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Secondary education

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Original poster

All schools rejected at 11+. What now?

187 replies

lirik · 13/02/2023 13:57

Apologies for the wall of text and a clickbaity title. One school, The Leys in Cambridge, put our daughter on waiting list with final answer due March 8th, and 10 others rejected.

We are based overseas, planning to move to UK this summer. Daughter is currently at NLCS (Singapore).

We have hired education consultants to help navigate UK schooling landscape, aid with school selection, applications, etc. We have also engaged tutors to help prep for 11+ over past year or so.

Now that most schools rejected, consultants are proposing to consider Fulham till 13+ and try again after two years, or just stay at Fulham senior till sixth form.
Another option is to try apply to few schools that haven't done their tests yet. Namely we currently have on our radar Eaton Square Senior School and Radnor House.
A good friend recommends to settle in area with good and outstanding schools only and hire tutors aiming for 13+ or sixth-form.
Locationwise we'd prefer London but can entertain outside London commutable to city. In a pinch if need be can consider pretty much anywhere in UK. I recon I can reach an agreement with the employer.

OP posts:
Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 14:42

HawaiiWake · 13/02/2023 14:14

NCLS Singapore, any chance for NCLS London?
Fulham Senior, and apply for 13+, also check for occasional places since London you have family relocation for work.
Get a list of places you want to apply or reapply. London ones, which ones did you apply for? Others on MN can maybe help with suggestions that you didn’t have on your initial list.

No. NLCS London is out of question. We did apply, mostly because daughter wanted to try and we wanted to encourage her will to take up the challenge. Predictably got rejected. Very few manage to move from NLCS (something) to NLCS London.

In London we applied to Highgate, and 11+ consortium (Channing, Queen's college, Francis Holland).

For Fulham, my understanding Fulham senior starts at year 9 and it is a very new school opened just recently. So proposal is to enter Fulham primary till 13+ at which point either go for Fulham senior or some other school.

OP posts:
Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 14:44

SheilaFentiman · 13/02/2023 14:10

If you move in the summer, I don’t think state schools will get back to you before the start of term.

Ugh. So what happens in this situation? Kids just don't get into any school? Pardon my ignorance. I haven't explored state school option at all. My bad.

OP posts:
woohooho · 13/02/2023 14:45

Fulham Senior does stay at y9 and has been open a few years now. Know happy children there.

Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 14:45

Trickleg · 13/02/2023 14:12

Try Ewell Castle or Hall School Wimbledon - both accept applications outside the usual cycle.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 14:48

TallulahBetty · 13/02/2023 14:13

You'll have to slum it in a state school with the rest of the great unwashed.

I don't mind. I finished state school. My daughter can manage too.

I'm trying to find best option available to me in this situation. I know there are good state schools. I haven't explored this mostly because they are likely more competitive than independent. At least that was my assumption.

OP posts:
Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 14:52

ItsTrueLou · 13/02/2023 14:15

With that many rejections for a child with private tutors and seemingly unlimited resources to attain educational goals, I suggest you look at less academic, private schools and focus on her receiving good pastoral care and allowing her to enjoy her school days. Nothing is worse than being bottom of the class all the time in an overachieving environment. Not all private schools are for high achievers.

I appreciate this sentiment. Thank you for voicing this. It is indeed something we think about a lot. In the end of the day our goal is to make sure our daughter grows up happy.

OP posts:
Gertrudegraduate · 13/02/2023 14:54

You mention Radnor. Will they be able to offer a place (are offers not out already?) and if they can, what assurances can they give that the new building will be ready? Would you consider living that far out, or having a long commute for your DD?

DD was a pupil there in the current building and loved it.

Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 14:54

Trickleg · 13/02/2023 14:15

NLCS London is one of the most selective schools in the country!

Indeed. NLCS Singapore however opened just recently and are still expanding. It is easy to get a spot here. The teachers are great. The environment is not very competitive. Maybe we should just stick around here till uni, eh?

OP posts:
TimeForMeToF1y · 13/02/2023 14:55

lirik · 13/02/2023 14:48

I don't mind. I finished state school. My daughter can manage too.

I'm trying to find best option available to me in this situation. I know there are good state schools. I haven't explored this mostly because they are likely more competitive than independent. At least that was my assumption.

Show quote history

I think you may be misundrstanding the term state school, the poster is saying to send your daughter to a regular freely provded school like 90% of the UK school aged population

SheilaFentiman · 13/02/2023 14:57

lirik · 13/02/2023 14:44

Ugh. So what happens in this situation? Kids just don't get into any school? Pardon my ignorance. I haven't explored state school option at all. My bad.

Show quote history

You will be given a place in a school that’s as close as is available to where you end up living. But it may not be your first or second choice! It will be a case of which school can take an extra pupil. All allocations are made soon and then there will be waiting lists for full schools. But you need to apply from the address where yin will be living.

Pipsquiggle · 13/02/2023 14:57

OP - are you looking for both state and private options?

Are you open to boarding schools?

The problem with state schools is that they won't process anything until you are physically in the country with a verified address (there are a few exceptions e.g. military & foreign office)

HawaiiWake · 13/02/2023 14:58

Enter Fulham Prep and apply to other places.
11+ consortium is an adaptive, Atom tests which is new this year.
I suggest you look at schools with other exams styles, maybe paper and pen types.
Get Good school guide online subscriptions to review options.
London secondary schools at 11+ is just fierce but you could enter DD to less selective and move at 13+. I know it is a worry but we knew HK family whose DD failing at 11+ and 13+ but gone to non super selective school and ended at sixth form, A Levels Westminster school with Oxbridge and Ivy offers.

SheilaFentiman · 13/02/2023 14:59

Is there definitely a place for your DD at Fulham prep?

Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 15:02

SaltyGod · 13/02/2023 14:16

It sounds as if your daughter wasn't suited to the type of school that you applied for, but without knowing which ones it's hard to advise. My assumption is that you might have gone for bigger name academic ones.

Spaces do open up at The Leys so that might be an option. If you're happy with Cambridge you might get a last minute spot at St Mary's or perhaps Kings Ely. Kimbolton might be another option if you don't mind commuting to London from St Neots area and living rurally. And there are similar schools the other side of Cambridge too. Do post on a local board for advice if you want area specific info.

There are lots of 'good' private schools that will offer an all round education but aren't hugely academic and will likely have open places once the dust has settled. It's easier that you have just one child to find a space for.

Perhaps this all round school is a better option for you if moving from abroad, but again, hard to tell without knowing where you applied.

Wishing you and your daughter good luck in finding the right place.

Thank you for you thought out response. The Leys is not out of question quite yet. The intake is just 30 at 11+ so how likely the wait list will materialize into an offer I'm not sure. Any idea?

We'll explore your suggestions of St Mary's and Kings Ely. Thanks a lot. What is the local Cambridge board you are referring to?

Regarding where we applied. Here is the list:

  • Brighton College
  • Channing
  • Francis Holland
  • Queen's College
  • Highgate
  • The Leys
  • Stephen Perse Foundation
OP posts:
EverlastingRose · 13/02/2023 15:04

Not sure why people keep telling OP to apply to state schools when she isn't resident in the UK.

OP, you've applied to some very selective schools there. They're also spread over a huge area. Where would you like to be located ideally?

Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 15:06

SamPoodle123 · 13/02/2023 14:18

Also, I am curious what these consultants advised you on. It sounds like they were not doing their job. They could have given better direction on what schools to apply to based on your dd ability. Also, advice on how to prepare for the 11+. As pp suggested, check out Fulham Prep. Or also Thomas's Senior.

I'm not here to place blame. Whatever happened, we have a problem on our hands and have to solve it. That's my first priority. We can reflect on this later. Thanks for pointer to Thomas's Senior. Any color on it?

OP posts:
MathsIsFab · 13/02/2023 15:10

@lirik We just got Fulham offer, funny enough extrance exams were pretty tricky (4 hours incl interview). New school but their results are growing by the year .

we ll reject place as we got other offers too, but I bet you they keep on assessing next few months

loved the school and location

not sure why you were told about Radnor, process is done already

Notellinganyone · 13/02/2023 15:10

MrsMoastyToasty · 13/02/2023 14:33

Have you considered moving to a local authority area that doesn't have the 11 plus? Bristol doesn't.

Bristol state schools are not that great. Perhaps somewhere small and nurturing like Clifton High might work for you.

Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 15:14

PatriciaHolm · 13/02/2023 14:20

From your OP, it sounds as if you do have an offer, from Fulham School?

At this point, given the stress your daughter has already been under and the existing list of (presumably the most sort after private schools in London, but it would help if you said which) that sounds like the best idea. Then you can reassess in 2 years depending on how she settles.

Fulham is a good school. It's not one of the top academic ones and doesn't pretend to be, but it will give her a good education.

We do not have a definitive offer from Fulham. We had an offer a year ago, which we didn't take. We are checking with them if they are still interested.

We did have a few very competitive schools on our list, but also had some what we considered safe options. I posted a list somewhere up the thread.

OP posts:
insomniac1 · 13/02/2023 15:16

You should look at st Margaret's or Aldenham schools near Watford. Good private schools but not as selective. They may have places available.

SamPoodle123 · 13/02/2023 15:19

Did you ask for feedback from the schools? Did your dd make it to interview round for any? This might help when looking for the next school. It could have just been the simple fact she was not prepped correctly by the tutor. Can't give further info on Thomas's. It was suggested as a backup school, but we decided not to apply there.

DrHousecuredme · 13/02/2023 15:21

Are you able to get feedback from schools about why they rejected her?
After ten rejections then something is going wrong with the direction of your school search.
I know nothing about the schools you are talking about but what is your dd interested in?
Sport, music, drama, art??
She's clearly not massively academic (or not typically academic enough for these schools)
I'd be going back to the drawing board with your educational consultants and start by really thinking about what makes your dd tick and then researching schools that meet her needs.
Excessive tutoring simply tries to squeeze a round peg into a square hole!

SnowAndFrostOutside · 13/02/2023 15:23

Don't look at state school in your situation. I had an old school friend who moved to the London for work. They tried the state school option but there weren't anything available in any reasonable distance that she is happy with. End up paying for independent. I don't know which ones her children went.

You need to find an independent school (unless you can't afford the fees). Otherwise, it'll just create more stress for you and your DD.

FrenchFancie · 13/02/2023 15:25

We moved back this summer, albeit DD is still
primary. We rented a house in the uk from May in order to have an address to apply - we got an offer of a place in state school two days before the end of term. But yes, had that not come through I would have had to home educate DD for a few weeks while it was sorted out, I guess.

Original poster
lirik · 13/02/2023 15:29

Gertrudegraduate · 13/02/2023 14:54

You mention Radnor. Will they be able to offer a place (are offers not out already?) and if they can, what assurances can they give that the new building will be ready? Would you consider living that far out, or having a long commute for your DD?

DD was a pupil there in the current building and loved it.

Living that far out is not a huge problem. Commute time is around 1h according to google maps. I have very little idea about the area to be honest. Is it much different from Richmond? I have an idea what Richmond is like. Twickenham not so much.

And yes, we are willing to compromise on location. Big time.

OP posts: