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

@anda44 @SamPoodle123 , agree. All schools would be giving homework and tests etc for GCSEs preparation. Amount will vary between subjects etc but nothing too crazy. Of course, if DC is new to a certain language it would take more effort vs a bilingual child.

@anda44 , totally agree,
Something that is rarely mentioned is that GCSE and iGCSE's aren't that challenging to bright dc in either the state or private system hence the abundance of 8's and 9's in school results. If your dc's gcse selection is sensible and plays to their academic strengths then it's not a particularly onerous journey involving hours of extra studying. What is more startling in the limited scope for classroom teaching etc in all schools in the U.K due to the volume of topics on the curriculum.

Lucky my dd is fluent in one of the languages offered at all the schools we applied for :) It is not our home language though, so she needs to work at keeping her high level. Two of the schools seem to cater to this and two do not.....

We are in a similar situation but with a language usually offered as an option. One of our key factors when choosing school is whether the school caters for this by (a) not forcing my DD to take that language as an option (she will be thoroughly bored in the standard lessons), and (b) makes provisions to support her taking that language as a GCSE earlier.

Yes, if she gets offers at the other two schools, I will need to find out what they do. I think at G&L they just have the dc sit in the class and do their own prep for GCSC...but maybe that has changed? Emanuel, I am not sure what they would do for bilingual children. I like the Putney caters to bilingual children, but grouping them together w a tutor to help them prepare seperate from the other dc who are just beginning.

@SamPoodle123 Worth thinking what your optimal outcome would be. We are set on our DD continuing with French (which she has started at her prep) and taking up another language (not the one she is bilingual at) through standard provision. In addition, she will prepare for GCSE in her 'other' language early, ideally with support from the school.
There are, of course, other options. But (some) schools might be able to cater for some but not other options.

I would say most of the kids at G&L are bilingual. Definitely over half of them. They can take the GCSE early if need be. Or not. If it's a language not taught in the school, they can still take the exam. They can do Italian from scratch starting in Year 9 and most of them who do that get a 9 at the end of Year 11.

Interesting discussion re languages. Although my youngest is 5, she is trilingual (one of the lamguages she has learnt whilst we lived abroad), we are thinking of putting her in a bilingual stream in primary to keep that language up, the other 2 are spoken by parents.

I do wonder what to do as she starts getting closer to secondary age in terms of schools. One of the languages she speaks will be offered at schools, one she can do at GSCEs if she later decides to. Are there schools in SW London that support children with language abilities?

On the languages issue, it depends on the language. Imho, it can be trickier is the language is a 'compulsory' one in the school as then it becomes paramount that the school offers alternatives for bilingual / almost bilingual children. If the language is offered as an option, the key issue is whether the school does accommodate the preferences and level of the DC - in our case, our preference is that DD takes another language and her 'bilingual/proficient' one is an early GCSE option but not via lessons within the timetable (Quite a few schools seems to favour this approach themselves). Others might prefer to take a different approach - i.e. 'bilingual/proficient' language studied during lessons within the timetable but to the right level.
Of course, with other languages, the 'bilingual/proficient' language might not be offered as a choice, and the role of the school is then more limited.

On languages, SPGS starts with a linguistics course and taster sessions in Mandarin, German and Russian, then later in Y7 girls choose a first and second modern foreign language. They all learn Latin.

It widens out to allow up to five languages for GCSE (original one, plus they can fill their four options with other languages if they choose). Girls who speak a language at home can take the GCSE early (Y9, I think), arranged via school. They all continue with at least one modern foreign language for GCSE.

That's really interesting as this would really suit us in terms of languages. However, I am not sure about the single sex aspect of the school. Lots to think about for the future once we are over this process for her brothers

I have been really astounded by the level and speed at which SPGS teachers languages. One term of Russian, mandarin and German in year 7- all three completely new languages for my daughter and she was understanding them and speaking to quite a high level for only 8/9 weeks that they get per language. In year 8 she took up two different foreign languages and both are being taught as a fast speed. She seems to have homework in them almost every day. This has really been contrasted with the science and maths teaching in year 7 which was slightly underwhelming. Getting better though as she progressed through the school.

@ViolettasAria Wow! Do they do a language carousel and then the DDs choose? It sounds like a brilliant opportunity to experience different languages!

How did everyone else’s DDs find spgs interview ? Presumably all interviews have now concluded and the long wait continues….

Just curious does SPGS also send offers on the 10th?

last year was exactly one week later. I remember the date was posted on their website last year, no idea about this year.

yes, Year 7 is a language carousel where they introduce all to Russian, Mandarin and German. At the end of year 7 they have to chose their Modern Language 1 - which has to be taken for GCSE, they also have to chose their Modern Language 2 - which can either be taken as a GCSE or dropped at the end of year 9. They also have an option to chose a Modern Language 3 but that's not in year 8. Options are French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Mandarin.
Outstanding language tuition from what I can see so far, fast paced and relatively demanding compared to other subjects.

Totally agree. I’ve been mainly lurking, but chipped in a couple of times.
I have one DD that got in with a scholarship and another DD that got in on the WL. Same school.
They are both doing extremely well and both happy. I must admit I did have a moment where I thought about DD2, being right at the bottom, of the cohort, as there was only 1 other person who also got in from WL.
Funny, it was one of DD1’s musings that made be think about how completely irrelevant it is, and not black and white at all.

Funny also both DDs sat the grammar exams and got into school on offers day. But DD2 who got into current secondary school, was placed higher in her cohort. Although the actually scores were pretty similar for both DD1 & DD2.
if that makes sense.

I mean DD2 who got in on WL, was higher placed in her grammar cohort.

Good luck to those with interviews this week - you are almost there!
And best of luck, of course, to those waiting on results this week (I think that Radnor is due today / tomorrow) and hopefully there will be others!!

Is Radnor due today? 😫 Oh God!!!

good in a way to get the negative news out of the way first 😫

Email for Radnor after the group event said by Friday 3rd Feb, so may be a while to wait yet sadly.

Thank you @Everydayshuffln

morning all! Good luck with whatever news come in today x

Sorry, I had not my mind, from conversations with friends, that Radnor was due early this week... but it may take a bit longer. Thanks @Everydayshuffln for the clarification.

Wishing all prompt and positive news!