SW London Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023 (Part II)

[QuiteAJourney]

Continuation of the thread
SW London Girls' Private & Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4643252-sw-london-girls-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023?page=40

Looking forward to continuing the journey with all of you!!

@Workhar @FriendlyMom congratulations on the interviews. i wouldn’t worry about the schools viewing a legitimate request to change timings for interviews negatively. My daughter caught Covid last year during January and we had to reschedule both Putney and SPGS interviews. I was also worried at the time it would affect our chances at the schools but both were accommodating, and ultimately made her offers.

No email from Putney either

@11plusmom88 Many thanks for the reassurance.

@Lolakath19, @SamPoodle123, @EweCee - it is most probably email backlog!

My husband just received it!! And it is an invite! Stilll has not come in on my mailbox! Fingers crossed for all of you!

@mishmashh, thank you so much for sharing your experience from the process and G&L interview!

Thank you for your kind reassurance @11plusmom88

What’s morally superior about stating that you could avoid the stress for your DC by applying for state schools? I live in SW London and my DC is in y11. As I said, I empathise with DC and wish them the best but if you look at historic threads every one suggests it is harder each year. And that leads people to enter their children for more schools than previously, thereby exacerbating the pressure. The reality is that if you want your child to go to an independent school then they will get into one (unless you have totally misjudged their ability). And if you are worried about the impact of the pressure on DC (as you indicated) then all I am saying is that you don’t have to do this.

Try not to panic over Putney emails. I did last year, and then finally two came through, early and late evening!

From memory, the Athena assessment was group discussion, a storyboard to create on a topic of their own choice, and an interview. Dd didn’t find it stressful or tricky.

Congratulations to all who made it to the next round for Putney!! Still waiting here....wonder why a delay, but feel not a good sign. Ah well.

Happy to finally find out something today. The waiting feels forever.

@SamPoodle123, hang in there - there is always hope - the emails keep trickling!

@HighRopes thank you for sharing!! Do you remember whether your DD had her assessment in the morning or the afternoon?

I haven't actually indicated that I was worried about the impact on my DC, just that she was tired and emotional (after a couple of hours of performing for a scholarship assessment) and that the process was long and gruelling, particularly for 10yo's. In fact I've admired the DC for their resilience and fortitude noting that at their age I hadn't done anything like this and they were streaks ahead. We're allowed to note that it IS gruelling and allow them to be tired, no?

Good news from my dh. She made it to the next round for Putney! Still no email to me. I am the one who applied, so find it strange they email dh first, when he was not involved at all in the applications! At least he was able to forward me the email....

Good luck to everyone else still waiting...try asking your partners just in case they emailed them.

"The reality is that if you want your child to go to an independent school then they will get into one (unless you have totally misjudged their ability)."

Sorry but no. This is not "the reality" at all for children who struggle academically or who are below average - ie half of the cohort. Not in this area. Even so-called 'back up schools' are selective. There is no such thing as 'pay your money and you're in.' Maybe in other parts of the country, but not this area of London. It's a stressful process, it's all relative and if you were going through it, Nowfeeltheneedtopost, you would no doubt be on here just like the mums going through it this year (and every year).

Congrats to everyone for your G&L and Putney interviews! Fantastic news! It was a no from Putney for us sadly (seem to be the only ones!) but a few more to hear from next week so we're keeping everything crossed!

But I explicitly said that this did not apply if you had misjudged your child’s ability. If your child “struggles academically” then surely it is no surprise that they would struggle to get into a selective independent school? Why would you put them through the process?

@SamPoodle123 well done!!

Congrats @SamPoodle123!!

@SamPoodle123 congrats!

I'm not sure anyone actively posting on here has a child who 'struggles academically'?

@mishmashh specifically said my comment was untrue “This is not "the reality" at all for children who struggle academically or who are below average - ie half of the cohort.” I was questioning why they thought a child who struggles academically would benefit from a place at a selective independent school,

My point remains that the vast majority of DC taking independent school exams will get a place at an independent school somewhere. And again, it is a choice if you want to go down this route. No judgement at all and I agree DC are to be supported in their resilience. But let’s not pretend this is the only possibility for our DC because it is not,

Although I’ve been lurking, I completely agree. No point in entertaining negative vibes…
So many reasons why people choose to go down this path. Not everyone has lovely state schools around them. And maybe they just want to
invest in their children’s education, it may be a priority for them, even if it isn’t for you.
sorry all… going back to lurking

@confu5ed sorry to hear about Putney. I’m positive you will get good news next week!

It was mentioned several times by mums whose DD were invited to interviews, that they were shown pictures. What is the purpose behind this? Was it to show knowledge of history, social events, art appreciation?