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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:
quizaddict · 07/02/2023 13:05

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:01

I've just started anew thread on this but we've sadly had one offers and I wonder if anyone has heard of offers after a straight rejection letter (no wait list)? Posting here for traffic.

@Eighthour yes, LU did that two years ago

SWLParent · 07/02/2023 13:08

@Eighthour sorry did you mean you have one offer?

invigilator · 07/02/2023 13:10

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:01

I've just started anew thread on this but we've sadly had one offers and I wonder if anyone has heard of offers after a straight rejection letter (no wait list)? Posting here for traffic.

It can happen but not very likely so probably better to ring round schools you may not have thought of including Preps that go up to 13. It's not that uncommon and I know DCs that have got 'late places' at Fulham School, The Hall in Wimbledon, Thomas's and Radnor etc. There are a few new senior schools opening up as well. Families move from abroad and manage to find schools so it is possible. You've got nothing to lose contacting the schools you applied to again as well. Good luck- I'm sure it will work out but the Waitlists may need to move first.

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:10

No offers but we I'm aware of some other schools that we can now approach and will likely have spaces.

@quizaddict, please can you give a few more details ... what were the circumstances. Did the parents call Admissions regularly or was there a particular reason for this applicant. Were they always a good academic fit?

invigilator · 07/02/2023 13:12

A relative got a place at Kings Wimbledon out of the blue a couple of years ago. I think their prep head may have asked why they got a 'no' but they didn't really keep in touch with the school. I think sometimes it may happen if schools have too many acceptances and therefore need to fill an extra class.

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:13

We actually know someone that had a very late offer from LU 2 years ago (current Y8). They had already paid a deposit elsewhere so I don't think they were expecting the offer. What would have happened at LU for them to go beyond WL? They're usually a sought after school with good GCSE results. Wondering if that was around the time of 'Everyone's Invited' because LU featured heavily on that.

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:14

@invigilator was the relative a good academic fit for the school in the first place so the fact they didn't get an offer was an anomaly?

invigilator · 07/02/2023 13:15

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:14

@invigilator was the relative a good academic fit for the school in the first place so the fact they didn't get an offer was an anomaly?

They got to interview stage so must have been OK on the academic front.

SWLParent · 07/02/2023 13:15

@Eighthour has your prep head been calling the schools?

Jibberty · 07/02/2023 13:20

Congratulations to all those with offers for PHS - my old school, and heartfelt commiserations to those with WL. Please don't give up hope, these lists do move and so many I know this year have applied to a larger number of schools than usual years, so there will be lots of movement across the board - the kids can't go to more than one school after all.

Although I don't need to do this again, I have done it a few times more than is good for my well-being and genuinely feel every post as if it were mine. Fingers crossed for you all for the rest of this week.

SWLParent · 07/02/2023 13:20

Does anyone know what time the G&L emails came out last year?

11plusmom · 07/02/2023 13:22

@SWLParent Friday 10am on the dot for us

SWLParent · 07/02/2023 13:24

Thanks @11plusmom these last few days are going so slowly! 🤪

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:29

Thanks @invigilator

Our prep head has not made any calls yet.

Lolakath19 · 07/02/2023 13:31

Did anyone got academic scholarship offer at PHS ?

Taurus23 · 07/02/2023 13:38

We’re waitlist at Putney but no email as yet. Has anyone else had their waiting list email?

Luckily it’s not our first choice and we have Surbiton in the bag which we prefer.

It is a bit of a downer though in terms of what to expect for WHS and LEH!

What a process this is!!

EweCee · 07/02/2023 13:44

@Taurus23 have you had your Surbiton pack in the post yet? We are still awaiting ours (have the email offer) - particularly as it includes the outcome of a scholarship- but we aren't getting post at present so its really infuriating not knowing the details yet so can't confirm our choice of school yet!

Taurus23 · 07/02/2023 13:45

@EweCee yes we’ve got the pack on the Saturday. No scholarship for us but we weren’t expecting one.

Perhaps you can call to find out?

EweCee · 07/02/2023 13:48

@Taurus23 I'm sitting on my hands to not call them as they said in the email offer not to contact them regarding details of offer until after 12pm on Wednesday (tomorrow)!

Taurus23 · 07/02/2023 13:51

@EweCee Oh yes it did. Yeah, maybe don’t then!

quizaddict · 07/02/2023 13:51

Eighthour · 07/02/2023 13:10

No offers but we I'm aware of some other schools that we can now approach and will likely have spaces.

@quizaddict, please can you give a few more details ... what were the circumstances. Did the parents call Admissions regularly or was there a particular reason for this applicant. Were they always a good academic fit?

I was told that people were called out of the blue - ie LU had worked their way through the waitlist and then started working down the non-offer/non WL list. I'm afraid I don't know about fit/reason, just that non-WL kids were offered places two years ago

invigilator · 07/02/2023 13:57

Once it gets to the summer many people won't take a WL as they're wedded to their choice. If a school didn't have a huge waitlist and gets a late withdrawal they may struggle to fill the place from the WL and may go to those who maybe just missed out. A friend got a place in August at Hampton from the WL- they were keen to accept it but got the feeling they weren't at the top of the list! The place they'd accepted at another school similarly would then need to be filled etc etc.

SamPoodle123 · 07/02/2023 13:58

Workhar · 07/02/2023 12:57

@Lolakath19 @SamPoodle123 did you read the offer Letter in detail? Anything to take notice of?

Nothing that I saw. It all looks straightforward. We did ask about exploding offers during the interview day when waiting and from the response I got it seemed they would not do that and any school that did would make it clear in the offer letter. The offer email just mentions a part from the interview, that they are confident dd would thrive there and holder event info.

SamPoodle123 · 07/02/2023 14:00

Lolakath19 · 07/02/2023 13:31

Did anyone got academic scholarship offer at PHS ?

Not my dd, but we now someone that did get an academic scholarship offer.

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 07/02/2023 14:01

LondonMum20222 · 07/02/2023 12:33

If PHS is high up your list, call Admissions soonest and ask where DD is on the WL. Make it really clear to them that it's your first choice, and that you'll accept it if offered (if that's true, obviously!)

There will be some movement over the next couple of weeks as offers roll in - some will reject PHS quite quickly, others perhaps not until after offer holders' days, perhaps some not til national offers day for state schools on March 1st. It's definitely not all over if she's WLed. But I totally sympathise that it's a horrible conversation to have to have with a 10 or 11 year old.

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@Sass22 Sorry to hear.
I completely endorse what @LondonMum20222 says - don't lose hope and engage with the Admissions office asap.

OP posts: