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

Original poster

SW London Private and Grammar - applying for year 7 in 2023 (part V)

995 replies

QuiteAJourney · 30/01/2023 18:43

Following from our previous threads, including the latest (link below) www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4723610-sw-london-private-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023?page=40

Looking forward to continuing the journey together

OP posts:
Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 02/02/2023 20:51

confu5ed · 02/02/2023 20:47

We have Radnor! Phew!!! Congrats to all those who have!

Many congrats!

OP posts:
sugarcookie5 · 02/02/2023 21:50

Hello!! SO lovely to hear about all the offers! Congratulations!! Awaiting possible news this/next week/ahhh!!!

Firenze12 · 02/02/2023 22:00

Yay well done on all the Radnor offers!!

Daydreamscometrue · 02/02/2023 22:09

What school is due next?

AC7001 · 02/02/2023 22:17

As fate would have it, am I the first one to fire the first "No offer" bullet?

St Paul (Boys) 11+ was out yesterday and we got the "no offer" email. Entirely expected but I am still very proud of DS to have passed 2 stages (stage 1 ISEB) and stage 2 (written exams) into the interview stage of only about 100+ boys, from his "humble" beginning. A few more to come on Feb 10 and wish me and everyone luck!

Daydreamscometrue · 02/02/2023 22:22

@AC7001 sorry to hear that. Well done to your DS for making it to interview though. That's an achievement in itself.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 02/02/2023 22:29

@AC7001 sorry to hear about your news. As you say, you have very good reasons to feel proud of your DS...and absolutely the right approach in keeping the spirits high for the 10th.

OP posts:
Pigeon25 · 02/02/2023 22:56

Londonsummer · 02/02/2023 19:05

Wednesday 8th, sorry!

Does anyone have any stats on Epsom college? Applications to offer ratios, etc? It’s the first one we are waiting to hear back from and honestly I think by this time next week I’m definitely going to have a stress ulcer….

LoveMyADHD · 02/02/2023 23:15

@AC7001 that’s so rubbish, I’m sorry 😥

Bet he ll smash the next one!!! 💪🙏

VickiMent · 02/02/2023 23:39

@Pigeon25 I heard at the exam that there were more than 800 applicants which is much higher than usual and that a higher % of them were boys. I haven't been able to find anything with the #places but I think I heard 60 before?? Does anyone know this?

Since they interviewed everyone it is harder to understand the odds.

My DS is very keen and I am with you @Pigeon25 on the stress levels. He was lucky to get an offer yesterday, which helps but I am still feeling very stressed waiting for next week!

Londonsummer · 02/02/2023 23:42

Daydreamscometrue · 02/02/2023 22:22

@AC7001 sorry to hear that. Well done to your DS for making it to interview though. That's an achievement in itself.

I second this - fantastic achievement to get to that stage and should be very proud. I'm sure multiple offers will follow next week for you.

VickiMent · 02/02/2023 23:43

@AC7001 Sorry to hear that. SPS is a tough one so your DS did well to get so far in their process and I am sure he will have some great news next week.

Londonsummer · 02/02/2023 23:51

VickiMent · 02/02/2023 23:39

@Pigeon25 I heard at the exam that there were more than 800 applicants which is much higher than usual and that a higher % of them were boys. I haven't been able to find anything with the #places but I think I heard 60 before?? Does anyone know this?

Since they interviewed everyone it is harder to understand the odds.

My DS is very keen and I am with you @Pigeon25 on the stress levels. He was lucky to get an offer yesterday, which helps but I am still feeling very stressed waiting for next week!

I don't recall available places at 11+ being mentioned at Epsom. I think the total number of students is about 900 so makes me think there should more than 60 places at this stage.

Are you also waiting to hear from St John's? I'd imagine there's a lot of overlap in applicants for those two.

Didsomeonesay · 03/02/2023 00:01

epsom have 80-90 places in lower school. They try to balance evey between boys and girls.

When my DS sat a few years ago there were 400 applications for those spaces. I can’t believe it’s doubled in that time 😳

VickiMent · 03/02/2023 00:11

@Didsomeonesay that sounds a bit better than I thought, although still tricky odds. I gather a lot of schools have extra applications this year. Not necessarily because they are more popular but because people are sitting a higher number of schools.

@Londonsummer yes, we are also waiting on St John's. A lot from our prep sat one or the other, although I think for most they were a back up. We are very keen though.

Londonsummer · 03/02/2023 00:27

VickiMent · 03/02/2023 00:11

@Didsomeonesay that sounds a bit better than I thought, although still tricky odds. I gather a lot of schools have extra applications this year. Not necessarily because they are more popular but because people are sitting a higher number of schools.

@Londonsummer yes, we are also waiting on St John's. A lot from our prep sat one or the other, although I think for most they were a back up. We are very keen though.

@VickiMent fingers crossed for you. Epsom will be interesting as they won't be able to use interviews to gauge interest of applicants and as you said, it's not top choice for a good number who may be offered for different reasons. I really hope this comes through for you on Wednesday!

Firenze12 · 03/02/2023 06:20

@AC7001 sorry to hear that but as you say he has done so well to pass all the exam stage and get to interview. I'm sure next week will bring good news.

Asham · 03/02/2023 06:40

Hi, Re Epsom. I called them. Last year there were 450 applicants, 150 offers and 25 wait list places. This year there are 420 applicants and I assume the offers will be around 150 again with 25 WL. The 800 figure also includes 13 plus, those sitting for 13 plus take the same exam as the 11 plus but start at 13.

we got CFC too and waiting for Reeds today. Nerve wrecking!

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 03/02/2023 07:09

@asham, really interesting information on Epsom, thanks for sharing it.
Given increase in number of applications per student, they might increase offers and/or WL in relation to last year.
Also interesting that applications are almost same (actually a bit lower) than last year, whilst overall trend for co-eds seems to have been an increase. I wonder whether, because of the distance, Epsom has a 'natural ceiling' of demand - also, St John's seems to have emerged as a competitor in that space (quite a few people in our prep have applied to St John's but not Epsom).

OP posts:
Asham · 03/02/2023 07:13

You are welcome.

I think Saturday school is a bit of a put off for people. We love it and it’s one of our top choices after IPS.

VickiMent · 03/02/2023 07:22

@asham that's really interesting, others when we where there were making a big deal about the increase in numbers. Definitely reassuring, although I am still a bag of nerves.

The Saturday school and the higher frees seem to have put some people we know off. It is a very impressive school though.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 03/02/2023 07:25

Asham · 03/02/2023 07:13

You are welcome.

I think Saturday school is a bit of a put off for people. We love it and it’s one of our top choices after IPS.

Agree that Saturday school is a put off (it was for us). Other people shy away also (or at least partly) because of higher fees and distance. But it has so much to offer, both academically and extra-curricularly. We have a friends with very happy kids there.

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 03/02/2023 07:33

Congratulations on those that got offers. All of ours seem to be on the 10th!! Putney is our only hope of one coming early. Last year it was Feb 7th Monda, so I am wondering if this year it would be Feb the 6th Monday....since they followed the same timeline for the interview emails as last year.

cerealchange · 03/02/2023 08:04

We are waiting on both putney and epsom next week so if that's true @SamPoodle123 we will potentially have two early ones! DD loves both but I think Epsom had the edge- Saturday school is a positive for her as she likes seeing her friends (she's one who loves school). We really liked the new head and felt like Epsom is very much on the up. I admit the fees are an issue but looking around it's easy to see where the money goes, the place is impressive and I felt there was a sense of belonging to something a lot larger. She loved Putney too though and is super tall ans Putney has rowing so has an edge over Epsom there!!

swgeek · 03/02/2023 08:36

@Asham interesting info. I think they might offer a bit less than last year as takeup was too high last year - current year 7 are about 90-95 kids rather than the 85 they had originally planned, so I wonder if they are going to be a bit more conservative this year.

Great to see the first offers coming in on this thread, hopefully many more to follow!

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