Page 29 | SW London Grammar and Private year 7 entry 2024

lolo99 · 2023-09-27T18:31:09+00:00

Not sure if this thread has been started but if not, I would like to share experiences, tips and generally talk about schools and their pros and cons and processes to ease the anxiety and pain for us parents :)

Ilikelists · 12/12/2023 14:50

CocoC · 12/12/2023 14:36

The schools (Emanuel, FHSS, G&L) which claim they will contact you in Jan... are they just saying that to manage expectations, but do they ever let you know before Xmas?! It's maddening having to wait when others who had their exams at same time are able to let you know! Surely they aren't doing any marking between the 2nd and 8th of Jan or whatever...
If child has not got through would be so nice to know before so they can have Xmas as something to look forward to to get over the disappointment.

Afraid those schools in particular you have to wait until January. FHSS interviews all the applicants, or at least it did last year, so you won't find out results until February. I would guess if your dd gets an interview at G&L she will be offered a place at FHSS.

QuiteAJourney · 12/12/2023 14:51

@Westlondonmum2024 my attempt at a list is on the basis of my undertanding of difficulty of entry, which is linked to academics but with other factors thrown into the mix.

I completely agree with the 'feel' - it is very difficult to describe but really important. We did take our DD to the open days with us and, mercifully, our views were the same. The offer holders days are very important - you get a feeling for the potential cohort. And, as you say, speak with parents with kids in those schools and even (without stalking!) try to get a sense at the school gates.

PreplexJ · 12/12/2023 15:00

And these difficulty of entry lists won't be much different from the actual league tables.

HawaiiWake · 12/12/2023 15:05

Schools and their rankings will change massively since the GCSEs are not going to be taken by Latymer Upper. Westminster Under will accept girls in 2 years and exams set next year. I heard families with daughters are keen and preparing to hopefully get a place.
Also, FHSS may not get stellar rankings due to quite a few girls going to USA universities so different focus.
Also, quite a few girls in all girls schools going to Wellington, Charterhouse, Brighton and Marlborough. Therefore another massive shift and impact on schools rankings since they can be top sets, musical scholars etc.

Westlondonmum2024 · 12/12/2023 15:05

@QuiteAJourney It is interesting how schools can be so different yet similar in results!! I have spoken to parents where they are just ok with their school and ones where both them and dc love it. Which ones have you toured so far?

travelturtle · 12/12/2023 15:13

The other factor in terms of level of difficulty is that our experience last time which I expect to play out this time too was that although all schools are testing English and maths some schools seemed to put more emphasis on strong maths result (eg Hampton) vs others which seemed more geared to English (eg LU with its two separate English papers). So if your child is much stronger in one than the other they might find one school much “easier to get into” than another and interview/offers can reflect that. As others have said, finding the right school for your child is much more important than where they sit in these lists.

QuiteAJourney · 12/12/2023 15:16

Westlondonmum2024 · 12/12/2023 15:05

@QuiteAJourney It is interesting how schools can be so different yet similar in results!! I have spoken to parents where they are just ok with their school and ones where both them and dc love it. Which ones have you toured so far?

We went through the process last year - visited quite a few: WHS, PHS, St John's, Woldingham, Surbiton, Harrodian, Sutton High, Streatham and Clapham High, Emanuel, Ibstock.

Some of the them we liked more than expected (Harrodian), some less (Surbiton) when we attended the open days and spoke with parents.. and our views changed throughout the process and up to offer holders' events (Ibstock went down in our appreciation, KGS and WHS went up).

Original poster

lolo99 · 12/12/2023 15:20

QuiteAJourney · 12/12/2023 15:16

We went through the process last year - visited quite a few: WHS, PHS, St John's, Woldingham, Surbiton, Harrodian, Sutton High, Streatham and Clapham High, Emanuel, Ibstock.

Some of the them we liked more than expected (Harrodian), some less (Surbiton) when we attended the open days and spoke with parents.. and our views changed throughout the process and up to offer holders' events (Ibstock went down in our appreciation, KGS and WHS went up).

Show quote history

Thank you for your insight. Where did you choose in the end?

OP posts:

QuiteAJourney · 12/12/2023 15:22

@lolo99 DD is at WHS and very happy so far (KGS was a close second, followed by Emanuel).

FriendlyMom · 12/12/2023 15:22

HawaiiWake · 12/12/2023 15:05

Schools and their rankings will change massively since the GCSEs are not going to be taken by Latymer Upper. Westminster Under will accept girls in 2 years and exams set next year. I heard families with daughters are keen and preparing to hopefully get a place.
Also, FHSS may not get stellar rankings due to quite a few girls going to USA universities so different focus.
Also, quite a few girls in all girls schools going to Wellington, Charterhouse, Brighton and Marlborough. Therefore another massive shift and impact on schools rankings since they can be top sets, musical scholars etc.

Do you mean girls will sit the 11+ next year (“exams set next year”) to start year 7 in 2025 at WUS?
If that is what you mean, how confident are you that this information is truthful?

PreplexJ · 12/12/2023 15:23

"Also, quite a few girls in all girls schools going to Wellington, Charterhouse, Brighton and Marlborough. Therefore another massive shift and impact on schools rankings since they can be top sets, musical scholars etc."

@HawaiiWake I heard this is trending. Part of the reason I think it is the girls don't want to look too" mediocre" in the already saturated environment and get contexualized against when time comes.

farfallarocks · 12/12/2023 15:28

At the open day they said at Emanuel the pass rate to get to interview is 75% in all papers.

I agree, the wait until after xmas seems unnecessary but being generous maybe they are really analysing the reports and references and pre xmas is a really busy time for schools. The emails seem to imply the date for interview is totally non negotiable once they send it. Some are on the same days, parents need to book time off work etc.

HawaiiWake · 12/12/2023 15:53

FriendlyMom · 12/12/2023 15:22

Do you mean girls will sit the 11+ next year (“exams set next year”) to start year 7 in 2025 at WUS?
If that is what you mean, how confident are you that this information is truthful?

Show quote history

It is on their 11+ further information pdf according to the parents. Best to get the up-to-date info directly from the school.

Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 15:57

Still no news of LU gosh the wait is awful😭

Original poster

lolo99 · 12/12/2023 15:58

Latymer Upper emails are through.

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Original poster

lolo99 · 12/12/2023 16:01

Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 15:57

Still no news of LU gosh the wait is awful😭

Any news? It looks like over 1300 sat for it. Wow

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Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 16:07

@lolo99 more or less same amount of any other top London schools , very competitive .
i really dont know what my DS outcome will
be but cannot wait to find out , been checking my email all day lol

SamPoodle123 · 12/12/2023 16:08

HawaiiWake · 12/12/2023 15:05

Schools and their rankings will change massively since the GCSEs are not going to be taken by Latymer Upper. Westminster Under will accept girls in 2 years and exams set next year. I heard families with daughters are keen and preparing to hopefully get a place.
Also, FHSS may not get stellar rankings due to quite a few girls going to USA universities so different focus.
Also, quite a few girls in all girls schools going to Wellington, Charterhouse, Brighton and Marlborough. Therefore another massive shift and impact on schools rankings since they can be top sets, musical scholars etc.

I think this is the case w G&L as well, as they are given the opportunity to do IB or A levels. And some girls going to the USA for Uni.

FatMumSlimDad · 12/12/2023 16:08

travelturtle · 12/12/2023 15:13

The other factor in terms of level of difficulty is that our experience last time which I expect to play out this time too was that although all schools are testing English and maths some schools seemed to put more emphasis on strong maths result (eg Hampton) vs others which seemed more geared to English (eg LU with its two separate English papers). So if your child is much stronger in one than the other they might find one school much “easier to get into” than another and interview/offers can reflect that. As others have said, finding the right school for your child is much more important than where they sit in these lists.

Edited

100%

DD is incredibly strong in English. And although strong in Maths compared to average, nowhere near some of her maths whiz friends.

She naturally was much more positive about the schools which aren't as heavily weighted to the maths papers but was always very excited for the creative writing style entrance papers. Also a big fan of VR/NVR. Nerves set in big for the non multiple choice maths papers though bless her.

Original poster

lolo99 · 12/12/2023 16:13

Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 16:07

@lolo99 more or less same amount of any other top London schools , very competitive .
i really dont know what my DS outcome will
be but cannot wait to find out , been checking my email all day lol

Good luck. They are definitely sending them now.

OP posts:

SamPoodle123 · 12/12/2023 16:16

Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 16:07

@lolo99 more or less same amount of any other top London schools , very competitive .
i really dont know what my DS outcome will
be but cannot wait to find out , been checking my email all day lol

Good luck! I hope you don't have to wait long now!

I remember for Putney they emailed my DH hours before any email came to me lol....luckily I was able to get a hold of him at work to find out (sometimes hard to reach if he is in meetings etc).

Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 16:19

Thanks we are both of us checking ah ah 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

W4mamabear · 12/12/2023 16:50

No latymer emails for us yet - waiting impatiently!!

Wondermumof4 · 12/12/2023 16:56

We just had our email and its a no for us :( a tiny bit disappointed but i was kind of expecting it a bit as my DS struggle with the maths part B.
so far we had 3 positives email from 3 schools for second round and as it is the first no and was our first choice my DS is upset and started to cry 😢 but i told him do not be sad you have worked so hard and we are so proud of you and if not this school it will be another one and the one that is right for you !
hope you get good news all of you who are waiting 🤞🏻still waiting for SPS …

SamPoodle123 · 12/12/2023 17:11

@Wondermumof4 what were the other schools you applied to? At least you have 3 positive emails onto the next round. Always good to have some positive emails first.