SW London Grammar and Private year 7 entry 2024

[lolo99]

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 :)

Good news here too!

Lovely to see so much good news!

@lolo99 @SamPoodle123 - feel free to send me a pm. Don't want to write too much in case too outing! All good though!

Congratulations to everyone with Hampton interviews!

we got Hampton 10+ advance offer. would appreciate if someone could share Hampton experience. Thank you

Have you heard anything yet from St Dunstan's?

No! I called and they said ‘next week’

Has anyone heard about Hampton 13+ results? Our neighbour’s son has applied and they didn’t hear anything yesterday….

No ours was 11+. Not sure if 13+ was same timing. We received an email setting out timing of when they’d email re interviews and I assume they did the same for 13+ so maybe check that (header is “Next Steps”)

Hello! Did you find out more about this? I can’t see any info. Ours is on the 5th too.

DS didn't get invited to Hampton. V disappointed and surprised as he had aced all his practice test papers. He must have messed up his exam on the day. We are gutted. Now trying to decide between Radnor and local state.

sorry to hear that. What other schools have you done/are you doing?

Thanks lolo. We only did the 3 closest private schools to our house so KGS, Hampton and Radnor. DS only invited to interview at Radnor. He worked so hard and is top of his class at primary school, I am bewildered. Must have been either nerves or poor exam technique, I suppose.

Local state is Ofsted good and has huge grounds. We liked Radnor but there's just no space! So if he's going to go to a non or 'less' academic school I'm not sure if Radnor will be worth it.

Feeling pretty bitter today tbh. Thousands spent on a tutor, years of extra work and prep, one gutted kid with nothing to show for it.

Should probably have applied for more than 3 schools... I was lulled into complacency by DC1, who sat 3 entrance exams and got 3 offers.

Sorry for the moan but can be more honest in here than to RL friends!

Sorry to hear that. We have a number of friends with kids at Radnor who are v happy there. If you’re local and want another option I think St Thomas’ only had their deadline last Fri (moving to Richmond next year and in Putney Vale until then) so may be worth checking. Think exam is after Xmas sometime

@SkaterGrrrrl I hope you’re doing okay. This process feels unnecessarily brutal on 10/11 year olds. Some boys at my DS’s school didn’t get through to KGS/Hampton and they were boys one would bet on getting a place. I agree, it may be down to having a bad day. My perspective, FWIW, is that as long as a DC is happy, they’ll thrive. Sending a hug.

Thank you turtle and summerma. xx

@SkaterGrrrrl I am so sorry, it is really all that time/effort/money it is heartbreaking. However, I do think Radnor is a good school and lots of movement at secondary schools going to 13 so maybe worth asking kgs and Hampton for feedback and if worth trying again for an occasional place. At our prep school the boys who did not get places at Hampton, but really wanted them, went to Kings House in Richmond and then went onto Hampton at 13. These boys were rejected at the 11+ … So maybe also worth talking to Kings House about it? I am about to start this process with my second child, any advice on things you wished you didn’t do or wish you had would be appreciated.

Definitely this!
Ask for feedback and see how far off he is, then go for occasional place and then 13+.
Friend of mine went state for Y7, hated it, so lobbied for her son to sit 13+ at the start of Y8. They don’t all do it, but some do. He got in to City of London.

@SkaterGrrrrl sorry to hear. Definitely ask for feedback - I know that KGS was provided feedback in previous years and that has been useful for DC in preparing for subsequent exams.
Radnor seems a lovely school and worth considering, as the space issue will not be there longer term. Also worth exploring Thomas' and the preps that go to 13.

Sorry to hear that. It is tough when the first one does so well. My first also did well for 11+ and I am nervous for next year for my second one. The closest schools to us are the super academic ones impossible to get into. I feel my dd was stronger for 11+. She started end of year 5 though, so I am just hoping my ds will suddenly become stronger end of year 5. I would just focus on the best positives of the states school and Radner. If you prefer the states school focus on the larger grounds, money you will save (perhaps say it can go towards holidays, extra activities etc).

Sorry, should read "has provided feedback in previous years and that has proved useful for DCs in preparing for subsequent exams".

Sorry I’m new to this. My question was about KGS. Any ideas about the interview? I’ve seen some people say it’s maths or English focused… so they tell you which one it is?

also, when we visited the head made it very clear if one got through to interview, they would be offered a place, even if on the waiting List. Has anyone else heard this?

@Annawintourssteak there are two types of interview at KGS - a general one (a chat) and a subject one (maths or English). If you have a maths or English one they will tell you.

And yes, KGS interview about the top 300 from the exam and are explicit that an interview means either an offer or a wait list place. Their reasoning is that they don’t want children to feel “we liked you until we met you” (direct quote from Head Master)

thanks @Trickleg - my DD has her interview on 5th Jan and KGS have stated it’s a general interview - no mention in any of the messages about maths or English!?

@Annawintourssteak in which case it’s just a chat I believe - favourite subjects, what you like about school, that sort of thing. No academic content. Good luck!