So worrying about my daughters 11+ results - JAGS, Croydon/Blackheath High

[Londin1985]

My daughter is bright, academic child. She is in outstanding state school. She was always in top 3 in her class. We wanted her to attended single sex school so we applied few schools near us. Which includes, Blackheath High, Croydon High and JAGS. We really don’t care if she be in academic or non-academic school - we just want her to be happy, we don’t want so much pressure. looking for somewhere that she can focus her studies with no bullying, nurturing warm environment. So we Are happy with all these schools. We visited all of them and liked them all. She attended almost 2 weeks ago Blackheath High schools 11+ exam - she was so confident and ready but when she came out from the test she told me that the test didn’t go well- the questions were hard! I was shocked. She said she couldn’t even finish the Maths and English test. Meanwhile I waited in the car when she was in exam and I saw losts of kids who attended to the exam and I was told that the school has Junior school and about %60-%65 of junior students going to come there. They will have 4 groups of year 7 and there will be 20 girls in class so that means… My daughter needs to be about in top 30 at least:( okay they will waiting lists ets but the top 60? - I still feel the competition is high. I dont know exactly but there were more than 300 girls for sure.
I can not imagine JAGS exam right now.
Do you think my daughter still has a chance?
We are so sad that we didn’t apply any coed school just in case:(((

i am afraid that I am not familiar with the schools you mention (beyond knowing that JAGS is very competitive) or their admissions process.
On the weather she has a chance without finishing the exams, it depends on how much she left out and her performance in what she completed... but it cannot be ruled out. My DD has now gone through her 11+ exams in SW London and it is fair to say that most of the exams are designed to be challenging and, in many cases, kids that eventually get an offer do not finish them. The exam is usually pitched in such a way that only truly outstanding students (those aiming for academic scholarships) fully and accurately complete them. So far, she has gone through to the last stage of a number of schools, including ones where she had not finished the tests.

Don't forget that like you most girls will be sitting more than one exam. For many, another school may be their first choice.

I know somebody who couldn’t get offer from Bromley and Blackheath High but its depends how many pupil will join them straight away from their junior school. Don’t stress yourself and your daughter! If your daughter doesn’t get offer from that school that means thats not right place for her. I wish you the best!

Many non-academic co-ed schools will take children at 12+, so there is always a plan B. Did your dd get tutored for the exam? There will have been a handful of questions that they wouldn't have covered yet in school, as questions are taken from the whole year 6 syllabus, even though the test is taken before end of first semester. Usually these tests contain some basic Algebra equations that would have been unlikely been covered in school yet, and the mental maths requirements in order to finish are seriously fast. So many children will have made mistakes/ran out of time, but a coached/tutored child would probably get 2 or 3 more questions right than a non- tutored.

your daughter sounds like a great candidate, they will be lucky to have her. I think you should wait for the results, for the level of your daughter based on your description, all these should be realistic options. Also, don't forget that some of the high achievers at these schools (particularly croydon / blackheath high) might "upgrade" to more selective schools at 11+. Blackheath might lose some to City or the grammar schools. So it's not always 40 who go up ,there will be additional places. You should not panic, trust your daughter and wait till February. There are always further actions one can take if you still need a place later on, but it might well be that you are worrying unnecessarily.

Just don’t worry and wait. There is nothing you can do right now. Hopefully she will be okay. As I know GDST schools usually ask 50 questions each in Maths, English and VR. Its a lot for 11 years olds to do in 1 day. And its so normal for a child to not be able to finish it on the time. Lets hope the other candidates also didnt able to complete all questions:)

JAGS, Croydon and Blackheath are in very different locations. What would her journey to any of those from where you live look like in peak morning rush hour, and how will the distance and travel impact on friendships/out of school socialising, when she's older and wants to meet up with her friends at weekends and in the holidays?

Thanks for your replies. I feel more relaxed now! We will wait and see🙏🏻

@Zosime I know, we live in Catford - because my daughter wants to go to single sex school we need to travel little bit far. First she will probably travel by school coach and if she wants to meet her friends I can drive her. Actually St Dunstan’s College is so close to us but she visited and she didn’t like it. We are also not happy to live in this area so if she has offer from one of these school we are planing to move as well.

I forgot to mention above we also applied to Sydenham high school -

Are you in catchment for Prendergast Hilly fields ?

We really don’t care if she be in academic or non-academic school - we just want her to be happy, we don’t want so much pressure.

So, have you applied to non-academic schools? GDST schools aren't non-academic, and Jags is one of the most academic elite schools in the country.
None of these schools may be suitable or your DD had an off day, or she did a lot better than she thought and proceeds to next stage.
It’s not hopeless by any means, but I suggest you wait till you have offers and declines before worrying and have a solid plan for every eventuality.

Sydenham High she should definitely get in, it seems like you have a really good spread of schools. Please keep us updated what happens in February but I wish your daughter the best of luck!

@swgeek Yes Sydenham High is close to us right now. I will be so happy if she gets offer from others as well because we are ready to move. Thank you so much for your support!

Wishing your daughter all the best. Like previous posters have said don’t worry now, wait for the results. We all have off days and the truth is we are not always the best judge of how we’ve done in exams. I have 2 DDs who have gone through this and DS.
My DDs did both CHS & JAGS, ended up in JAGS, one came out of the CHS exam feeling meh…
Also to re-iterate that the exam is also looking to distinguish potential academic scholars, so the range of questions will including, challenging and not so challenging ones
DS say Trinity, thought it was very tough, can’t remember properly but he may not have finished one paper and still ended up with a significant academic scholarship, he ended up not going there as he/we preferring another school not too far away.

Excuse the typos