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 :)

I think that 40-45 minutes is pretty average but, in addition to length of travel, I think it is important to look at frequency and also alternatives if something goes wrong.
PS I completely understand you re: KGS, we also really liked it last year and it was a difficult one to reject.

I'd say if you had offers from both Emanuel and KGS and one is a far easier journey choose that one! If you're in the middle go with gut feel. I have DCs at different schools that can both be reached by various combinations of tube/ train/ bus and bike and driving if necessary. It's tricky if it's just 2 trains an hour etc.

Where about do you live @Annawintourssteak ? We are in west London and we have Piccadilly and district / circle lines.
thank you @11plusdoneanddusted this is reassuring. Let’s see.

@Wondermumof4 We’re in Barnes so it’s a walk, train and walk to KGS, which will take about 45 mins (if everything is working as it should) or Emanuel which is a nearer station and then only 12 mins on the train, then the walk.

Have a very sporty DD so the thought of all the KGS sports being in Thames Ditton is quite discouraging.

KGS is my DD’s fave - will have to see what all the outcomes are before stressing.

what others do you have in the mix?

@QuiteAJourney thanks i agree.
let’s see what choices we have (if we have any) in the end. But that reassures me a little bit.

The thing to remember with KGS is the sports fields and rowing boat club house are in Thames Ditton - a stunning setting opposite Hampton court palace right on the Thames. If you get an offer and need to choose between schools try the drive to Thames ditton on a Saturday morning (I know the school runs buses to the sports field too).

Bear in mind also that some of Emanuel’s sport is in Raynes Park - certainly the new full sized hockey Astro is. At KGS hockey/cricket is off site at Ditton Field, netball is on site.

Of course , same here i know Barnes lovely area.
for us KGS would be 2 trains (about 45 min) and Emanuel just a bus (bus stop being just down our flat) and then 5 min walk only (total about 30min).
but like you said we need to wait for outcomes also.
we are waiting for 3 now , to see if DS is going to interview.
Emanuel , Ibstock Place (but that one is all done now just waiting for offer or not) and Dulwich college and Dulwich would be more or less same that KGS in distance by transport, so is IPS.
our dream was to get Latymer Upper as it was really close (15 min) but unfortunately my DS did not make it to interview :(
so let’s wait and see now☺️ i like all 3 schools and my DS too😵‍💫but could not have the KGS tour…

@Wondermumof4 i think 40-45 mins is ok and pretty average but as others have said, depends on frequency of the transport and also if there’s an alternative that works if there’s a train/tube strike. Our DS1 has to walk-train-walk which takes about 35 mins door to door, but it varies a bit depending on train times etc. On train strike days he can still get there by bus but it’s a pain as it’s so slow. But it’s only rarely needed so it’s OK. Definitely worth factoring the journey in once you know what offers you have. We are looking at v similar schools to yours for DS2. Good luck!

Has anyone got any experience with any of the 10+ offer vs places? DD sat KGS 10+ yesterday and it's only for 20 places. I wonder if they over offer for 10+ as with 11+ or only the 20 with the spaces that get declined going to the 11+ "pot". Their registrar confirmed they don't operate a waiting list.

@Wondermumof4 Hello, I think 40/45mins is potentially ok.. my only thought is for activities after school. However, we do have Latymer Upper near to us but prefer Hamptons due to being single sex. To be honest I am in a bit of turmoil about it. February will be the month of decisions!!! Fingers crossed for you!

I would say it is average, but I do think there is significant advantage to going to school close to home.
There are often clubs before school/after school, and matches on a Saturday morning - so they have to go there 6 days a week. If you are reliant on the school buses the child won't be able to take part in the before school clubs, and having more than absolute max of 45 mins commute I think is unreasonable : tiring and such a waste of time for the child (especially as they get older and have more homework and their time is precious).
My older DS is at one of the top schools in SW London. Boys commute from Dulwich and North London, and I think it is utter madness to put their children through that for 8 years, when they have broadly comparable schools around the corner.

Thank you all , that is helpful😉hopefully i will have more than 1 choice in Feb 🤞🏻

Hi - my DD also sat the KGS 10+ yday. I don't know how it works - the registrar at the open day told me they only give out about 10 places! I doubt too many would decline if offered - I would imagine most would accept and pay the deposit (unless they have entered and also got places in other 10+ processes - but there aren't that many....) and keep it as an insurance for 11+. Some may leave it there and not apply elsewhere but gut feel says that if DC are of the calibre to get a KGS 10+ offer, they would likely also get other 'top' / higher ranking schools. So I wonder how many actually end up there. Which makes me wonder what the 10+ really achieves...
PS I have a DS already at the school and it is fantastic!

@Dallasdays @mmhophey , my ds took the 10 plus yrs ago and I know loads of dc in the area, the only dc I have heard of who got offered a KGS 10 plus place are on MN and 1 of them paid the deposit but went to a higher ranked school (LU) on a 100% free place at 11.
I suspect as well as acing the exam your dc needs to be exceptional at a musical instrument / chess / a niche sport etc all by the age of 9 or 10.
It's best to view the 10plus as exam practice and nothing more.

We had the same choice but went with LU as much easier journey!

Does anyone have any thoughts on Harrodian? I don’t see it mentioned it much.

We applied last year after initial reservations - mostly due to its reputation as attracting a showbiz / very wealthy crowd (and also as logistics where more complicated). On visiting it, we liked it more than we expected and we also spoke to an acquaintance who teaches there and reassured us on the socio-economic mix and the 'vibe' of the school. We got an offer but rejected it - logistics didn't work for us and we were lucky enough to have other offers that were not only closer but also suited my DD better. But I think it is a really good school, with solid results and that can particularly suit a kid good at art / drama / music and modern languages - my DD has a friend there and he is really enjoying it.

Their selection process is reputedly more difficult to predict than others but we found it quite straight forward and my DD really enjoyed their 'quirky' interview.

PS. on an unrelated note, more on 'housekeeping of the thread' for whoever takes responsibility for that, please note that there is a limit of 1,000 posts per thread, you might need to open a new one soon. Last year, I tried to put a link to the old one in the new one and a link to the new one in the old one for ease of reference.

The child we know who got a place at KGS 10+ a few years ago accepted it and went there (so avoided all the 11+ stress). Went to our local primary school and didn’t have exceptional music/sport etc (those are more relevant for scholarships) but is very bright. I agree for most kids it’s a practice and many don’t get in at 10+ but do at 11+.

@Dallasdays I think it’s 10 places for boys and 10 for girls and don’t think there’s any wait list as they don’t really need to fill the places as they will fill at 11+.

@Dallasdays @mmhophey My DD sat for KGS 10+ last year. They mentioned 10 boys, 10 girls at the beginning. The outcome letter was saying around 400 children sat for the exam and they offered 25 places because of the high demand. DD couldn't got a place last year but it was a great experience. She did her interview following +11 last week. let's see what the outcome will be this year.
I also know another child from DD's old public school (DD changed school in year 5). He was a bright boy and got his place at 10+. I don't think they look at hobbies etc for 10+ but focus on the referral and exam result.

Not much no but we have registered to that school too…

@Annawintourssteak that was for you 😉

Thanks @allaboutmychildren @travelturtle @tennissquare !

@QuiteAJourney made a good point about starting a new thread before this one is full and posting a link to it here. Anyone know how to do that? I only come on MN for this 11+ process (and it’s v helpful)

Will this link work? https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4907226-sw-london-grammar-and-private-year-7-entry-2024

If so, we can use this in the new thread. I can delete this message as well...posting to test the link