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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 · 08/02/2023 18:44

And if WHS has a portal, perhaps people can check it the morning, as it might be updated before the emails come out. I plan to check morning of for FHSS.

sugarcookie5 · 08/02/2023 18:48

Firenze12 · 08/02/2023 18:31

@sugarcookie5 can you go back to the senior schools you have offers with and see if they can adjust the bursary amount? Prep schools also a good option.

Yes! That’s the plan! Thank you! I’ve emailed and explained we’d struggle to send Dc there with B amount offered but it would be our first choice and as we were cleared for the full B is there any way we can discuss etc- so hoping! Been ringing around and emailing preps and have meeting this Friday with one!

Firenze12 · 08/02/2023 18:57

Sounds like you are on it! I think that once schools have got more of idea of acceptances, then they will be in a better place to know how much bursary they can offer. Good luck @sugarcookie5

KindergartenKop · 08/02/2023 18:57

@QuiteAJourney I've been cool 😎 and calm up until now but your mention of Mega Friday has made me nervous now! I can't believe it's two days away!!!

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 08/02/2023 19:09

SamPoodle123 · 08/02/2023 18:44

And if WHS has a portal, perhaps people can check it the morning, as it might be updated before the emails come out. I plan to check morning of for FHSS.

They do have a portal. Interestingly, they do not mention post, so they seem to have gone fully electronic / digital.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 08/02/2023 19:27

KindergartenKop · 08/02/2023 18:57

@QuiteAJourney I've been cool 😎 and calm up until now but your mention of Mega Friday has made me nervous now! I can't believe it's two days away!!!

Not my intention to panic but a light-hearted attempt to convey the impact of the event! (at least on this thread!!)
Like you, I have been (relatively) cool until now but as the time approaches I am definitely getting more stressed.

OP posts:
KindergartenKop · 08/02/2023 19:50

@QuiteAJourney it's ok, my panic isn't your fault! Roll on Friday!

sugarcookie5 · 08/02/2023 19:54

Firenze12 · 08/02/2023 18:57

Sounds like you are on it! I think that once schools have got more of idea of acceptances, then they will be in a better place to know how much bursary they can offer. Good luck @sugarcookie5

Thank you so much! Seeing Feltonfleet this Friday so looking forward to that

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 08/02/2023 19:54

@KindergartenKop Roll on indeed! It cannot arrive too soon, as far as I am concerned...

OP posts:
sugarcookie5 · 08/02/2023 20:07

Ahhh two days to go til Ibstock news!!!!!

Lolakath19 · 08/02/2023 20:41

I had my heart racing when I saw the email from WHS on my phone with title half cut it reads 11+ outcome. I opened it and just saw very short message and no attachment and I told myself it is a no. Took my 30s to realise it was just to inform they will email on Friday..
This 11+ makes me crazy...

knopka · 08/02/2023 20:50

Congratulations to those with offers , fingers crossed for WL and commiserations for all no offers, this process is hard.

Because its driving me crazy, has anyone's child at Emanuel interviews had Ms M Galbraith do the interviews? I am trying to work out who interviewed my children and they keep changing the name as the time goes on. Just curious. I caught a glimpse of her but not the name.

LoveMyADHD · 08/02/2023 20:56

Have to say good luck with decision making to all Epsom offers holder

news update this evening would make me really nervous around certain decisions school made on their hire … not easy on anyone who have EC as top choice… good luck all

RedDogBlueDog · 08/02/2023 21:22

This reply has been withdrawn

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

Original poster
QuiteAJourney · 08/02/2023 21:25

@RedDogBlueDog very interesting. Those are very much some of the things I would be looking for, tbh.

OP posts:
noideaboutanything · 08/02/2023 21:54

This reply has been deleted

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

Totally agree with this.

HawaiiWake · 08/02/2023 22:07

LoveMyADHD · 08/02/2023 20:56

Have to say good luck with decision making to all Epsom offers holder

news update this evening would make me really nervous around certain decisions school made on their hire … not easy on anyone who have EC as top choice… good luck all

Really sad what happened but I believe Epsom have handled this difficult time well. Their decision would be based on her extensive experience as head for 6 years at Croydon High School, part of the GDST, independent girls school network.

Didsomeonesay · 08/02/2023 22:22

@HawaiiWake

Very well put. I’ll be sending in my forms signed by the end of this week.

As a mother with a child at the school I can’t express how incredible they have been this week.

They’ve had counselling sessions for all children, they were supportive and professional yet still somehow managed to get offers out this week when the vast majority had assumed that they would pause proceedings.

@LoveMyADHD thank you for your concern though. I’m sure you meant well by your comment.

LoveMyADHD · 08/02/2023 22:27

@HawaiiWake of course I did , factually it’s an awful situation , possibly raises further questions, and it will be a difficult time for future parents too

wishing good luck is all it is , nothing to worry about in terms of my intentions

LoveMyADHD · 08/02/2023 22:28

@HawaiiWake apologies that was for @Didsomeonesay

cerealchange · 08/02/2023 22:53

@LoveMyADHD which article?

PreplexJ · 08/02/2023 23:03

Lolakath19 · 07/02/2023 18:59

I think the 11+ process is brutal and might not reflect true ability. A child that stress for exam might underperform or the other way around. I am not sure if any other country have something similar. From where I am from there is a selection to go to the top secondary school based on the school report and grade over the past 2/3 years. They know that if you come from this primary or that one the teacher might marked more severely etc. I find it less stressful and do not encourage heavy tutoring and pressure on children. There are been so much cases of girls that were average in their cohort until year 4 /5 , suddenly being tutored to death and ending to top school where they would probably thrive better in a slightly less academic environment. At my sons school, teacher complains that some boys are still heavily tutored after entering at 7+ (y3). given the level dc now reach at 7/8/11 and 13 you could think that UK will end up with best candidates worldwide .. but then they don’t do anything for the next 2/3 years at their secondary.. until it is time to tutor again for gcse? Sorry for my moaning lool

The true ability of DCs reflects in different forms.
Selective schools (esp private) can use different selection criteria to assess and select the pupils they prefer. Even most of the selection process is academic based, the exam format can vary with different focus.

For example, SPGS round 2 & London consortium has problem solving questions. NLCS had emphasis on open maths questions. School does CEM select focus on speed and time control ability. HBS had heavy focus at NVR and English. Some other school look for team work and collaboration in the classroom settings.

It is a brutal process, and I think 11 is a bit too early (well then you have 4+ 7+ prep...). But I think if one has to send their DCs to 11+ exam for whatever reasons (mostly academic reason I presume). Different schools having different form of exams is way better than one single exam fits all case. It kinds of smoothing out the variability and give DCs the chances to find the schools that fits their true ability or potential.

cerealchange · 08/02/2023 23:09

Apologies I have googled most recent news now.

I am not the slightest bit concerned about Epsom's staff recruitment. I believe this was a classic example of coercive control by an abuser who wants to remind his wife that she only has a career because he allows her to and that he can stop it at any time. Also that if she tries to leave he will be accuse her of being an unfit mother and take custody. This is probably why she didn't call the police rather than her sister.

Sorry I know this thread is not for discussing this incident but just wanted to give my reasons why this incident has not effected my opinion of the school for DD

PreplexJ · 08/02/2023 23:11

SamPoodle123 · 07/02/2023 18:41

Yes, it will def move, as dc applying there might also apply to G&L and SPGS. My dd saw a bunch of Bute girls at the interview and they mostly go to the 3 hammersmith school with only a few going to Putney.

Show quote history

Why we have to assume Butes girls will likely to choose G&l and SPGS over PHS?

A lot of mums said they are very similar level school anyway? Is it because SW parents want to pay higher tuition fee?

I'm pretty sure it is not just a human prestige thing as this thread frequently quoted.

LoveMyADHD · 08/02/2023 23:31

@Lolakath19 ”but then they don’t do anything for the next 2/3 years at their secondary.. until it is time to tutor again for gcse?”

seriously 😬? What do they do for two years then?
when do they actually start thinking about gcse?
so is gcse pressure exactly same as 11+ all over again ? 😳

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