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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

SW London Grammar and Private year 7 entry 2024

1000 replies

lolo99 · 27/09/2023 19:31

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 :)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Annawintourssteak · 17/12/2023 19:10

Thank you so much! Fingers crossed. Now just waiting on the others….

Wondermumof4 · 17/12/2023 19:12

@Annawintourssteak we also have a general interview on the 5th , finger crossed 🤞🏻

Annawintourssteak · 17/12/2023 19:13

Best of luck!

Wondermumof4 · 17/12/2023 19:19

Thanks you too !

Iffiyas · 17/12/2023 21:21

@SkaterGrrrrl so sorry to hear about your situation! This process is so stressful and as you say expensive….like others say explore other options- I’ve heard some schools accept later applications, if you feel like there’s a school that you didn’t apply to that you wished you did- pick up the phone to the registrars! It’s definitely not all over at 11+, there’s movement in years 7,8 and 9. Most people stay put for 10 and 11.

Flimpychunk · 17/12/2023 21:46

@SkaterGrrrrl it is so hard and seems so definitive, when really we all know our DC are so much more than what school they happened to get into because of how they happened to do on one specific day! DS1 didn’t get asked to interviews for schools that we felt fairly confident he would be and it was so deflating at the time. Now he’s at secondary school though, those feelings seem a lifetime ago and he is happy where he is.

It is such a gruelling process and they are so little but as pp have said, there is still movement and other options, and I’ve heard wonderful things about Radnor.

SkaterGrrrrl · 18/12/2023 09:47

Thank you so much, poodle, journey and flimpy. This is such a supportive thread. It means a lot to read your messages.

DS's big sister is at a v academic private school so need to think through the opportunities she will get compared to him if he goes state. She is getting a Classics trip to Pompeii for example, fencing and oboe lessons!

So we would need to use money saved on school fees for private music lessons, educational trips etc for DS.

CocoC · 18/12/2023 13:53

Don't think that 'she is getting' this from the school. The parents are paying for this! There is no discount from it being with the school. The only difference is if the child is in a state school, the parents need to do more legwork and source the lessons/trips. But there are plenty of companies offering these trips! And you can find a fencing club!

HawaiiWake · 18/12/2023 14:56

@SkaterGrrrrl , do note the last 3 years have been very competitive and 11+ is at a much higher level than previous years with all the changes in questions, techniques etc. The time and money spend to prep for 11+ is a great solid foundation for secondary schools. Do note there are 13+ and also occasional places.
My friend’s daughter failed 11+ and 13+ but got into top private sixth form and is in her first year in Oxford uni. So this is not a one off and doors closing but different plans and options.

Original poster
lolo99 · 18/12/2023 18:24

Has anyone had any experience of Hampton 11+ interviews? It says elements of English and Maths.

OP posts:
travelturtle · 18/12/2023 18:35

@lolo99 did you get an email confirming interview time? We haven’t had it yet but were expecting it today.

Original poster
lolo99 · 18/12/2023 18:37

travelturtle · 18/12/2023 18:35

@lolo99 did you get an email confirming interview time? We haven’t had it yet but were expecting it today.

No, They said sending it shortly. The first email mentions English and Maths though So I'm keen as to what that might look like :)

OP posts:
Original poster
lolo99 · 18/12/2023 18:50

ALongProcess · 02/10/2023 23:40

Seems this thread is all parents of DDs and in particular those in West London. Any Y6 DS parents, particularly south of the river, here? I kind of hoped from the thread title to find some!

Mine is a DS and looking at SW and W schools too. Single sex and co-ed.

OP posts:
londonlady2023 · 18/12/2023 19:09

I have a year 6 DS and we are south of the river (Wimbledon). We have applied for a mix of schools in SW London and into Surrey.

Brugmansia · 18/12/2023 19:26

We're y6 DS too. We're south, border of SE and SW so mostly looking at SE co-ed schools along with Emanuel

FlyingPandas · 18/12/2023 20:15

Another one with a Y6 DS, south of river, applying for SW London/Surrey schools. Have been following thread rather than posting so far but have found comments from regular posters very helpful so thank you to all.

@lolo99 I have an older DS at Hampton, from memory the 11+ interview consisted of a picture to look at and discuss/describe for English, and a small number of maths problems to work through for the maths. This was in 2020/21 though so adjusted for Covid (online ISEB and all interviews via Zoom) so it could well be different for this year's cohort who have sat Hampton's own written exam.

farfallarocks · 18/12/2023 20:41

@SkaterGrrrrl very sorry your ds is disappointed and as others have said, all that prep isn’t wasted at all. But I get it fees that way. I’m quite fatalistic about this process now and believe they will get into the right school. Do ask for feedback, boost your ds and Radnor is a great option as is your state option by the sounds of it

SkaterGrrrrl · 18/12/2023 21:36

Thank you Coco, Hawaii and farfallarocks. You are right. X

Yesday · 19/12/2023 10:36

Does anyone have any experience of what comes up in the writing part of St Paul’s Boys 11+. Are the boys given options? From there website it says it could be a range anything from letter, story to article or speech! Any help on what came up past few years will be great help. We only really practiced creative writing/story as that’s what all schools asked for.

Brugmansia · 19/12/2023 18:39

We're feeling a bit despondent. DS didn't get through to the second round for St Dunstan's. It's the first result for us, no more until the NY and still one first round to go. It was his first choice and the one we thought he had the best chance of getting into. It feels very unlikely he'll do better elsewhere.

Vetiver444 · 19/12/2023 19:04

SkaterGrrrrl · 17/12/2023 13:33

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!

We’re in a similar situation @SkaterGrrrrl , only our local state is in a steep downward slide so if feels very stressful waiting for all these results - I feel your pain !

My DC was invited to a group “beyond the classroom” activity session at Radnor - no mention of an interview 😧Does anyone know what sort of thing this involves?

minipie · 19/12/2023 19:24

Sorry to hear that Brugmansia. They can all have off days and the schools place weight on different things it seems, so it doesn’t necessarily reflect how well he’s done or will do at other schools. But appreciate it’s still gutting especially if it was his top choice. Have you told DS or not yet?

QuiteAJourney · 19/12/2023 20:02

Sorry to hear @Brugmansia . Please do not lose hope, all DCs can have a bad day!

ALongProcess · 19/12/2023 20:15

Oh @Brugmansia I'm so sorry to hear that. And now even more nervous for January, when our news about next stages will start coming through. But I do know, rationally, that plenty of children fail some and pass others and there isn't always much rhyme or reason to it except luck on the day. So don't lose hope!

SamPoodle123 · 19/12/2023 20:19

Brugmansia · 19/12/2023 18:39

We're feeling a bit despondent. DS didn't get through to the second round for St Dunstan's. It's the first result for us, no more until the NY and still one first round to go. It was his first choice and the one we thought he had the best chance of getting into. It feels very unlikely he'll do better elsewhere.

It is not easy receiving this kind of news before the holidays and then having to wait so long to hear about the other schools. I have a friend, who found out before the holidays her dd did not make it past the first round from a school she thought she would. She said it was not great to find out negative news before the holidays....however her dd ended up getting into all 3 other schools she applied to and in the end going to a more academically selective school. So all might not be lost.

However, if you or ds are worried he did not do well in the other schools try and think of a plan B....any other school you could reach out to. Or focus on the positives of state option.

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