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.

@11minus where are you based? Happy to offer some suggestions based on some girls from DDs prep who were in a similar situation. Can you get to places like Croydon/Sydenham or further south? Ewell?

@11minus I am so sorry that you are in this situation. I’m also thinking of you and your daughter.

Registration for London Park School (new Dukes school in Clapham) is still open. They have an open morning on 27 Jan.

@11minus Sutton High School might be an option. Get your head to call them and share your DD's CAT scores/good references. I know they have accepted girls in your DD's situation...at this stage in the process. They'll do a late assessment and might offer/WL. I've also heard of heads getting girls into Queen's Gate/FHSS (depending on ability) after no offers elsewhere. Maybe approach Marymount? Amazing international school! Great IB programme. It'll be ok, but oh how stressful!

Hi Everyone, applying for next year. A lot of discussion on Hammersmith Schools, I know this is a south West London thread but just curious as to whether anyone has applied to any of the Ealing schools and if so how that process has been and idea on number of applicants.

@11minus sending you and your child lots of positive energy, hopefully you will find a school that is right for you.

@11minus , cheering for you and your DC.
If you think the head didn’t give good advice or not have an established connections with secondary school heads and admissions office, please see the amazing suggestions given by others and call them tomorrow rather than waiting for the head. It may expedite matters since you are an interested parent.

@HappyMama2024 we applied to st Benedict’s in ealing; process as per usual exams on all 4 subjects and then interview for next stage

lots and lots and lots of applicants seemed worse than Radnor 🙄

@LoveMyADHD wow, did not think it was that popular compared to the other coed schools like Ibstock, Harrodian and Kew.

Have you had your interview yet? Any insight into what that was like?

Well that’s the problem @HappyMama2024 , they made a big deal out of their best results ever and applicants numbers went sky high (even we hadn’t considered before either)

no clue on interview.. it’s in few days . Loved it at open day, really one of our favourites but sadly I don’t see it happening 🙄

worth visiting though …

Who else is doing the Putney interview tomorrow? My dd is halfway through interviews now. I cannot believe we are almost done 11+! I am so curious what kind of questions they will ask.

The interview at Putney last year was a general what do you do for fun, name someone you admire and why type of interview with a creative writing exercise where they made a news report of their choosing (my daughter did something about climate change). I also remember them being in a room together and answering questions in a group setting. It was relaxed and my daughter came out happy and excited. Good luck!

Is anyone going for Epsom or is that too far out?
@11minus I think they have an assessment day on Friday

We are although we didn't apply for any scholarships so are finished the process and just waiting for results now.

Thanks, sounds like a fun interview :)

We have still not heard from Emanuel even though we filled out interview form within hours of getting it last week. Were meant to have heard by last night at latest, I phoned them then and they said we would hear this am.... trying to juggle work to keep those dates free. They don't make it easy.

Re Emanuel - we haven’t heard either despite a chaser email and submitting preferences straight away.

For those looking at Epsom, just flagging the other post on here re safeguarding/bullying - I think they failed their inspection on safeguarding and racism. That would really worry me.

I thought the conclusion on the other thread was that a subsequent inspection had taken place and there was no further concern. At any rate we know quite a few current parents and they couldn't really be any more positive on it as a school.

I do have concerns on the fees though, it is quite an undertaking!

Does anyone know what happens after offers are made? Our favourite is KGS. So once the offer is made, is it right that they invite the child to a taster day? Is that in the evening, a school day or a weekend? How long after the offer? What do they do on the day? Do most schools have these days? Would you have your children attend them to check the school or just go with current favourite?

@secondaryquandries I think most schools have offer holders day (not sure about IPS, for instance). Different formats / length / timings depending on the school but generally around 2-3 weeks added offer day (I do not know of any over half-term).
I think that most people think that it is a good idea to attempt as it may change / challenge current conceptions.
Personally, if in receipt or several offers, DD would attend the top 2-3. But I know that others in the thread have argued that it is a good idea to attend as many as possible.

Our prep head is now recommending Eaton Square Senior School. She said it's very prestigious. I don't know much about it. Don't think we have much choice though.

@11minus not sure where you are base but others on this thread have posted other schools so worth going for a few. Do call since there are movements and WL. All the best in finding other options.

@11minus is your prep under the umbrella of Dukes Education by any chance? Hence the recommendation of Eaton Square which is part of Dukes?

Eaton Square doesn’t have that much of a track record, having only been started up in (I think) 2017 as a private equity venture. I’m not sure what is the source of the prestige your head is referring to, or whether that’s something that’s important to you.

Depending on location you might well find Sutton High worth a phone call, as a PP mentioned. It has a lovely ethos. And your fees wouldn’t be heading into the pockets of private equity profiteers!

@11minus Sutton High is lovely - worth exploring if they have availability.
The Hall School in Wimbledon also worth a call and visit, I think.

@11minus i hadn’t mentioned Sutton High, as I thought you were in north london. dD is there and super happy. They make their offers befire xmas, but I know some who applied late in our year. I’d also say check out Ewell Castle and The Laurels. Both gorgeous.
@VickiMent i just looked it up and the latest report is still the failed one and actually it’s more damning than I had realised from the thread. The fee leap in y9 put us off, even though very local to us really. It’ll be over £30k by the time they are in y9, and god knows what if VAT comes in.

11minus - so sorry you’re in this position. I’ve also heard good things from friends with dds at Sutton High - very caring, good with any special educational needs, well-located for the train and with a good coach service. I know less about The Hall School, but what I’ve heard is positive, though I would want to ask about boy/girl ratio in that particular year group.