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.

I asked at LU, KGS and Emanuel about boys v girls and they all said the same thing - it tends to work out at more or less 50/50. Girls tend to do better at 11+ and receive more offers overall but acceptance rate is less due to the much higher number of all girls schools around.
Only Kew House appeared to have separate lists to ensure a strict 50/50.
When I asked about state v Private they all said they don't do anything in particular but year on year it works out fairly even. I think the boys schools like St Paul's and KCS have been proactively encouraging state school applicants by increasing intakes at 11+ v 13+ but these were historically more prep school heavy.
The bursary issue is a slightly different matter I think - schools like LU are actively targeting local schools to find children who would never dream of applying.

But was a couple of years ago so Emanuel etc may have changed their processes- although ironically far far less children are getting in from the local state primaries around here and are not even bothering applying anymore!

@FriendlyMom I don't think its a quote but a target. However, I do think that's the approach from what I've understood and is similar to the way they assess boy vs girls. They can and do nuance it a bit I'm sure and again, each individual school will have their own procedures.

Sorry I have only skim read the last page or so. Of all the schools being mentioned, I believe LU has the most developed bursary programme. I think it's something like 25% receive something form of bursary.

I don't know if there are quotas at 11 plus for state / independent entry, but they must do something to gravitate towards a rough 50/50 balance - just as they must do to ensure reasonable boys and girls ratios in co-eds. I suppose a lot will depend on who actually takes the places up.

Where there are ratios is at university level and the bar from those from independent very selective schools (as well as very selective grammars such as Tiffin) is constantly rising. Please do bear this in mind! They are contextualised against their average cohort. Top grades from a comprehensive is usually enough for anywhere, but from SPGS, LU, G&L, KCS etc - they will need quite a lot "more."

I should say at Alleyn's they don't discuss it as this is how it works out. Its clearly a target both for the boy girl split and the state school split. Now, the acceptance / rejections means it's not always spot on but its an actual target rather than a chance outcome.

I think its a good thing with a cohort from a wider range of backgrounds and experiences especially when coupled with circa 20% of the new intake also getting bursaries.

@coffeeteame I agree they must do something in order for the ratios to be roughly the same each year…

Interesting what you say re university offers. What is the “more”? Particularly in the future, given UCAS are removing the personal statement….

@coffeeteame contextualized for university admission is evolving. But I think grammar and selective private in London will fall into the same social category in general

I know the schools, but was wondering what you meant by mentioning them. Do you mean that the schools feed into Emanuel or that the schools are 50% private 50% state?

City is not everybody’s first choice - wasnt on our list at all for some of the reasons @ above :)

Yes @QuiteAJourney would be great to have a new thread!

Judging by the exam/interview day experience, I am most impressed with King’s, Emanuel and Alleyn’s for making it DC-friendly and making us feel more than a number on a page.

@SamPoodle123 , sorry if I was confusing but Emanuel is 50% state and private and I included the Bilingual French State schools as part of the 50% state.

It is interesting how much people's experiences differ in this respect.

DS1 interviewed for one of the schools mentioned on this thread a few years ago. He said the member of staff interviewing him got the type of scholarship DS had applied for wrong, seemed totally uninterested in DS's answers and just appeared to be going through the motions. That experience put us off the school completely and we ended up turning their offer down.

Oh really? Feel free to name the school - we all go with our own knowledge and experience of course but would be interesting to hear!

It was one of the ones you were impressed by, so just goes to show that everyone's experiences are different!

Hope it went well today at King’s ? @NellyCortado

DS said he had a lovely teacher from the art department and it was a pleasant conversation overall. He was in and out in less than 20 minutes!

I liked the way they handled the day - head of admission and some teachers were available to chat. They were open and genuine with answers or at least I felt that way. We were in a well prepared room with tea and biscuits on offer so that might have helped with the feeling 😃

Now fingers crossed for the final stage!

Thank you.

We are in
www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4723610-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023

it does not have reference to part IV but it is part IV

@MomFromSE am intrigued about your assertions re the Alleyns state/independent split? DD has been there several years and we have never been aware of a target of 50%/50% at 11+ for external candidates (or indeed at 16+). In her Y7 class of 23 (13 girls 10 boys - they know who scores highest in the all important external exams.....) there were only 4 state school kids.

I was told this during the tour by Mr Severino when one of my DDs was accepted to the junior school. He mentioned it as part of explaining the junior school have guaranteed places in the senior. Also, I clarified a question I had on this when thinking about options for my other DD and emailed the senior school registrar who confirmed it by email as part of the question I raised.

Its not a secret- I believe the school told the Good School’s Guide the same as it’s part of the school’s admission profile on the guide. However, I heard it directly from the people mentioned above at the school.

@ChnandlerBong see response above

I know an old thread but did your DD get her music scholarship in the end? This is us this year. Full on