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.

That sounds great, OP. I hope your DD enjoys it there and I wish you well for the move.

Straight out refuse. The Leys was the only one that offered WL.

Fulham's senior now also has a senior school. How does it compare to Thomas's in your view?

Both have difficulty with small size and facilities... Fulham senior school very small building and Thomas's just has the small site off the A3 now. Thomas's iis only going to 16, not 18 and Fulham does IB for 6th form, not A-Levels.

Fulham changing to A levels ( or maybe offering both- not too sure about that)

Given the amount of schools she didn’t get into, maybe you should go to Fulham, then reassess the situation in 2 years? Her abilities might have changed by then. However, I think she must be quite stressed out by now, so I think the best option is definitely to stop giving her exams. I’m sure Fulham is a good school, and if she gets into The Leys, she can go there. But don’t get her to pin her hopes on going to a private school, because it sounds like she might be disappointed. Best of luck!!

It might be worth speaking to Marymount international school (in Kingston), they have a rolling application process I believe.

Winchester has great state schools.

Have you looked at More House in Knightsbridge?

I am a Fulham Prep parent. Years 7&8 are very good ones at the Prep, I know a lot of students who have joined at year 7 and they integrate very quickly - kids are very friendly and welcoming to new students. I also think girls tend to have good options for switching to other London day schools for year 9, if you eventually want to try that. Also, FYI - the Senior School has switched to an A-Level only sixth form.

Hello. I second having a look at Queenswood in Herts, it’s just on the London borders. We have several friends there with happy girls, it’s a beautiful school. We are at NLCS london -

Think about St. Margaret's in Hampstead. It's less selective than the others, lovely nurturing place and they can be flexible about how many girls in each year www.st-margarets.co.uk/

Brighton College Prep Kensington will open Year 7 this academic year so could be an option for Year 7 and Year 8 and a 13+ entry?