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 :)

Thank you all - this is super helpful! She scores well on Atom Maths and English assessments so we are hopeful but it all depends on the day. Other girls from her class are all invited at the same time but have been given different group names (based on animals this year I believe). Re devices: we work on MAC and iPads but do use a mouse as well with the MAC. We don’t have a PC unfortunately. @SamPoodle123 maybe the questions were getting longer and harder because of the adaptive nature? I don’t think my DD will like the fact that you don’t have a total number of questions to get through, she definitely tests much better on paper but that isn’t a choice on most schools

I have a DS who is sitting for Hampton boys Ragnar house and Kingston Grammar. My older daughter sat three private girls' schools entrance exams two years ago and I would be happy to give any advice to mums of girls.

Radnor House ffs

Ragnar House sounds kind of excitingly Viking.

I always lurk on these threads even though my daughter is now in her first year of A Levels. I probably won't be that much use on entrance exams etc since it's all a while ago, but would be very happy to answer any questions relating to SPGS if I can help.

We experienced the 11+ exam four years ago with DS (WUS, SPG, LU, City) and I would say the whole thing was hysterical but I have to do it again this year with DD. We learned from my previous experience and we will apply to more schools (LU, CLSG, G&L, NHEH, SPGS, WHS and SHHS) to have more choices for decisions. I am happy to share my experience on the boys’ schools, although it might be a bit outdated.

Yesterday we took the WHS exam and I was surprised to see that the school also had their Junior students do the same test, along with us. Maybe WHS wanted to get some data to compare how well the 11+ and the Junior did.

I also checked out the SW 11+ thread from last year and I found a lot of helpful information there, thanks to everyone. I appreciated the lively discussions or debates (whether they were subjective or not) too, I think some parents really brought up some issues that are not often talked about in real life. I can relate to it based on my past experience.

How did the 11+ exam go for DS? How did you prep for them? When comparing with your dd do you feel there is a difference? I had it the opposite. Last year DD sat the exams and now DS is year 5 and prepping. I feel like it DD had it a little better, in that most exams were online (DS would have benefitted this with his very messy handwriting! All of his will be written). Also, for DD she had a week space between exams and the schools we looked at for DS seem to have the exams day after each other or one day gap. I am hoping next year some dates will spread out, but it does seem the schools follow a pattern with dates (at least they did when looking at the previous year and year my dd did the 11+).

From what I understand, for boys 11+ are supposed to be more for the state school boys, and they encourage the prep school boys to apply for 13+ and stay where they are (for the schools that do both 11+ and 13+). Do you feel this is the case?

I still do not understand how this is fair, allowing some dc take the exams broken up, so they are taking one or two sections at a time, while other dc have to take it all in one go! This really should not be allowed, as it does give an advantage I think to the ones who can spread it out.

My DS’s prep has arranged for the ISEB to be sat in one go. Agree, it does not appear to be fair to allow some children the advantage of sitting ISEB in multiple stints.

"Yesterday we took the WHS exam and I was surprised to see that the school also had their Junior students do the same test, along with us. Maybe WHS wanted to get some data to compare how well the 11+ and the Junior did."

Think this is the ongoing research WHS is doing, they try to find out the effects of the entrance exams at different stage (4+/7+/11+) and its correlation to the future student attainments.

WHS made a conclusion earlier in the year 4+ is pointless for the school and switch to ballot in stead.

My daughter is at WHS (having joined Y7 this year) so some direct experience / knowledge.
Girls from the junior always sit the 11+ exam. Not so much an issue with the ballot at 4+ (the school has clearly referred to a 'firm decision' after analysing the data for two past years with ballot vs previous years with selection) as cohort range and balance, forms and, crucially, ensuring that both internal and external candidates have access to scholarship opportunities in the same conditions / subject to the same testing procedures.

Dulwich C does the same, although at a different date for internal pupils. DS in the Junior school has to pass the 11+ and is super stressed about it, even though the implications are minimal for children in the junior. (no one is ever kicked out, or they would tell you a good 18month in advance) I think it's supposed to count for the scholarship assessments and indeed compare the level of their own students.

The decision WHS made on 4+ ballot are based on multiple factors, academically factors are 2 points via its research: 1. The school find the KS1 to KS2 progress in the past 2 years (ballot entry) are similar to previous assessment intake.

2. The school find the rank correlation on 4+ exam and their 11+ exam (where they sits their Junior) in the past 5 years are inconclusive.

The ballot entry students are still too young to take the 11+ assessment yet.

www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/userfiles/wimbledonhighv2mvc/images/headers/02-admissions/Admissions%20Policy%20-%20Letter%20to%20Parents%20and%20Admissions%20Timeline.pdf

@PreplexJ , I am sure that others find your link to the letter useful, especially as it clearly states the reasons and that it is a firm decision (as per my message). Always a good idea if people read by themselves rather than relying on a summary that might be not clear and, therefore, potentially misleading.

Your interest and willingness to involve yourself in exchanges concerning schools no matter their location, scope or direct experience is indeed remarkable.

@QuiteAJourney "Always a good idea if people read by themselves rather than relying on a summary that might be not clear and, therefore, potentially misleading."

That is why I also put the link from the school as for their reference to avoid potentially misleading regardless direct experience or not.

" no matter their location - "

mostly London selective schools that I have followed interests before. Probably some overlap with your list of schools

@PreplexJ My list of schools, if by that you mean the ones my DD applied to last year, you know / can find out. I have always been very open on this site about applications and outcomes. I cannot comment on yours as it has been noticeable and noticed by other posters that you have been quite guarded (your prerogative of course, but worth noting especially in the context of your willingness to share your views).

Good that you agree that best to let documents speak for themselves rather than providing a summary / preface. The posters are clearly a group of engaged mums and they can make their own conclusions.

PS my reference to direct experience was to highlight that WHS has always had the junior girls sitting and that the data was being used well beyond any research. The points still stand.

Hope WHS and other exams have gone well so far.
If helpful, WHS communicated first round outcomes in less than 2 weeks last year.
KGS also very quick and very much to the timetable they had made public. We found their admissions process incredibly transparent.

@QuiteAJourney "I cannot comment on yours as it has been noticeable and noticed by other posters that you have been quite guarded (your prerogative of course, but worth noting especially in the context of your willingness to share your views)."

I had been very open on this site about my applications and outcomes, you might not notice but that is fine, if interest you can find out in the threads you had open last year and see the posts.

The only thing I did not share is which school we chose in the end, as you said it is my prerogative.

My view on the schools are, to some extend, the information I have accumulated during and after the application processes, which I did not shy away from sharing those.

I didn't know WHS always have their Junior sits in the exam, it is good to know, but I merely suggest they use the exam data for research purpose with their 4+ ballot decision paper as evidence. You rightly point out that sitting the exam is also for schorlaship purpose, it is good to know too.

"it has been noticeable and noticed by other posters that you have been quite guarded"

@QuiteAJourney I'm not sure why you under this impression. And also I'm not sure who is the other posters you meant. Just want to remind you that there was indeed a noticeable poster in your thread last year who were not applying for nor has applied for any schools but did ask a lot of questions and giving a lot of advices. And that is not me.

@PreplexJ , thank you for the link to the WHS letter -most interesting!

Would anyone be willing to share their prep schedule? I am starting the process with my son in year 5.

@Ilikelists we have a tutor once a week and also do atom learning. No set schedule, we work when it fits between his sports and school. We did the same for dd previously and they both do a lot of sports (5-6 days a week). But for Atom we probably spend 1 to 1.5 hours a week total spread out when we can. I would like to add written practice (as all his exams are written)....but just find Atom easier. I am thinking of cutting screen time during the week from January, as I let my kids watch screens during the week. DS would read more if he did not have an hour of screens daily!

Some dc spend more time prepping and I think it all depends on your dc and what you can do.

Thanks! On atom does your son do learning journeys, set practice or tests?

It depends. Today, we did a mock. Sometimes he does learning journeys and sometimes I set a practice. I mix it up. I only do a mock once a week usually, so its more learning journeys and practices. But I have not set time or schedule for it. Sometimes I think I should make more of a schedule.

What is your prep like?

@PreplexJ @QuiteAJourney Thank you both for sharing your insight.

@SamPoodle123 DS went to a prep, I still have clear memories of how nerve-wracking those final months were, mostly due to the lack of a banker choice. The school advised us to sit for 13+ route rather than 11+ except for LU.

He was among the top 5 in the prep year and we got all the offers but one from reserve list. Luckily, he was accepted by the school we wanted the most.

In terms of prep schedule, it was before the covid, DS prep was very intensive from the second term of Year 5, with about half an hour of homework every night, covering maths and English, some online. I also devoted another 15 minutes each day to sitting with DC and discussing the feedback from the previous days, as our prep encouraged. There was also a 2 week exam focus camp during the summer. In addition, the prep gave regular in class exam style exercises at the start of year 6. We also attended some online mock sessions for ISEB.

We try not to compromise DS other activities during the period, such as holidays, sport tournaments and chess which he loves. It is definitely achievable.

DD is at a different prep with less hothousing, the school gives homework to the whole class, mostly on Atom learning practice with a maximum of 2 hours a week. We started this time right from Year 5 and also signed up for a weekly 90 minutes Zoom group tutoring class, it is going well so far (fingers crossed). The tutor class also has some homework on writing and practicing past papers, we normally can’t find time to finish them all. On the bright side, DH now has more time to sit down with DD to do maths/NVR quiz and mock on Atom and past papers for about 20-30 mins daily. DD is also reducing her screen time, which is nice.

We are less stressed this time because we have more options for schools. We will wait and see what happens in the next few months.