SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024.

[Hatty999]

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

This is the previous link. Hope it works.

I could understand their strategy if they were struggling to attract good candidates but they are not. And good candidates and their families won’t be swayed by Christmas bauble origami when choosing a school. Maybe I’m just old fashioned but i don’t think any of their communications softens what is a horrible, competitive process.

Having been through this twice before ( plus a couple of attempts at 10 plus), my tips would be:
Don't compare your DCs interview experiences with anyone else's experience as it really doesn't give an indication to outcomes.
Don't make any decisions about schools until you have an offer in your hand- it really changes perspectives.
Don't be swayed by positive or negative marketing etc- it often bares no resemblance to how the school operates.
It all works out in the end!

@itsanewera great perspective

very concerned now that my DS has no academic or maths invite. It’s not leaving many places. Who are the other places thus offered to?

I remember the Heads at Hampton and Emanuel both mentioning Mumsnet in their talks!
I really wouldn't over analyse the numbers - they will over offer by a lot and will go to wait list as well.

Haha what did they say about MN?

They mentioned mumsnet? That is funny. What did they say?

Pretty much along the lines of don't use Mumsnet as your source of info!

I think the head at Hampton said they don’t always go to waitlist. Maybe 50% of the time (in years he has been in post)

Intetestingly the head at one of the schools we have applied to also mentioned mumsnet in his talk on the open day. Told us not to get sucked in by the “mumsnet driven hysteria surrounding the 11+” He’s right… I’m lurking on this thread, totally unable to tear myself away and quietly shitting myself for my DS 😓

Ha! No hysteria needed but it is helpful to connect with others going through a similar process. Maybe we wouldn’t need this forum if the process was clearer!

@lolo99 yes Head said same when we were there. The schools do over offer though (roughly 1.5 to 2.5/3:1 depending on the school from what I understand). Been through this process before and definitely not getting so stressed about the numbers/ratios as last time.

So many children apply to multiple schools but everyone can only accept one place in the end. Hang in there everyone

@travelturtle totally agree. If the schools were more transparent and didn’t talk their own book so much maybe there would be less hysteria!

Hampton school Invites to 13+ interviews are being sent out today. Is anyone else waiting?

@Firstposthere doubt it because its an 11+ thread… maybe there is one for 13+ ?
still waiting for Emanuel should not be too long now grrrrrr🤯🤯🤯

I really liked the headmaster at Hampton - it wasn't initially a top choice for me but my feelings have warmed up considerably through the process. DS doesn't feel the same though and it's still his last choice but I think he'd be happy there (if they let him in! )

LEH email is out! no interview for my DD but hope some of you got positive news!

LEH is a no for us too - not surprised but glad to at least not have to wait any longer! Hurry up Emanuel😂🤞

A no from LEH for us too. Starting to worry as it’s the second no, and our only likely state option is in a very bad place at the moment. 😔

If it ends up being No (or best case Waiting List) all round, I’m wondering if anyone ever has any luck ringing round and pleading?
I suppose everywhere is so oversubscribed there inevitably are a number of people who don’t get in anywhere?

@Vetiver444 sorry to hear that. It’s such a brutal process sometimes. Which other ones are you still waiting for? Fingers crossed for those.

Gotta love it when a headmaster tells us that the 'hysteria' is driven by mums and not opaque, overwhelming admissions processes designed to sort 10 year olds.
A friend with DC at universities told me that she found the 11+ more stressful than university applications due to the age of the DC. My older DC is in lower 6th and prepping for uni applications. I would say that universities are far more transparent and consistent than the 11+ process.
But sure, blame mumsnet and use a tired old trope against women rather than make it a better process for children.
AND, underneath it is some good advice. Find the helpful info here and ignore the rest. ;-)

Sorry to those getting no joy with LEH. My DD (now in year 8) made it to LEH interview but ultimately was turned down. She is blissfully happy at SHS. I firmly believe if a school turns your kid down, your kid would not have been happy at that school.

Can I please re-ask my KGS maths interview question? Can anyone give me brief idea of what happens please - is the kid given a test paper and maths questions to solve or do they have a conversation?

@MrsEverdeen sure! I have found this process more stressful than my own law degree finals which is utterly ridiculous. My DD sailed through but I’ve found it harder with DS for some reason. Admissions process seems much tougher this time! But yes, lots of helpful info which is why I continue to lurk….chewing my nails! Best of luck to everyone waiting for news.

Sorry to hear. The Hall in Wimbledon is not selective so maybe worth contacting them.

Re the 11+ being more stressful than university application... Wait for your DC to apply for Oxbridge (or go and have a look at the Oxbridge thread in higher education) and decide for yourself...
I initially came on this thread to reassure some of you. Like all of your DCs mine went through the 11+ years ago and got offers from all the schools we applied to. They had decided from the open days and exam days (which at the time were all on site) that they would go to the "least academic" of all the schools as they got much better vibes and they wanted to have plenty of time for extra curriculars. A great school in many aspects though not among the top of the league table, but a school were they were convinced they would feel well and maximise their potential.
They've just had an offer from Oxford for a highly competitive subject, which would probably not have happened, had they been middling in one of the most academic schools in London (it would have impacted their school reference on UCAS where schools give an idea of the ranking in the school).
I can tell you that the last few months have been extremely stressful due to the stress of assessment tests then interviews, whilst trying to keep up with A level revisions and mock exams. A lot more than 11+ for us.
It was just to add some perspective. Most of these schools we're talking about on these threads are great schools and your DCs will do very well provided they end up at the right place for them. They're already very privileged to have supportive parents.

Nooooooooo!!! Why did I listen to your advice?!!! I just looked and there's already a thread on Oxbridge admissions for my DD's year. lol....I've been relying on the fact that it will be less stressful at 17 than 10. ;-)
(Luckily, my DD is interested in a fairly non-competitive subject (doesn't even have to sit the exam or do an interview), so hopefully, I can keep my head buried in the sand and keep telling myself it does get better!)

But, yes 100%, our DCs are all so lucky to have such engaged and supportive parents. Over and over again, research shows that parents who know what's going on, who care about their DC's education and schooling, and who know their DC's friends, make all the difference in their DC's eventual outcomes. Some very lucky kids out there with great parents!