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Secondary education

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:
SamPoodle123 · 05/02/2023 12:28

QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 09:25

Very much our experience too. I did not notice if the HM was actually interviewing (I did not pay much attention, tbh, just saw him mingling and chatting) but members of the SLT (which I remember from the open day) were involved.
As you say, everybody seemed to be taking the same time and, at least from the ones that we know, the lines of questioning where rather similar and not what you would usually associate with an additional academic element.

Show quote history

The HM was doing interviews the previous day. Our day he was mingling with the parents and had mentioned he was doing interviews the previous day.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 12:43

@SamPoodle123 It makes sense ... given the numbers they invited back, it would have been an "all hands on deck" exercise!

OP posts:
Daydreamscometrue · 05/02/2023 15:56

Yes that was quite an under taking! Still means that lots of children are going to be left with a no though. What did we imagine the number of offers/waiting list places for Emanuel?

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 16:04

@Daydreamscometrue They are increasingly popular, but I think that they will need to have at least some 300 with an offer or in WL. But that would still leave around 1/2 of those interviews without a chance.
The other issue to note is that, depending on quite a few factors, the chances can be quite different. They still have sibling preference and their admissions policy states that successful scholarship candidates will be given preference as long as they have passed the exam threshold (i.e. which I assume to be as long as they have passed the threshold for the second stage). They are very clear on the 50:50 boys and girls and also have publicly stated that they aim for 50:50 split between state and private.
Plus (or maybe because of all of the above) a reputation of being quite difficult to predict.

OP posts:
Daydreamscometrue · 05/02/2023 16:22

@QuiteAJourney quite a lot of variables then. It's going to be a mystery to us all until Friday.

Pleasegrowmore · 05/02/2023 16:37

Daydreamscometrue · 05/02/2023 09:34

I get the impression academic scholarships are becoming much more difficult to obtain. Several years ago I know of a girl in DD's year getting offered 25 percent at WHS. I haven't heard of anything like that since.

They also are rarely actually a proper scholarship, in that sense that I think I would have expected (eg fees paid). I know someone who was offered an academic scholarship last year at WHS and when they asked what that actually meant in terms of fee reduction they were told 10%.

Daydreamscometrue · 05/02/2023 16:39

@Pleasegrowmore yes you're right. I've also heard of 5 percent being offered at FHSS.

Firenze12 · 05/02/2023 17:17

Yes think 5% for academic scholarships is quite normal now.

SamPoodle123 · 05/02/2023 18:52

QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 16:04

@Daydreamscometrue They are increasingly popular, but I think that they will need to have at least some 300 with an offer or in WL. But that would still leave around 1/2 of those interviews without a chance.
The other issue to note is that, depending on quite a few factors, the chances can be quite different. They still have sibling preference and their admissions policy states that successful scholarship candidates will be given preference as long as they have passed the exam threshold (i.e. which I assume to be as long as they have passed the threshold for the second stage). They are very clear on the 50:50 boys and girls and also have publicly stated that they aim for 50:50 split between state and private.
Plus (or maybe because of all of the above) a reputation of being quite difficult to predict.

I asked the head about the private vrs state and if they made sure it was 50/50 and he said no, but it ends up being about that.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 19:38

@SamPoodle123 Interesting that this was the wording used by the HM (different to the one the one that I had heard). I suppose that the numbers being the same is what matters - e.g. if you have a DD from state (or, for the matter, from prep), there will be 24 places available. Once siblings and scholars are given preference, numbers do not look very high.

OP posts:
Trickleg · 05/02/2023 20:15

I don’t think many people give full scholarships now - Trinity/Whitgift’s “up to 50%” is about as big as it seems to get. That money has been channelled into bursaries instead I think.

Daydreamscometrue · 05/02/2023 20:19

@QuiteAJourney yes it's looking like Emanuel will be a stretch. It's hard when they enjoyed the classroom experience and interview.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 20:24

@Daydreamscometrue agree.

OP posts:
sugarcookie5 · 05/02/2023 20:29

HerbertChops · 04/02/2023 11:04

We have an offer from Halliford in the post this morning. It’s our top choice so very happy.

Hi! Well done! Was it a ‘fat’ envelope or thin? Was it just a letter etc? Interested to know please!!

SamPoodle123 · 05/02/2023 20:32

QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 19:38

@SamPoodle123 Interesting that this was the wording used by the HM (different to the one the one that I had heard). I suppose that the numbers being the same is what matters - e.g. if you have a DD from state (or, for the matter, from prep), there will be 24 places available. Once siblings and scholars are given preference, numbers do not look very high.

oh wow, yes this does not seem high at all!

SamPoodle123 · 05/02/2023 20:35

@QuiteAJourney just thought of something, they over offer, so perhaps they offer to 50 dc for the 24 spots you refer to for the state/prep dc

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 20:39

@SamPoodle123 my reference was to places available. Of course, offers will need to be more. As per my previous post, I would be surprised if they do not offer or waist list around 3 times the places available. They are increasingly popular but still not preferred option for quite a few people.

OP posts:
sugarcookie5 · 05/02/2023 20:42

Trickleg · 05/02/2023 20:15

I don’t think many people give full scholarships now - Trinity/Whitgift’s “up to 50%” is about as big as it seems to get. That money has been channelled into bursaries instead I think.

Yes think so- do you know which schools offer the largest amount of bursaries?

RedDogBlueDog · 05/02/2023 20:48

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 21:07

@RedDogBlueDog There are 96 places available at Emanuel. Given that it works out 50:50 boys:girls and 50:50 state:private, you can think about it as
24 places for DDs from state
24 places for DDs from private
24 places for DSs from state
24 places for DSs from private
Within those, siblings and scholars have preference, making numbers smaller if you are not in one of those categories. Of course, as per previous messages, places is not the same as offers, but the numbers are quite sobering.

OP posts:
SamPoodle123 · 05/02/2023 21:33

QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 21:07

@RedDogBlueDog There are 96 places available at Emanuel. Given that it works out 50:50 boys:girls and 50:50 state:private, you can think about it as
24 places for DDs from state
24 places for DDs from private
24 places for DSs from state
24 places for DSs from private
Within those, siblings and scholars have preference, making numbers smaller if you are not in one of those categories. Of course, as per previous messages, places is not the same as offers, but the numbers are quite sobering.

Yea, does not seem like a lot! Will be interesting when offers come in Friday. I wonder if all schools will email first thing in the morning?

Daydreamscometrue · 05/02/2023 21:34

@SamPoodle123 I'm wondering the same. Anyone from last year know?

noideaboutanything · 05/02/2023 21:44

@sugarcookie5 A4 envelope, quite fat!

SWLParent · 05/02/2023 21:50

Really hope the results come out in the morning, the wait has been so long!!

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 05/02/2023 21:54

From last year's thread, results trickle down during the day. KGS, Emanuel, IPS and Harrodian seemed to have emailed in the afternoon...

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