SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024 - Continued

[11plus24]

New thread continued here

@LanguageTestQuery we are personally waiting for 1st of March as for our first choice (dulwich) we are on waiting list and hoping it will move. Also would like to know what state option we have.
actually we will
probably make our final decision right before dead line which is 5th of March.

Hi, does anyone know if you can actually accept more than one offer? Independent schools. Recently was asked this however I do not know hence thought I may get insight on the forum!

Of course- if you have the money for the deposits and the first terms fees!
Although I think in one offer letter/ contract it mentioned about not accepting an offer anywhere else. Can't remember which school though.
But it would be a strange ( and slightly selfish) thing to do.

@Shivvyshiv yes you can but will loose your deposit and after Easter a terms fee I believe.

Thank you for really quick response. I think one is the current school and one external. So only 1 deposit. No idea on terms fees. Thanks again

Some of our offers have a 14 day “cooling off” period. Not sure if it means you get your deposit back within 14 days if you change your mind….

Thank you! My offers didn’t mention this. Albeit, we accepted ours however have someone who is unsure for understandable reasons. It’s a hard decision!

We have offers and we've narrowed it down to WHS and JAG's. Any recommendations, pro's and con's?

Very happy to answer questions re: WHS. Our DD joined last September (Y7). She (and us) are very happy with the choice.
Feel free to DM me if you prefer.

Is anyone joining Hampton in 2024 (year 7) My DS is so happy. Any current parents also that can add to our excitement?

We have 4 offers - KGS, Ibstock Place, Emanuel and Harrodian. Emanuel is our favourite, but I think DC should go to a couple of offer holder days to make sure she’s certain she’s made the right choice. Have ruled out KGS for distance and Harrodian as it was our last choice, so she will visit Emanuel and Ibstock Place and decide from there. Worried by visiting it may confuse the situation. Any views on any of the schools above would be most welcome! Thank you.

Congrulations to your DD for the offers!

We had offers from those 4 last year so did consider them in detail (though opted for a different one).

We really liked KGS and it made it our top 2 but the distance seems a factor for you (though not sure how far away it is for you and how it compares with the others). Is it a definite no or a 'would prefer not to'? If the former, do not go to the offer holders event ... if the later, I would advise you to go and see if what you like is enough to compensate for the logistics.

Harrodian can be a bit marmite and it seems that it is your least preferred option. If you are sure of that, do not attend the offer holders' event.

I would definitely advise you to attend the offer holders' event for both Emanuel and Ibstock. We did last year and it furthered our view that, between the 2, Emanuel would have been a better fit for our DD (both academically and socially) and for us as a family. Beyond that, the offer holders' events really give the opportunity to ask more focused questions about the school, its curriculum and the school life and also get a feeling for the cohort of DCs and parents. The events have a very different vibe to the open days and the families (and DCs) are much more in the driving seat! And if you accept without attending, you might then regret and start thinking ... if only!

I know what you mean Annawintour about the further visits confusing things.

We are choosing between two schools and definitely intend to go to the offer holder days. However one of the offer holder days has activities for the kids whereas the other (Emanuel, also our favourite!) is a “talk and tour”.

I’m worried DD will end up much preferring the one that lays on activities (who wouldn’t?). I’ve explained that she shouldn’t judge on that basis but it will still form an impression I expect. Gaah.

We have a similar dilemma between 2 schools with dd having a very strong preference for one and also has a scholarship there. It feels like the right school for her on every level. Of course the complicating factor is it’s the most difficult logistically with 40 mins on a school bus or 30 min on a train ( walk either side). Not sure what to do! Heart or head?

I think the distance is a factor to take seriously! It’s 10 journeys a week for at least 5 years and I think (for my DC anyway), getting up that 30 mins earlier every day would be a struggle.

@QuiteAJourney we’re def only going to the 2 shortlisted offer days. Let’s hope it doesn’t confuse her more, as we’re all pretty set on Emanuel. Just think it’s healthy to have a point of comparison.

Good to see the cohort though. That may sway things.

@Annawintourssteak Agree that a difference of 30 minutes (each way) makes a difference - at least for my DD (like your DC). Not only in the mornings but also in terms of extra-curricular in the evening and/or homework.

We had questions as to whether DD would be swayed by the marketing efforts and/or activities but she emerged with clear views (and very cynical of what she called 'marketing ploys'!) so, overall, really happy that we went.

Hi all, new to this forum.. congrats on the good news received so far and fingers crossed for those on WLs.

We have unexpectedly received 3 offers from tbh each were our target schools. Just wondering if anyone had experience or feedback on them - Trinity, Reigate Grammar and RGS Guildford. Keen to know how supportive the schools are and if there are any sifting post gcse? Class sizes and teaching quality? will post as main topic as well as completely torn!! For journeh times, they all involved travel but Guildford surprisingly quickest as it is train.

farfalla what is the travel like to the other school?

I did a 40 min school bus journey to senior school. It was a bit limiting re after school clubs. However, a lot more clubs are lunchtime these days and in your case there is a train alternative. Getting up for the bus in the morning was a struggle yes but I was always just about on time.

If it feels right in every single way bar the travel, and your DD has a strong preference for it, I wouldn’t let the travel put you off - it doesn’t sound too hideous by London standards.

@farfallarocks otherwise the other option is to move closer to the school…?

I brought my daughter to a few offer holder days even though we had a strong preference for one school, but didn’t feel certain about it. In the end she chose the school we preferred. All kids are different, but most at that age will get excited about what you are excited about.

@lolo99 My DS will be joining. He is over the moon!

Agree that it’s worth going to offer holder events for a couple of schools you’re considering. It really helps, even if just to confirm that your favourite is your favourite!

@farfallarocks I don’t think 30-40 mins commute is necessarily too far, but it also depends how easy the journey is. It takes our DS1 about 35 mins which is 10 mins walk to station, 10 mins on train, 10 mins walk other side - plus a few mins to wait for the train. He travels in with a couple of friends though and my DH is usually on same train too. He doesn’t mind it. It’s roughly average in his year (Y8) and plenty travel further.

DS2 has choice of same school so he will travel with DS1 or school bus to another one which takes about 35 mins too.

Please can I ask if anyone has an academic scholarship from KGS this year and how much, or anyone that you know this year. In the past it was known of 20-30%. Thank you.

We have accepted our favourite school (Hampton for us too @lolo99 @MuddyBoots21 ) and released DS's other two offers today. He did go to the offer holder day at his second favourite school, but we have decided to accept Hampton before attending their offer holder morning - we have an older DS there, so know the school well, and it's the school our younger one always wanted, so it was a no brainer for him really. As soon as the Hampton offer landed in the inbox that was it.

I do sympathise with those worried that DC might choose a school based on what parents might perceive as trivial things though. Talking to DS about his thoughts on his other two schools, he focused on food and was genuinely torn about which might have the best daily menus - one had offered applicants sausages, chips and chocolate cake on assessment day, the other opted for pizza and doughnuts....but which was the best? Oh the dilemmas of an 11 yo

Good luck to everyone with decision making and for those on waiting lists, hopefully you will get good news soon.

@FlyingPandas @MuddyBoots21 @lolo99 We’re 99.9% Hampton (DS’s choice). He’s ecstatic.