need to keep contacting them.

Depends on the school. Some have many children on the chance vacancy list so you could have >10 children applying for a single place.

am intrigued - do you have a state school place for Y7 that you don't like?

Colfes/Farringtons/Dunstans/Blackheath High/Cobham Hall might have spots - but it's down to luck?

Not many girls schools have an offiical Y9 entry (Alleyns don't and the JAGs exam is a pretest already completed I think and think Eltham College is phasing out 13+) so you're on an occasional places entry which is going to be super competitive.

What did you end up doing with your DD, @SE22schoolpuzzle ? Thank you @ChnandlerBong for the info above about some schools not having any13+ entry points

Op under a new name. We stuck with the state place in the end and it’s early days, but so far are happy we did. I didn’t say in OP, but we were worried that recently diagnosed ASD meant a large comprehensive would be a tough environment for her and a psychologist we saw seemed to think she would suit smaller classes and a less over-stimulating environment. In fact, she seems to be really enjoying it, loves all the new lessons and clubs and has settled with some friends. We’ll see how it goes.

That’s good news OP!! Sometimes the big schools are so large that they’re properly zoned and sectioned off and it can be easier to find your tribe there. A friend has a child there with an SEN (not the same as your daughter’s alas) but she has been impressed with the support. Some independent schools are not good at all in supporting non-NT kids and don’t even make any effort to hide it. Glad she’s loving it.