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.

LEH: it's a no for us 😕

We're 0 for 3 so far. Our prep was clearly wrong.

I’m so sorry, it’s brutal process. I do think the preps don’t do enough to emphasise how much practice is needed for these tests. Lots of very capable girls not getting through due to not knowing what to expect.

We were warned early on by a family member who had gone through the year before.

Are there anymore that you’re waiting on?
Although the main entry point there there is a lot of movement between year 7 and 9 to get the right school eventually xx

We have just 1 left. Thankfully, DD is being a star is not discouraged. I'm very proud of her. DH is also being very supportive of me since I spearheaded this effort and I feel like I completely blew it. It's nice that he remains upbeat, I'm lucky.

@11minus - so sorry to hear. Do you have any other options still in the running? Also, have you spoken with your prep?
I know that sometimes, if the 11+ process does not work out, preps might suggest schools where the DC can stay until 13 (if they do not offer it themselves) and then try again at 13+.

Sorry, just seen your message. Is the one left one you would consider more 'accessible' than the ones you have received results for...
If not done so, I suggest speaking with your prep so they can help / support managing any risks. It seems to me that you have trusted them and followed their advice so they need to take some responsibility.

I'd like to think this last one is a bit more accessible for her, we'll just have to wait and see.

@11minus I'm really sorry to hear about LEH. That must have been a real blow, but it sounds like your DD is being amazingly stoical and great that you and DH are on the same page.

But it does sound like your prep haven't advised you brilliantly. Was LEH supposed to be aspirational or target? I agree with @QuiteAJourney that a conversation with the prep at this point in time feels right, just to assess what other options there might be, not in a panicky way (I'm sure we are all keeping our fingers crossed for you that school four will be The One) but just to get their perspective on it all.

We are also a no for LEH. DD is going to find this one a really big blow. She absolutely loved it and DS is going to Hampton (yr 9 entry).

She has two interviews next week so will keep everything crossed

St Paul’s interview email out. A yes for DS. Anyone how how many they invite back?

Congratulations to those with interviews at LEH and commiserations to those that got a no (and stay strong).

@MrsAFlorrick congratulations! You must be so proud.

i am confused. I thought St. Paul’s emailed the interview invites on Wednesday? Also, what is the ratio of interview invites to number of seats?

St Paul’s boys

@11minus , your daughter is fine with your support and encouragement. I agree with previous posts and as mentioned that some prep schools, mainly the girls only schools do not really prepare and left parents to decipher the 11+ black box code.
My amazing childhood friend with a boy at boys only prep school was giving me tips and suggestions from year 5 from her school, without her I would have been seriously lost.

Sorry to hear of those with nos and congratulations to those with offers. I hope it works out for all your children in the end.

@11minus which school is it that you're waiting on?

@MrsAFlorrick congratulations! When are the interviews scheduled for?

Mid 11+ for DD but did this all with DS a couple of years ago. We did 13+ and were told St Pauls got around 500 applicants, interviewed 300 for 90 places. But they only make 90 offers the unaccepted places are carried forward to Ysar 8 Sep exams for those on the waiting list to try again.

Westminster interview only around 250 so quite a few boys got St P interview who didnt get Westminster. KCS 270 applicants, interview 120, offer 60 for 30 places. All from 13 + open days a few years ago so things may have changed. I just wish the girls schools were as open, but I guess they have more moving parts and a compressed timescale.

Does anyone know or have an idea of how the selection goes after the interviews? Do they get a certain amount of points from the interviews added to their exams grades and that is how they are chosen? Or during the interviews...is it like yes, no, yes, no as you interview? I guess every school is different! But I am so curious!

I also just read about schools in the past withdrawing offers if you do not accept in time (when they have over offered and decided they reached their limit). Does this still happen!?! Is it a regular thing if it does? Do we need to make sure we know now which is our favourite school to accept quickly!? I thought we would at least be able to attend holder events! How stressful....

@SamPoodle123 during interviews, i think the kids are scored as per a set checklist (unique to every school) and that score is added to the exam scores.

how did the G&L interviews go today? My kid was asked questions for a very short time and she was done in 5-6 minutes.

@Workhar yes, the interview was only a few questions, nothing tricky. Very basic getting to know you questions. I am not sure how they can get points for these types of questions! I felt like they would not get a good overall picture of my dd or her personality with the questions asked.

I felt the FH interview was much better at this....even though the actual interview was also quite short, but the interaction, I just felt was different. The questions asked were to get an idea of their thought process.

@Workhar forgot to ask, what were your thoughts on the G&L interview?

My DD felt it was too short. She was shown a couple of pics and asked to talk about them and a few very general questions.

Yes, mine was shown images and she was asked to group them and explain. She came back exactly 15 mins later, but who knows how long she was spent with them, as I did not see her being taken to the interview. Tomorrow, I will ask her how long she thought she was with them. She thought the FH interview part was like 6-8 mins and to me I did not feel like they asked much more during the G&L interview. I don't know, I felt like I got better vibes after the FH interview, although my dd said it went well.

I believe these are called “exploding offers” and my understanding is that the school has to be explicit when it makes the offer whether t’s unconditional and will be open for acceptance until the usual deadline or it it might expire (“explode”) if they have too many acceptances. Last year we only came across one school (Radnor) doing this, though as far as I know I don’t think they actually reached their threshold so offers weren’t withdrawn. I believe they went to their WL. Try not to panic. Read the offer letters carefully if/when you get them but you should have time to go to the offer holder events. Usual advice though about not holding onto any you definitely don’t want, to release places for others etc etc. Good luck!