Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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

998 replies

QuiteAJourney · 19/01/2023 13:40

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

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 10:38

Hitoyou · 28/01/2023 10:32

Londonmum202222 you are absolutely right, what is truly valuable in assessing the school is the value added, which looks at the scores from tests taken in yr 7 when DCs join and compares to actual GCSEs and then takes GCSEs vs actual A levels. Some of the top schools by league table can have negative or minimal value added. There is data on the Dept for Ed website but is patchy for Indep schools.

Queens Gate actually has a page in their propectus and mentioned it at their open day which I found impressive. They were top 4 in the country for value added at GCSE and top third for A level. Havent seen any others mention it but perhaps a question for offer holder events ?

Woldingham (out of London but attracting an increasingly sizeable SW London cohort) also mentions it - I recall them referring to being top 10 percent for value added.

OP posts:
HawaiiWake · 28/01/2023 10:43

School fit is important, does it reflect your child’s interest and your family values.
My friend’s kid got into Imperial from their school advisory teachers and encouragement on a great 4 years course, final year drop because discover this is not what they wanted to study and now reapply to another type of course at Kings. Their DC felt they were cheering for Imperial due to leavers destination brag.
Another of their child from another selective school but not top 30, told their teachers no to economics course being taught at Cambridge and wanted a different experience and course modules so got into LSE with 4A* and interning in summer at a major City bank and really happy. That kid felt the teachers really listen to their views and interests and didn’t push but guided them.
So totally agree about school ethos fitting to your DC and family rather than just base on school rankings alone.

readingcat · 28/01/2023 10:53

Well done to you and your DD @QuiteAJourney - what a long slog it has been! Have a fab day out together.

QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 10:55

@readingcat Thanks, very much appreciated.

OP posts:
PreplexJ · 28/01/2023 10:57

HawaiiWake · 28/01/2023 10:43

School fit is important, does it reflect your child’s interest and your family values.
My friend’s kid got into Imperial from their school advisory teachers and encouragement on a great 4 years course, final year drop because discover this is not what they wanted to study and now reapply to another type of course at Kings. Their DC felt they were cheering for Imperial due to leavers destination brag.
Another of their child from another selective school but not top 30, told their teachers no to economics course being taught at Cambridge and wanted a different experience and course modules so got into LSE with 4A* and interning in summer at a major City bank and really happy. That kid felt the teachers really listen to their views and interests and didn’t push but guided them.
So totally agree about school ethos fitting to your DC and family rather than just base on school rankings alone.

@HawaiiWake

LSE is as hard as Cambridge to get in (if not harder given the limited places). It is possible, but it is much harder to get a good job in the City of London without a good ranking school degree.

You are right that shouldn't looking at ranking alone but I won't ignore it either.

SamPoodle123 · 28/01/2023 10:57

pme · 28/01/2023 09:47

@SamPoodle123 If your DD got an offer from the school, it will mean she meets the academic standard.

As suggested previously by some parents in the thread, asking feedback (including academic ranks) before accepting offer is a great idea.

Thanks, I will def do that!

Sugar118 · 28/01/2023 11:02

Thank you so much everyone for your advice. It’s for our daughter for 2024 entry. I agree that CAT 115 (untutored) is above average. We really like her to be in a less pressured environment but equally don’t want to undersell her. Very envious of you all for nearly being there 👏🏻

LondonMum20222 · 28/01/2023 11:04

@Sugar118 We're 2024 too - we can meet back here next academic year to go through it together!

PreplexJ · 28/01/2023 11:07

Hitoyou · 28/01/2023 10:32

Londonmum202222 you are absolutely right, what is truly valuable in assessing the school is the value added, which looks at the scores from tests taken in yr 7 when DCs join and compares to actual GCSEs and then takes GCSEs vs actual A levels. Some of the top schools by league table can have negative or minimal value added. There is data on the Dept for Ed website but is patchy for Indep schools.

Queens Gate actually has a page in their propectus and mentioned it at their open day which I found impressive. They were top 4 in the country for value added at GCSE and top third for A level. Havent seen any others mention it but perhaps a question for offer holder events ?

Think this is because value added measure is too easy to fake in indep sectors, judging by the teacher assessment grade scandals during the pandemic years.

PreplexJ · 28/01/2023 11:27

@Sugar118

There are some good suggestions from 2023 parents such as @AC7001 and @SamPoodle123 in the earlier posts in the thread for you to find out what should be the appropriate target schools as well as preparation levels according to your preference and DC ability.

Good luck!

Taurus23 · 28/01/2023 11:28

@QuiteAJourney Congrats! Enjoy a fun day today

QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 11:30

@Taurus23 Many thanks - short pit stop at home and then off to celebrate indeed!

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 11:45

@Sugar118 If you are in London, you might want to consider that including in your list schools out of London gives you not only additional options but also schools where the relation between academic performance vs difficulty of entry is different. London is a bit of a different 'market' and a more competitive one. Of course, it depends on willingness to travel and access to means of transport, but you could consider adding to your list of potential schools to visit schools like Caterham, Dunottar, Woldingham to your list. St Theresa's in Effingham or Priors Fields could also e options. Or Notre Dame in Cobham.
In SW London, both SCHS and Sutton High tend to be overlooked in the shadow of WHS and PHS but both strong on pastoral and getting increasingly good results.
As a general advice, I think that most people nowadays apply to 4-7 exams (sometimes same exam can be used for different schools - for instance, we had 3 schools with ISEB and I know that other people did the same with Consortium). And people have 1 or 2 'safer options' - I hesitate to use the expression 'fallback' as I think that nothing is safe nowadays and also it needs to be a school that you like enough so as to think that, if that was the only offer, you would want your DD to go there.

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 11:49

@LondonMum20222 @Sugar118 We have the kernel of a thread for 2024 entry!

OP posts:
LondonMum20222 · 28/01/2023 12:13

QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 11:49

@LondonMum20222 @Sugar118 We have the kernel of a thread for 2024 entry!

And hopefully you'll still be around to share the benefits of your wisdom and keep us all calm! 🙏

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:21

Just received an offer for GHS!! Much excitement in our household.

QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 12:24

LondonMum20222 · 28/01/2023 12:13

And hopefully you'll still be around to share the benefits of your wisdom and keep us all calm! 🙏

That is too kind. I may hang around 😉

OP posts:
QuiteAJourney · 28/01/2023 12:25

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:21

Just received an offer for GHS!! Much excitement in our household.

Many congrats!

OP posts:
LondonMum20222 · 28/01/2023 12:26

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:21

Just received an offer for GHS!! Much excitement in our household.

Huge congrats!

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:28

Thanks everyone! Keeping my fingers crossed that there will be many congratulations to offer to all the wonderful kids on this thread in the coming weeks.

LondonMum20222 · 28/01/2023 12:29

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:28

Thanks everyone! Keeping my fingers crossed that there will be many congratulations to offer to all the wonderful kids on this thread in the coming weeks.

Is GHS your first choice?

sugarcookie5 · 28/01/2023 12:42

Congratulations re offer that’s so exciting!!!

momomamiko · 28/01/2023 12:52

pme · 28/01/2023 09:47

@SamPoodle123 If your DD got an offer from the school, it will mean she meets the academic standard.

As suggested previously by some parents in the thread, asking feedback (including academic ranks) before accepting offer is a great idea.

Wouldnt have thought about this - good idea! What is people’s experience of this? Do schools share DC’s ranking in the cohort?

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:55

Thank you Yes GHS is our number one choice.

VickiMent · 28/01/2023 13:22

Firenze12 · 28/01/2023 12:55

Thank you Yes GHS is our number one choice.

Wonderful to be offered your first choice. I hope your family have a great weekend of celebrations ahead!

Swipe left for the next trending thread