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Secondary education

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

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Bluerose2020 · 14/01/2024 22:25

Has anyone successfully managed to obtain their DC’s scores from entrance exams from
the school? We were a no from Emanuel - which is fine - I am just intrigued! Thanks.

QuiteAJourney · 14/01/2024 22:25

W4mamabear · 14/01/2024 22:21

Not for DD this year for 11+ but am considering Harrodian for my DS in a couple of years time (or even try for an occasional place already to try and avoid 11+ if possible!!) How selective is Harrodian considered? It’s the ISEB test right and then interview? Thank in advance!!

ISEB and interview. I would say less competitive than Emanuel, somewhat similar but above IPS. It has a reputation for being a bit unpredictable...

Wondermumof4 · 14/01/2024 22:37

@W4mamabear i have no idea either how my DC scored , but would have liked to know for Latymer because we had a no , i think it would be great if they could tell in the email as it is useful for siblings later. I only know more or less for KGS as we have been told before exam what our DC would need to get to get an interview.

Flimpychunk · 14/01/2024 22:42

Anyone waiting for news of kings interview tomorrow?

travelturtle · 14/01/2024 22:45

Also waiting for Harrodian here too. Not sure how that one went. DS much less relaxed on that exam day.

itsanewera · 14/01/2024 22:46

Most schools will give you feedback but not for a while as they will be super busy for a while yet. I would get in touch after Easter if you want any feedback. You will hopefully have a place somewhere else by then so may not care any longer!
It's unlikely they'll give actual exam results- more along the line of which quartile/ just missed the cut off/ were way off/ stronger in maths but let down by English etc etc.

phoebe35 · 14/01/2024 23:10

Yes waiting for kings too but feels a long shot now

SamPoodle123 · 15/01/2024 05:34

Bluerose2020 · 14/01/2024 22:25

Has anyone successfully managed to obtain their DC’s scores from entrance exams from
the school? We were a no from Emanuel - which is fine - I am just intrigued! Thanks.

A poster last year managed to get for Emanuel. I think they said cut off for verbal was 115. Let me see if I can find it.

SamPoodle123 · 15/01/2024 05:38

Just to confirm it was reported last year for Emanuel the pass mark for English and Math was 65% and a score of 115+ for VR.

travelturtle · 15/01/2024 06:35

SamPoodle123 · 15/01/2024 05:38

Just to confirm it was reported last year for Emanuel the pass mark for English and Math was 65% and a score of 115+ for VR.

This is the reduced pass rate for siblings which is in their Sibling Policy. I don’t think they’ve ever said what it is otherwise.

SamPoodle123 · 15/01/2024 06:43

travelturtle · 15/01/2024 06:35

This is the reduced pass rate for siblings which is in their Sibling Policy. I don’t think they’ve ever said what it is otherwise.

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The information was given by someone who got feedback from the school last year and does not have a dc there, therefore no siblings at the school.

travelturtle · 15/01/2024 07:01

Oh that’s strange. The school talks about it being a reduced pass rate for siblings so I had always understood the “normal” pass rate to be higher (or, perhaps, there’s no pass rate but they take through the top whatever % of candidates). I don’t know why someone would have been told that last year so can’t really comment on that - but those are def the sibling pass marks from the policy which is on their website. Who knows though 🤷‍♀️

QuiteAJourney · 15/01/2024 07:30

On Emanuel, siblings need to meet the minimum pass rate (the numbers above seem right, from what I know). If the do that, they will get an offer. The preference in relation to other candidates is that, for other candidates, the minimum pass rate means they get to interview but there is no guarantee of getting an offer (which will depend, one assumes, on how well they did in the exam in relation to other candidates, interview and extra-curricular, etc)

travelturtle · 15/01/2024 08:08

Thanks. The siblings also still have to pass the interview and group activity so don’t automatically get an offer by passing the exams.

farfallarocks · 15/01/2024 08:20

Emanuel said the pass rate this year for non siblings is 75% so perhaps it’s changed from last year. Good luck to everyone waiting for kings and other interviews!

SamPoodle123 · 15/01/2024 08:20

farfallarocks · 15/01/2024 08:20

Emanuel said the pass rate this year for non siblings is 75% so perhaps it’s changed from last year. Good luck to everyone waiting for kings and other interviews!

Interesting and good to have updated pass rate.

SamPoodle123 · 15/01/2024 08:26

travelturtle · 15/01/2024 06:35

This is the reduced pass rate for siblings which is in their Sibling Policy. I don’t think they’ve ever said what it is otherwise.

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Just got this from Emanuel website: "Applicants who have a sibling currently at the school need to meet the minimum pass mark in the entrance exams and have a good report and headteacher’s reference to be offered a place. The pass mark is 65% in English and Maths. For Verbal Reasoning the pass mark is 115 (this is a standardised score)."

From this, my take is if the siblings meet the above they get in. I think for the other candidates, they must meet these marks, to get an interview....but does not guarantee a spot.

I just hope it does not get more difficult to get in....will apply next year for my ds.

travelturtle · 15/01/2024 08:31

This year they’ve invited all the siblings who passed the exams to the interview stage, so it must be a factor in the decision otherwise why do it? Don’t know what they did last year, but year before everyone was interviewed anyway.

Good luck all those with interviews this week or waiting for results. It all seems to take so long!

Summerma · 15/01/2024 08:43

@farfallarocks these figures make more sense to me as a couple of bright DC at DS’s school didn’t make it through to interview. They’re more than capable of achieving 65% and 115 VR (of course anyone can have a bad day).

farfallarocks · 15/01/2024 08:46

Yes they were quite specific that there was a higher pass rate for non siblings and that it was 75% in all. I really valued they openness actually

farfallarocks · 15/01/2024 08:47

I do also wonder if it’s just harder for the boys too? As all co Ed’s seem to be given huge numbers of girls schools in the area!

Bluerose2020 · 15/01/2024 08:58

Thank you all for the responses - very helpful. DD has said she found the comprehension difficult and so suspect that’s where she fell down. From the little I know re Emanuel’s assessment approach, I understand they didn’t want any spikes. So one poorer paper, and that’s it. 🤞🏻 for the rest…. Good luck to all with interviews!

user149799568 · 15/01/2024 10:41

PreplexJ · 12/01/2024 17:13

I agree on a school being more selective (if they can) , the better should be it on the future ranking table. Intake selection competitiveness is the main explanation factor for league table ranking but not the input from the school itself.

My point is the increased number of applicants not necessarily translate to an increased level of school selection. The intake selection competitiveness need to look at multiple factors together.

There are many reason for more people applying, for example baby boom at 2010-2012, or kids apply for more and more schools compared to before. This is not specific to any specific schools.

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I believe that there was an increase in applicants, and applications, a few years when it became evident that there was a difference between the ways that many private schools and many state schools adapted to the Covid lockdowns. More children looking for private school places could have raised the level of selection.

In my corner of London, there was an increase in applications, though not necessarily distinct applicants,* *when the London Consortium went from having two different exams to having the same exam for all its schools, making it easier for a girl to apply to more schools. This might not have raised the level of selection.

user149799568 · 15/01/2024 10:47

PreplexJ · 13/01/2024 13:53

DD did not take up SPGS, so we couldn’t comment on the environment.

I’m sure whenever you ask this type of question on MN, you will see some mums jump in and give you euphoric personal experiences that counter every single concern you might have, albeit occasionally hear some odd negative experience thread will get shut down quickly by the same group of mums.

So perhaps do not take it with a pinch of salt, for any schools, get the offer first, then try to find out more on the offer holder day, talk to the real kids and parents that in the same situation as you and get a feel for how it is and fit. Every child is different, anecdotal information (like you concerned stressful environment in the first place) may have no ground. On the other hand, limit your view to just one or two “direct experiences” in MN is not helpful. Try to gather information from various sources to make a proper informed decision. Good luck.

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I'd add, try to get opinions from parents whose DC are closer to the end of the school than the beginning. We've noticed that many of our acquaintances go from proselytizing about how their DC's school is the next thing to Nirvana in Year 7 to a more... nuanced view as exam prep starts to bite and the DC hit the teenage years with associated social changes.

swlondon24 · 15/01/2024 11:11

@user149799568 that is very wise, exactly my experience, in y7/8 most ppl are happy, then between y11 to uni applications you get a more accurate view, after parents have gone through ups and downs...