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!!

I understand. What I mean is, if the number trend for the 2019-2021 or whichever period, changes, that should already send the signal to parents who are SPGS focused that the school is taking a different direction, why not publish the numbers anyway? The "black box" analogy is interesting. Is there need for such secrecy?

I would check your junk mail. I almost missed it because it went to promotions mailbox.....My friends dd did not make it through, so all emails are sent out. There could be a delay as well for Godolphin. Putney seemed to send emails to partners first for some and I got it many hours later...even though I was the one who applied!

@curiousllama I agree with @SamPoodle123 - some friends had that issue. Also, worth asking the school on Monday if you have not received anything - two of our friends had not received anything from PHS and, after contacting the school, were told that there had been an issue and they got confirmation that their DDs had gone through to stage 2.

This is a very good point!
I'm also always amused by Bute's insistence that it's non competitive. When we went for an open day the Y6 showing us around made it very clear that there was quite a lot of competition eg badges, prizes etc. But the Bute girls we know are lovely and I suspect all the west London preps are much of a muchness!

@hello555 we have afternoon for the Athena assessment at Putney

@FriendlyMom its really mixed. Some schools give automatic entry like Alleyns and LU (at Alleyns they sit the exam for scholarships etc but entry is guaranteed). I have girls but I think SPJS is automatic entry. WU they have to sit the exam. At CLGS, they head has to recommend them in year 5 for the senior school. If they get the recommendation, they don't sit the exam but transfer isn't automatic and there is a cull. I think from memory Hampton do something similar. KGS juniors automatically transfer as well.

DS seemed to think there were around 500 boys sitting for Dulwich and this is in line with previous years I'm led to believe. Still shocked that IPS took 200 through to second round as they must have to offer at least 100 places in order to fill their places?

@Daydreamscometrue I would love it if IPS had taken 200 to second round but it does not make sense as it would mean that basically everyone would get an offer. At my DD's indie prep and at a neighbouring one their usual ratio of acceptances to offers is less than 1/3.

My DD was in the 8 am slot for second round and I would have said that there were at least 100 kids there ... and I think that there were 2 other slots.

@QuiteAJourney I'm sure that someone on this thread said that they'd spoken to the receptionist who said 900 sat the first round, 200 invited back and they had 50 places. DS had the 9am slot. 6 applied from his school and he and another sat the second round.

I agree about co-ed applicants exploding this year - from impressions on exam day, Claremont had huge numbers. But even the Surbiton shortlisted scholarship group seemed very large for number of places, let along scholarships!

Does anyone have any knowledge of how many invited to interview vs offers vs actual places for both Claremont and Surbiton?

@Daydreamscometrue I recall that reference to what the receptionist said (I think that both you and @Asham commented on it)but just find it surprising on quite a few levels - not only what I mention above but also that their own website refers to having usually 80-90 places. Anecdotally, there were some 10 kids there from my DD's (small) prep school.

Do not get me wrong - I am not questioning the poster conveying the conversation with the receptionist but it might be a question of the receptionist not necessarily being fully sighted or, on their willingness to 'palm people off' finding an easy route out.

And to reiterate, I would love for those numbers to be true because they would be more favourable than what I am (and most parents) are expecting.

LU have just over 120 places for external candidates, plus another 44 odd for those moving up from the prep. So about 170 in a year group - it's a significantly bigger school than SPGS or G&L. They also have a considerable intake for the the sixth form.
I don't think they make the prep pupils sit the 11 plus exam any more, but they may "suggest alternative options" to a few from about Yr 4 / 5 if they feel the senior school would not be a good fit.

This year LU has a year group of 191 which is a whole form bigger than it should be - they over offered last year so will be much more conservative this year I would think as the extra numbers show on campus- it’s a big school. The kids from prep don’t sit an exam the transfer is automatic but there are one of two who opt to go elsewhere SPs etc…

For GL Last year in my daughters year every girls who got an interview got either a firm place or waitlist and all on waitlist for a place in the end from waitlist ( but none took it ). It’s one of the big name girls preps so slightly skewed but I think odds are good if you have interview if that helps calm nerves on this thread .

@Hannah297
That would make sense, especially as the interview is a short one compared to others i.e. in general the longer interview / group assessments, the more sway it has on conversion to final offers.

I wonder if anyone has heard any instances of firm rejections (rather than wait lists) being converted to offers? I heard of a couple of instances when this happened last year, but wasn’t sure of these were just the post-offer gossip grapevine going into overdrive or whether they were actually true.

Can definitely happen- relative got a place at Kings Wimbledon even though got a No rather than waitlist place.

I spoke to the receptionist at IPS. She may have just spurted numbers out to get rid of me but I must admit she sounded genuine. However when I asked her about how many offers they would make, at that point she said ‘we dont give out that kind of information’ and appeared uncomfortable. I left it at that.

I hope the numbers are correct but best to take with a pinch of salt if there is conflicting information.

Did you receive an email this morning for those who sat SPGS? Saying results will be Tuesday or Wednesday?

@Asham thanks so much for sharing, really appreciated.
I would love those numbers to be true, tbh.

@Waitlist1234 yes, probably because in the earlier correspondence no fixed date was given as to when results will be sent out, and maybe trying to avoid an influx of emails asking that same question.

@EweCee Have Surbiton already advised of a shortlisted scholarship group? Or is this advised at the end after interviews?

@Taurus23 Sorry, I meant the original shortlist who got through the first round (video submission) and then invited for the scholarship assessment which happened this past week (this is for non academic scholarships). I believe it’s now just whether you’re offered or not?

@11plusdoneanddusted really interested to hear this. How did the offer materialise - did the parent continue to call Admissions after receiving a rejection letter? Anticipating a rejection for our first choice school (DC unwell on day of exam but powered through) but I would not consider calling registrar unless we at least had a WL place.

Don't think so. They just got a phone call a few weeks after offer day. Were all set to go elsewhere. I suspect either KCS had less offers accepted than expected or they had more but not enough for an extra class so wanted a few more to make one!

@EweCee thank you for the info. I was wondering how the the academic scholarships would work as I know Surbiton offer a few of these (not that we’re in that realm but one can hope!)