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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023

994 replies

EmotiveBubblez · 28/09/2022 07:18

i myself have been looking for this thread and have been unsuccessful. Saw a couple people mention it over the past day or so on the 2022 one.

so here we go, albeit a bit late.

has everyone visited all the schools on their lists?

how many schools are everyone applying to?

what schools are you applying to?

how is the preparation going?

i know some exams have taken place, how did they go?

wishing all the whirls good luck with preparation and exams, hope we all find the right schools for our daughters.

OP posts:
Daydreamscometrue · 08/12/2022 20:29

@secondaryquandries or a Christmas jumper 😂. One exam next week for us and then another in January.

secondaryquandries · 08/12/2022 23:13

Grin We're all nearly there thank goodness!

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 08:19

Just back from drop off at Ibstock - very well organised, still quite large numbers (though noticeably less than in Round 1).

Daydreamscometrue · 09/12/2022 09:00

@QuiteAJourney just dropped DS. I thought there were far less. Maybe we just early. Wonder how many in reality.

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 09:07

@Daydreamscometrue I got that impression too, but difficult to tell as they drop off is on foot (which we were doing) but also drive through. Not sure how many sittings either - at least 3, I think.
From another threat, it seems that there were 900 applications. I would not be surprised if they have cut by some half or maybe even more. They have some 80 places, I think.

Daydreamscometrue · 09/12/2022 09:18

@QuiteAJourney considering there is no interview after this point it would have made sense to reduce the numbers I guess.

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 09:28

@Daydreamscometrue they have definitely cut down numbers (we know some kids that did not progress to Stage 2), question is how much and how many offers they will make in what is turning out to be quite a strange year.

Looking at past years, acceptance to offers ratio has been around 1/3 or lower for some of the indie preps in the area.. but clearly this year is different and I do not know how that reads across the board and how Ibstock's increased popularity might play into it.

Daydreamscometrue · 09/12/2022 09:35

@QuiteAJourney It's becoming impossible to predict. February will be a long wait.

Geville · 09/12/2022 09:45

I still can’t work out why people are applying to more than they did a few years ago.

It feels like bigger numbers this year but KGS person said last year was 1050, year before was 950, this year just over 1000 so why the move to applying to more for all of us I wonder?

Are we all applying to nearly all the same schools? I hope it means that they all go deep into their waiting lists 🤞 (as my DC is bound to end up on one).

Perhaps there’s a perception of more children but it’s almost the same if not the same?

Wlondonmum2022 · 09/12/2022 09:47

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 09:28

@Daydreamscometrue they have definitely cut down numbers (we know some kids that did not progress to Stage 2), question is how much and how many offers they will make in what is turning out to be quite a strange year.

Looking at past years, acceptance to offers ratio has been around 1/3 or lower for some of the indie preps in the area.. but clearly this year is different and I do not know how that reads across the board and how Ibstock's increased popularity might play into it.

We only had about half of the kids who applied at our indie prep make it to the second round. Very curious how many are sitting the exam today.

EweCee · 09/12/2022 10:46

Geville · 09/12/2022 09:45

I still can’t work out why people are applying to more than they did a few years ago.

It feels like bigger numbers this year but KGS person said last year was 1050, year before was 950, this year just over 1000 so why the move to applying to more for all of us I wonder?

Are we all applying to nearly all the same schools? I hope it means that they all go deep into their waiting lists 🤞 (as my DC is bound to end up on one).

Perhaps there’s a perception of more children but it’s almost the same if not the same?

Everyone from our prep has applied for at least 5 (!) and they are all the same schools.

SunnyT5 · 09/12/2022 10:46

DC at 2nd round Ibstock this morning - ah hope it goes well! Anyone have an ideas of how many there and how many get through? Hope everyone ok!!

SunnyT5 · 09/12/2022 10:49

YES many DC's seem to to be going for about 5 or 6 (some 8 or 9!!!) schools although Id say at our indie prep school theres also a good mix of different schools too

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 11:18

Most kids at our indie applying to 5-6 (some to more but not doing more exams, just using ISEB for more than one school). Some very popular ones - KGS, Emanuel, Ibstock, WHS, PHS, Kings, Whitgift, Hampton... but quite a few others (probably 15-20 or so) in the mix.

@SunnyT5 some thoughts on Ibstock R2 in the discussion above in this thread... but I think it is fair to say that we are all guessing. Having picked up DD now, I think definitely over 100 kids there

Workhar · 09/12/2022 12:30

How did the Ibstock exam go? My dd couldn’t finish the English or Maths paper. She says it was lengthy and exhausting.

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 12:35

@Workhar DD did not finish maths (she said that she left a couple of the short ones out to focus on finishing the ones with more points!) but she finished the English (though found it quite intense!)

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 12:35

Offers from Sutton High are out

LondonMum20222 · 09/12/2022 12:43

Geville · 09/12/2022 09:45

I still can’t work out why people are applying to more than they did a few years ago.

It feels like bigger numbers this year but KGS person said last year was 1050, year before was 950, this year just over 1000 so why the move to applying to more for all of us I wonder?

Are we all applying to nearly all the same schools? I hope it means that they all go deep into their waiting lists 🤞 (as my DC is bound to end up on one).

Perhaps there’s a perception of more children but it’s almost the same if not the same?

We're not sitting 11+ until next year, but I've been really struck by how many of DD's friends sitting this year - from various London preps - have all been told to add another back-up or two to their list. So, whereas a few years ago, a girl who was aiming for SPGS / G&L / LU might have had PHS as a back-up, now they're being told they need additional back-ups, and are adding one or two more schools to the list. As far as I know, most Heads still say 4 schools is ideal, but then tell you to add an extra back-up or two!

I wonder whether schools like Emanuel and Ibstock are getting caught in the midst of all this. Not only have they become much more popular as target and aspirational schools for many, I wonder if they're also being added to the list by parents being told to add another school or two - so they're swamped by people from all angles. Just a thought...

LondonMum20222 · 09/12/2022 13:10

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 12:35

Offers from Sutton High are out

I have to say, I'm quite exhausted watching your journey (and thinking ahead to next year). An 8am exam in the morning and offer letters for another school before lunchtime - both parents and kids need to be made of strong stuff to get through it all! I hope it was good news.

NellyCortado · 09/12/2022 13:22

Hope Ibstock Stage 2 went well for everyone. DS was at 8am, so a very cold and early start! I didn't get much feedback other than there were 5/6 sections to the English paper and some of the Maths was "very hard". Oh well, let's see.

We have a long-ish break now until early January. Thankful for the break, as we are all shattered but not sure how to build motivation again. DS seems quite "over it" to be honest, as it has been a long stretch already.

Hopefully no exams this weekend and you all have a restful weekend.

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 13:27

@LondonMum20222 you are so kind! DD has taken all in her stride and we are just supporting her to the best of our abilities.
All very good so far - we got an offer from Sutton High (and had one from Woldingham last week).
2 other schools also fully done (all stages) so now just waiting for results. And just interviews and group assessments in January (2 already firmed up, more follow) as all exams mercifully done!

Daydreamscometrue · 09/12/2022 13:32

DS said he enjoyed the English. Maths was difficult and he had to guess a couple.

LondonMum20222 · 09/12/2022 13:32

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 13:27

@LondonMum20222 you are so kind! DD has taken all in her stride and we are just supporting her to the best of our abilities.
All very good so far - we got an offer from Sutton High (and had one from Woldingham last week).
2 other schools also fully done (all stages) so now just waiting for results. And just interviews and group assessments in January (2 already firmed up, more follow) as all exams mercifully done!

Huge congrats! To have two offers in the bag before Xmas is wonderful. Well done to your DD (and to you - it sounds like you've steered her through it brilliantly). Hopefully you can all have a rest over Xmas knowing that she has two great offers already, and anything else is a bonus!

NellyCortado · 09/12/2022 13:34

@QuiteAJourney fantastic news! Huge well done to your DD!

QuiteAJourney · 09/12/2022 13:39

@NellyCortado @LondonMum20222 Many thanks!

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