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Secondary education

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

SW London Private and Grammar - applying for Year 7 in 2023 (Part VI)

1000 replies

QuiteAJourney · 09/02/2023 21:11

Following from our previous thread (link below)

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4731973-sw-london-private-and-grammar-applying-for-year-7-in-2023-part-v?page=40&reply=123775541

Looking forward to continuing the journey together!

OP posts:
redrobin75 · 10/02/2023 23:43

momomamiko · 10/02/2023 22:54

For those considering to release some offers, can I ask what is the best way to do it? I feel bad turning offers down and want to make sure we do so with the right wording/tone etc. TIA.

Whilst it's important to be polite it's fine to keep the email brief. The Admissions depts panic more if they have too many acceptances so they are expecting at least half or maybe 2/3rds of the offers to be rejected. What drives them mad is when parents don't accept or decline the offer despite various chasing methods. This is why the acceptance deadline is stuck to so rigidly.

Londonsummer · 11/02/2023 02:22

What a strange reasoning.

knopka · 11/02/2023 02:30

alltheleaves · 10/02/2023 22:34

I'm sure we'll run into each other 😊
I've found with secondary you're involved as much as you want to be. There's a great community but there's also recognition that it's secondary and there's no requirement to be involved. You also get communities within, like the musicians' or sports teams' parents all know each other because you meet up that way.

It all makes sense, I have read that there is some community initiatives going on during the weekends as well. I actually have not seen anything about uniform on the website, do you mind if I PM you? No worries if not.

elevenplusmum22 · 11/02/2023 07:24

Personally we released offers as soon as our minds were made up.

A polite but brief email to Admissions thanking them for the offer and declining.

I don’t understand why anyone would selfishly sit on offers they have no intention of accepting knowing people are on WL, but each to their own.

Firenze12 · 11/02/2023 07:25

Many congratulations for all the amazing offers!! So pleased for you all. I look forward to hearing where everyone chooses.

For those on wait lists, keep the faith, there will be movement. We have released all offers as we got GHS two weeks ago and have already revisited to be 100% sure. I think there will be some movement once all the offer holder events have taken place and then lots after state school allocation.

ChiefRoady · 11/02/2023 07:44

pme · 10/02/2023 23:33

We won't release our KCS offer until end of February - DS (not gifted or genius) worked so hard in the past 12 months to earn his place. He is absolutely entitled to keep the prize for himself a few more days!!

But why? If you’ve already decided? Your DS has the KCS offer and the kudos that comes with that whether you release that offer now or on the deadline

Drfosters · 11/02/2023 08:11

pme · 10/02/2023 23:33

We won't release our KCS offer until end of February - DS (not gifted or genius) worked so hard in the past 12 months to earn his place. He is absolutely entitled to keep the prize for himself a few more days!!

By all means keep until end of half term as admissions office is shut but please do release straight after. Some children have no firm offers and are waiting on a WL place. They have also worked super hard for 18 months and the whole family will be having a pretty sad half term. I know, I’ve been there. All worked out in the end but I had many a sleepless night over it.

eglantine7 · 11/02/2023 08:19

Notskiiing · 10/02/2023 16:43

It's no from Ibstock for us. It was our first choice - we are walking distance and have lots of friends there with happy children.

I think lots of IPS offers will be released (know it's a back up for many) but then IPS must over offer significantly to counter this.

@Notskiiing
Hi there and so sorry about this. I thought thr 11 plus process was very cruel and often made no sense for such young children. Out dd had several offers 2 years ago ( now in year 8) but didn't get LUS which was hers and our top choice. We chose IPS but we hadn't seen it at all due to covid. When we finally got to see it we just didn't like it and the location was so awkward it onvolved moving house. They only allowed us to see the school in June. Shortly after er gave up the place and decided our local state school was actually very good and this is where she goes.
Anyway, IPS took a term's fees up from is for her place and her brothers. In June. They said they would not be able to fill those places. I do find that hard to believe given how competitive it is.
I would perhaps get in touch with them again as it's a good choice for someone as local as you.
For those on WL, we had 2 come through from competitive girls schools by July so don't give up hope. Email and check in evey few weeks. We gave these up as dd had make up her mind that her local state school ( sought after, popular) was what she wanted, but it's worked out better than I could have hoped.
Congratulations to all those holding offers - please do relelease as early as you can, it has a knock on effect. Also release your state school places of you don't want them as children are waiting for these too!

SamPoodle123 · 11/02/2023 08:21

pme · 10/02/2023 23:33

We won't release our KCS offer until end of February - DS (not gifted or genius) worked so hard in the past 12 months to earn his place. He is absolutely entitled to keep the prize for himself a few more days!!

Where will he go instead? Where else did he get into? My ds is next in line, so I need to start thinking about boy schools. We are considering KCS, St Pauls, LU, Emanuel. But it is hard to tell year 4 how high to realistically aim. He is a late bloomer I would say and in a state school. However, gets GDS in everything now with minimal effort. But after just going through the 11+ w my dd (who got offers to G&L, Putney, FHSS and Emanuel) I know the standards are very high and competition fierce.

Rivermarsh · 11/02/2023 08:33

Please do release offers - I also don’t understand why you’d feel DC are ‘entitled to keep the prize’. The offer letters are yours to keep - could you not release the school place? All DC have worked extremely hard. Your post reads as though children with offers have worked the hardest.

QuiteAJourney · 11/02/2023 08:38

We will be releasing SCHS, Woldingham and Harrodian on Monday. That leaves us with IPS, KGS, WHS and Emanuel, which we will visit again before deciding asap after that.

To sit on offers that you know already you won't be taking on account of holding only a prize is not only warped thinking (surely it is easy enough to understand that the prize is the fact of being offered in itself) but also tellingly selfish.

Behave with others as you would like others to behave with you.

OP posts:
pme · 11/02/2023 08:50

ChiefRoady · 11/02/2023 07:44

But why? If you’ve already decided? Your DS has the KCS offer and the kudos that comes with that whether you release that offer now or on the deadline

Why not? It is a London hunger game!
It is half term don't think it makes any difference, plus we want to visit the school one more time in case, and then is end of February.

If we are on the waiting list we will be happy to let the offer holders keep the offer until expiry date, it is in their rights and we have to manage our expectation according to that timeline.

Some people just like to occupy a high moral ground to criticize, not seeing itself in the mirrors.

@SamPoodle123 very likely DS will go to SPS, it is easier commute for us.

Redapples81 · 11/02/2023 08:57

All the admissions offices I spoke to are open.

QuiteAJourney · 11/02/2023 09:00

pme · 11/02/2023 08:50

Why not? It is a London hunger game!
It is half term don't think it makes any difference, plus we want to visit the school one more time in case, and then is end of February.

If we are on the waiting list we will be happy to let the offer holders keep the offer until expiry date, it is in their rights and we have to manage our expectation according to that timeline.

Some people just like to occupy a high moral ground to criticize, not seeing itself in the mirrors.

@SamPoodle123 very likely DS will go to SPS, it is easier commute for us.

Not the moral high ground, it is called empathy (and understanding that lack of movement before deadlines might cost those people, beyond the stress) and additional deposit.

But given your previous contributions, not surprising. You are, at least, consistent.

OP posts:
Taurus23 · 11/02/2023 09:20

If anyone gives up a WHS an offer before the 2nd March you will have made a little girl over here very happy (and save a mummy a double deposit!) should she be lucky enough to get it!!

In any case congratulations to all xx

alltheleaves · 11/02/2023 09:22

@knopka definitely PM me! All the uniform information will come in the pack that gets sent out after you've accepted so don't panic about it yet. There's also a second hand uniform in the summer with priority for yr6/7s.

Ernern · 11/02/2023 09:28

We will give up LEH for G&L while waiting for Tiffin Girls. Good luck to the LEH WLs.

WLs, pls don't give up hopes! 💪

Ernern · 11/02/2023 09:28

Ernern · 11/02/2023 09:28

We will give up LEH for G&L while waiting for Tiffin Girls. Good luck to the LEH WLs.

WLs, pls don't give up hopes! 💪

Monday.

Daydreamscometrue · 11/02/2023 09:32

We've already given up one school and will be visiting three. The other one we are wait listed for.

eglantine7 · 11/02/2023 09:46

Taurus23 · 11/02/2023 09:20

If anyone gives up a WHS an offer before the 2nd March you will have made a little girl over here very happy (and save a mummy a double deposit!) should she be lucky enough to get it!!

In any case congratulations to all xx

We were offered it in Summer but then passed it away. Fingers crossed for you 🤞
Everyone else please release your state school offers too. For schools like WHS, this makes a huge difference to WL, Tiffin, Graveney etc.

VickiMent · 11/02/2023 09:52

We will release our offers on Monday. It is our intention to keep two and attend offer holder days but both offer holder day invites are at the same time.

BookMan2 · 11/02/2023 10:24

Agree seems like a ridiculous and selfish thing to do

BookMan2 · 11/02/2023 10:28

At this rate you’ll have to update her birth certificate to include “got offers to G&L, Putney, FHSS and Emanuel”

eglantine7 · 11/02/2023 10:31

BookMan2 · 11/02/2023 10:28

At this rate you’ll have to update her birth certificate to include “got offers to G&L, Putney, FHSS and Emanuel”

LOL

Shiningsun · 11/02/2023 10:34

LOL, I know @BookMan2

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