“Backup” private options in London

[Lindtnotlint]

My DD is prepping for 11+ at London indies. She is at a well-regarded private prep. Increasingly clear that our original ideas of her ending up at somewhere like CSLG/G&L are not realistic, and places like Putney/JAGS/FHSS (which we would be delighted with) feel really stretching… This is because her maths isn’t where it should be - she’s scoring ~60 per cent in practice maths papers. VR/NVR are ok though not stellar and English is ok to good, occasionally excellent.

Where should we be looking? We are thinking Queens Gate and Queens College? Emanuel looks like may be a stretch given how competitive it is getting. She’s a sparky, sensible, enthusiastic, hard working girl. I feel a bit shocked that she may end up with so few interesting options. Looking for central or west/south.

We are obviously prepping Maths pretty hard to try to offer her as many sensible school choices as we can - she is working hard and is happy. Just me who is freaking out a bit……

Quite a few of the places talked about here aren't really "back ups". Emmanuel and St Dunstans especially much more selective than they were. This year for latter year 7 some kids who got Dulwich College didn't get through.

Surbiton would be good to look at - competitive to get in, but a step lower than the SPSG etc and the train is less than 10 mins from Clapham. They accept a 'spikier' profile if one subject is significantly different that the other - as long as you pass the exam in both subjects of course!

@Lindtnotlint, I hope that you've got some options here that will work for your DD. I agree with a PP that Maths sometimes needs to be 'unlocked'. IMO that happening is often dependent on having a teacher that does that for you. What style of teaching can work for a student is subjective, so a tutor is a good idea to try.

Great thread, until this...

My main concern was that DDs friendship group at prep school were purposeful and academic girls. She had little in common with the girls who showed off a new pencil case each week and who were already starting to hang out in shopping malls. I wanted her to go to a school where she would fit socially.

@Needmoresleep You wanted your DD to have friends at age 8-11 who were academic and purposeful? How the hell does one be purposeful at EIGHT? Or even 11? Did you quiz them on their career aspirations over tea? As for being 'academic' - so you didn't want your DD having friends who tried hard and were interested in learning but weren't naturally academic?

As for the 'already hanging out in shopping malls', that's just outright snobbery. There isn't a lot for 11 year olds to do socially as a group, what is the problem with them wanting to spend time in a shopping mall together on a Saturday, or after school? My DD1 liked doing this on occasion at 12 and still got 9 GCSEs at grades 7-9. DC2 loves shopping with their friends even more than DC1 does, and DC2 was given the chance to skip a year due to being 'academic' (they and we declined).

And even if DC didn't get high grades, our personal values as parents are hard work so trying hard regardless of the result, and being a decent person. My DC have a few best friends who aren't the most academic, but they're very funny (which is it it's now kind of clever), and very kind, and just really decent people, as well as being very arty, sporty or great at musical theatre in a few cases. I'm glad my DD weren't at school (hopefully) with your precious princess if that's how judgmental you are.

Thomas's Putney?

Hi OP - I agree FHSS, FHRP or PH could be contenders, but also -

Ibstock Place (Barnes -ish)
Harrodian (Barnes)
Kew House
Maida Vale School
St Catherine's (Twickenham - if not too far)?
Radnor House (also Twickenham)
Fulham Senior School (newish school in Parsons Green)
Queens Gate
NHEHS

Totally agree. What a load of nonsense. I’d hate someone like that poster turning her nose up at my daughter’s love for Smiggle. God forbid that one’s tween daughter would rather browse the shop with friends than ponder War and Peace at the dinner table.

@Cigarettesandbooze

>Did you quiz them on their career aspirations over tea?

come on, she just "needs more sleep"...

If you could move then St. Margaret's in Hampstead might be a good fit, and agree Northbridge house, which I think is at several campuses around London.