SW London Private & Grammar: applying for year 7 in 2023

[QuiteAJourney]

Following up from
www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4716365-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023-part-iii?page=40

Sharing the journey

I think treating the DCs well is obviously the most important. (Did they at G&L)? But it does just seem a bit short-sighted not to be polite and welcoming to the parents (who are going to be the ones shelling out the fees, and want to feel that a school is going to be a nurturing community all round).

Was not impressed with LU on assessment days. Volumes of people, the “bouncers” outside the school tasked to gatekeep (no proper English, verging on rude), lack of staff presence/interaction were offputting for me.

LU: long queue on exam day, understandable, but also on the interview date (which is rare). Too many people, and quite chaotic.

But then, they run a system to ask for exam and interview clash well beforehand, and always willing to accommodate (rather than asking candidates to ask the other school to change the timing) must be appreciated.

@wishingitwasover - agree with your second point (assessment 'fluff' can bear no relation to what the school is actually like in practice) but not your first point. It's really not hard to get the balance right - you should look after all of your potential customers from the outset. They have already paid £150+ for the assessment process and are potentially going to be paying you £ 000's in the future! Some of them have become complacent due to the high level of competition for places.

Vista123
well clearly it is difficult for some to get it right otherwise it wouldn’t be a topic of conversation currently on this thread!

I totally get why a parent wants to feel they are getting their ‘money’s worth’ for each and every school.

Would also say that views can change on schools once you actually have an offer! It's amazing how schools you thought you weren't keen on suddenly become more attractive once they want your child!

My sister in laws DD is at G&L and found the whole admissions process very cold and fretted a lot after acceptance that she felt no connection to the school etc and had they made the wrong choice ( ironically thought she should have sent her to WHS) and felt totally different once she'd started when communication was much better!

Sorry- for someone not going through it this year I am posting a lot! But have done it twice and will be doing it again next year!

My son looks for a vibe, reads into teachers’s attitudes and wants a sporty school.

I try to look beyond as I think it is the adult’s job to do so. Also, all my doubts/question marks from the open days, interaction with staff etc during my eldest’s secondary entrance later revealed themselves as long standing problems of the school so this time I am trying not to ignore/dismiss them.

PS: Pls dont ask which school.

I think Hampton is the best in giving the feeling of a warm welcome on both the exam date and the interview date, despite the very unique "we are sorry you are not good enough for an academic scholarship, but you are still in the running for a place" email. No queues, lots of smiles etc.

*teachers’

To host large number of applicants, school space is another consideration too. Some school students had to take a day off to create space to host the large number of students sit the exam. Some other school with large space and parking can easily have students, current parents and teacher to have interactions with parents and DCs.

Also, I know the HM would be involved very little in the selection of the individual candidate, and what they are saying will be nothing new (probably less than admission staff), but their presence on the interview dates (even if not talking to each parent individually) shows a lot about their effort to welcome the parents by sacrificing the time (which really isn't a lot),

On this thumbs up to Hampton and Trinity, no wonder their ranking has been rising year after year.

Agree with Woohooho that once offers are out you do look at schools differently. Have been through the process twice and have to say that some schools were better than others during the exam process. It’s not always a reflection of how they are once your child attends though and that is the problem, as how can anyone make a decision based purely on the process when we all know it’s so brutal! I think sometimes the parents need a hand held more than the kids.

In the end you have to decide what is more important, journey to school, school ethos, head teacher values, subjects offered etc etc. Never look at league tables as the children will do well at any of these amazing schools. Happiness is key and sadly no one can predict that.

No, my dd first choice is still G&L (I am not quire sure why!). She says she likes the facilities and the girls that attend the school (the ones she had interactions with during exam day and interview). However, she said it is a very hard choice, as she also loved her experience at the other schools too. If we are in a lucky position to get more then one offer, it will be a very difficult decision indeed.

Great advice, esp In the end you have to decide what is more important, journey to school, school ethos, head teacher values, subjects offered etc etc. Never look at league tables as the children will do well at any of these amazing schools.

I know none of us can predict how our DCs will settle / where they'll be happy over the next 7 years, but I've been struck on Open Days by how different schools are culturally, and both DD and I have had a strong sense that some just wouldn't be "right" for her (and can predict that she probably wouldn't be happy there). I know many people are swayed by league tables, but choosing the right cultural fit seems key to me (if you have the luxury of choice post offers, that is!)

My impression of schools has changed completely based on the scholarship process (non academic) as some were great and others disorganised and chaotic! School 1: communication was chaotic at best, and after the assessment my child said they were not going back, ever! Found the assessor mean and interrogating about non scholarship questions and cried when they came out :( I persuaded them to go back for the general interview and 2nd round scholarship assessment the following week and it was completely different and my child loved the school and teachers again. Second school, their assessment process was very slick and organised which was great and then the final school yesterday was slight disorganised, cold and impersonal.

Thanks for posting this. I have the same worries w G&L (if dd gets a place!). They seem very cold. The other schools much more warm and welcoming. But as you say, that can change once your dc gets an offer or attends a school.

Oh yes, that is true. My dd had a great experience at G&L and said they were nice. They were polite to me as well, but just not around after pointing you where to sit and wait. I just felt they were a little more cold, but not rude or anything. It would have made a world of a difference to have some teachers around the parents who were waiting to interact with them, be reassuring. In fact, I think the parents need it more then the dc 😂

It’s tough that some schools don’t give a date for when they send out results- ie Surbiton have given a vague ‘around early feb’ anyone know from previous years when that has meant/ did anyone ask?

I would think early Feb is within the first 7 days? Putney said early mid Feb, so I assume that is probably Feb 10th like the other schools! Although, last year was the Monday before the 10th...like the 7th. So I am hoping it will be before the 10th!!

Out of interest does any parents know the school etho of the individial schools they applied to? Does the school etho parent had in mind match what the school described? Have you got the chance to talk to school staff and teaches and do they have a consistent view on this? And do the teachers know exactly the school etho is?

Thank you @SamPoodle123 i agree, hate the waiting!

I think you're right that parents need it more than the kids!! And I think if your DD had a good feel about G&L, that's most important.

I find G&L just seems to have a much lower effort level. An Atom assessment, 5 weeks to send the result then a 10 minute interview.

St James Senior Boys (Ashford, SW London) have emailed offers this morning. Interviewed on Sat 21st and they said would be today. Offer holders evening is on 9th Feb, so very early. They haven’t done scholarship applications yet though, they’re done after offers are sent out, deadline to apply is 10th Feb.

Agree that DD's feeling is the most important. As for parents, I am fine not being treated warmly, just taken issue with brusque (WHS, in my experience) and, to a lesser degree, lack of / poor Comms