All schools rejected at 11+. What now?

[lirik]

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.

I wouldn't move to London and send a DC daily to The Leys - it's too far and will mean her having to get up and leave the house really early and the station really isn't that close - particularly when it's cold or raining.

If you want to move to London, do that and find a school in London. Personally, if that was my preference, I'd just put a line through any other options. London is full of schools - there will be one that you like that accepts her.

Not sure about WL from Cambridge vs Fulham firm offer deadlines. This aspect is important since other London based children may also be looking at Fulham and those from abroad.

Some kids are just not ready for the 11+ process in London. It is super competitive. Having been through the process 3 times I would recommend that you don't panic. I think you need to have a clearer idea of where your daughter missed out on places. The exams are quite specific - did your daughter receive appropriate help in how to answer the questions? It might be different from how you approach similar exams in Singapore. Did she undertake enough revision? The prep schools in London literally spend years preparing the children for the 11+ exams. Are there other issues - one of my children has mild ADHD so exams like the ISEB are tricky as it relies on getting the first few questions correct to unlock the difficult questions which gain the greatest marks. There is a lot of movement in London schools and you don't need to necessarily wait until the 13+. Some schools have spaces come available each year e.g. JAGS. There are some lovely schools just outside London with 13+ spaces - Caterham, Ardingly.

I went to NLCS on a full scholarship many years ago. Back then it was extremely academically competitive, but the families were mainly solid middle-class London, mostly professionals (rather than business people), not astonishingly rich. Lots of 1st/2nd gen immigrants from Jewish or Indian or Chinese backgrounds.

It seems now it's just become a massive international money-making franchise. It's really sad. I haven't been back to any reunions etc., there's one coming up in a couple of years for me, but it doesn't feel like the same school anymore.

The fees back then were high but manageable for e.g. a family with one parent working in a reasonably well paid professional job. Now they are astronomical. It seems to have come so far from its original intentions.

Oh and just to add - I had no tutoring and I came straight from a state school, not a prep school.

Things like this:
The prep schools in London literally spend years preparing the children for the 11+ exams.

Just mean they are selecting more by money than by ability. Which is going to lead inevitably to the sort of horrendous scandal that happened during COVID.

I've sent my kids to the local state school (a huge, very diverse, co-ed London comprehensive) and I am confident that it's giving them a better start in life. Although not the 'right sort' of contacts, I'm sure.

You might want to have a look Surrey-way and consider commuting into London. There are some fab prep schools up to 13 and senior schools around Guildford/Godalming area. For instance, Aldro has started accepting girls and feeds into Charterhouse (also now going coed). Plenty of other good private options around there as well.

Great point! Thank you.

If we were to choose Leys, we'd live in Cambridge and I'd commute to London.

It's sad to hear you have such mixed feelings towards your old school. I understand the sentiment. Sad to see you all beloved school change so much in direction you do not approve. That being said, I'd urge you to consider going to reunions. If school is not the same, and sadly your old classmates are not the same as they were back then, but I'm sure they can relate. They do remember the school it was.

Have you looked at the costs of housing, and the price of commuting in SE England by train OR bus or car. Time and expense.

You may find it impossible to commute into London by car.

If you weren't looking at boarding why Brighton, which also happens one of most selective schools in the country! You are more likely to be lucky with a smaller, more provincial school. A gdst outside London for example or a prep school going to 13+. What r u specifically looking for for your dd?

If Fulham has now offered her a place I think it's a no brainer to send her there. It's a good school and will offer an easy entry into the system and living in the UK - and give you all time to figure out the next best move. She shouldnt be put off by the interview. Maybe you can ask if it's possible to have a follow up zoom with an admissions staff member and a current student so she can ask some questions and feel more comfortable.

Completely agree. Accept the Fulham space and give yourselves a bit of time to relax. Have friends who've stayed there until y8 and others who've stayed on at the Senior school and others who've joined in Y9. All happy.

It’s a big move to the UK. If you want to be in London accept Fulham and find your feet

Bit off topic, but you're giving them a better start in life because you're middle classed, its not because they attend state comp.

But..on the flip side, some of the biggest advocates for private school are comp educated. I pushed for my DD to attend prep, I went to a huge, very diverse, London comprehensive and a dire state primary.

Sometimes the grass can always seem greener...

Indeed. I wonder what your children will do.

I doubt many Etonians had parents who went to state school.

No doubt they will choose the opposite of what we have chosen for them!

As Little Bear Pad said, I'd also be asking for my money back from the ed consultants: they appear to have been not just no help, but actually made things worse.

PS new Radnor House likely to be on school bus ir bus routes from places they trad serve.

Also forgot to add that Waldegrave is all girls. Friend's daughter got into Putney and Surbiton (academic, private): her dad compared added value and found it was no better so sent her to Waldegrave.

@lirik My advice would be to take e Fulham offer, move somewhere nearby and take it from there. You need to be commuting to the City so you need a good transport connection, this is vital. Get all of you settled and then take a look round. You never know, Fulham might be the right school for your daughter.

Bear in mind there is always a lot of movement every year, if not every term, from private schools in London as there is such a broad international cohort. Occasional places come up all the time, once you know what you are looking for you can apply. Then of course there is 13+

Sending best wishes, it's a big move with a child of your age. I hope it all goes well.

Contact More House School in Knightsbridge. They may have a place in September.

@lirik do you only have dd or are there also younger siblings to accommodate?

@lirik Were Queens College and Frances Holland both straight no or waiting list? Only asking because 3 of my Year 6s last year got places from those WLs - they both move fast!

I think Fulham is a good option - only other suggestion would be Thomas’s - another prep that is now running a secondary school.

A final suggestion would be talking to Newton Prep - they are very experienced at taking girls in for Years 7 and 8 and guiding them through the 13+.

I haven’t read the full thread. Would you consider Berkshire/Buckinghamshire? Definitely commutable to London, there are lots of schools here which aren’t super selective and would likely have places still at this point: Luckley House, Queen Anne’s, Holme Grange, Claire’s Court, Piper’s Corner, The Marist, and I believe Reading Blue Coat and Shiplake are taking girls from this year. I work in a prep which sends kids to some of those schools and we have had children be accepted even applying this late. You’d be looking at living in Reading/Maidenhead/Wokingham/ Ascot/High Wycombe, all of which have trains to London.

Just DD. The only child. It makes things a tad easier schollingwise. Finding friends is going to be tough.

Yes, we are definitely taking Fulham offer. We'll still explore other options and if something much better comes up, we might reconsider, although not very likely.