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

[QuiteAJourney]

Continuation from

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4697901-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023-part-ii?page=40&reply=122947087

An opportunity for parents of DC applying to private and grammar schools in SW London for entry in year 7 in 2023 to share their journeys.

We applied to 4 schools and I also worried the same. I kind of wish we did one or two more, as my dd enjoys the process (exams and interview). I worried that she might get fed up or feel too much pressure so did not apply to the two additional schools I had on my list. She has done well and has an interview w all 4, but I also worry, as an interview is not a guarantee.

It sounds like you dd is also interviewing at 4 schools, so that is a positive. Hopefully, she is enjoying the experience.

We’ve applied for 3 schools. There have been moments when I’ve been worried it’s not enough but trying to hold my nerve and trust the process. They are all schools we would be pleased to go to - and whilst we have a favourite, Emanuel, all options would be great.

We applied to 3 Consortium schools and 3 other schools

Our prep told us 4-5 was okay, we went with 4, now 2 gone...not feeling very good.

How do you feel about the 2 left? Is there a good chance for one or both of them for your dc? I met someone yesterday at the interviews and they only applied to 2 schools, but one of them was pretty much a sure one to get into, so they were not stressed.

We applied to 6: 2 very selective (and didn't get through); 2 selective (and got through to scholarship assessments and interviews); 2 safe we're still waiting to hear (and go straight to offers after exam/ assessment day).

The waiting is definitely the worst!

Our prep head keeps telling us that we only need one offer, maybe she gave us bad advice

Were the two that your DD didn't get through aspirational schools? And do you have target/ back-up schools in the two remaining? If so, you should be fine.

Also, did your prep school go through the list of schools with you and sign it off / agree that it was a good list for your DD? Again, if so, I would try to trust that it's going to be okay. Can you speak to the 11+ lead at your daughter's prep and hopefully get a bit of reassurance?

Our prep also told us 4 would be enough, which technically it always is, mainly because 10 year old's will not be able to deal with high number of interviews and exams, but we went for a little more because of the blackbox that 11+ is!

In any case, it always works out and the preps have a very strong view of the blackbox and I think we have over applied to be honest.

Any news about LEH? Or should we expect it next week?

@Workhar I was wondering this too! Has anyone put a call into them to see?

Also wondering if it would be an email or post...

@Wimbymum the admissions didn’t pick up my call.

Did anyone else's child have an interview at Claremont this morning. How did they find it?

@Turquoiseturtle1234 how did you split your 4 choices between safe, target and aspirational out of curiosity?

Depending on where you live I think 4 is enough too but we do have genuine safe options relative to our DD’s ability.

I think oversupply is mostly driven by not including any genuinely safe schools and too many aspirational ones.

We applied to 6 including a grammar which was a stretch/unlikely. DS has done better with these than I expected and I actually regret applying to so many because there's one I don't really want to send him to but I applied in a panic. 7 exams is too much imho!

DD applied to KGS and also received a survey. This wasn’t mentioned in any of their communications and we are scratching our heads as to what that means.

Also waiting to see if we have an interview at LEH. It’s getting quite close to the dates they’ve put aside for interviews!

Is anyone else applying from state primaries?! We only applied to two private, one grammar and the state schools. Realistically DD is only going grammar (if she gets in to Tiffin, big if obviously) or state. There was absolutely no school involvement or advice (I think that only happens at private/ prep schools) at all. It does feel a bit of a different world to me! (Not meaning, I hope, to sound chippy about it or anything!!)

Yes lots of people on this thread have applied from state primaries!

Which privates did you apply to? And how has DD done so far?

And do you have a state option (non grammar) that you like?

@Pleasegrowmore Yes, my dd is from a state primary. They were not helpful at all, had no advice really. We only started prep end of year 5 because we did not realize we would do 11+ (we are non british and had other plans). Anyway, she has done fine and passed through to interview stage for all 4 that she applied to (one of the school's interviews everyone).

I was hoping my dd school could at least give me an idea of what would be realistic for her. But they gave such a wide range and were not much help. I felt like they were not quite sure of her ability.

Was your DD called for an interview? I think all DC that got interviews received the survey. There was some speculation earlier in the thread as to what it was... but we filled it (easily as it was very similar to the interview questions).

@chocomochi and @QuiteAJourney I worked out what the survey was! It's the admissions dept trying to work out what activities to organised for the offer holders day. Have KGS historically done one of these? I think they're trying to tailor it to interests.

@LondonMum20222 Ah thanks! only recently discovered this thread so probably missed a lot of early chat/ establishing backgrounds etc! DD applied to SPGS and WHS and Tiffin - didn't even make the first cut at WHS but is through to interview at SPGS (and 2nd round Tiffin obvs or it wouldn't still be an option) Our state "fallback" that she will definitely get into is a great school so we are lucky in that, I'm sure she'll do / would do really well there. So in some ways I'm not really that stressed about the whole thing at all, but I really feel for anyone who is.

@SamPoodle123 Sounds like yours has done brilliantly. We started a bit of private tuition for DD at the end of y5 too, it's been fairly minimal but hugely helpful for things like just managing exam technique/ getting to grips with how much to spend on each question - the very basic stuff really. Plus it's had the knock on positive effect of engaging her more in maths, which she finds mind-numbingly dull at the level they do at school. obviously they have to teach to the general level and the focus is always on bringing the bottom kids up, not the top kids on, if that makes sense.

We are also next week for Claremont interview(although scholarship assessment there tomorrrow). Any insight to number of interviews vs offers @secondaryquandries? I

@Pleasegrowmore Honestly, it sounds like you're in a great position - you're still in play with the holy grail of the private / grammar combination with SPGS and Tiffin. Your DD's done brilliantly already. And having a great state back-up takes all the stress out of it, I'm sure. Keep us posted!