SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024 - Continued

[11plus24]

New thread continued here

@farfallarocks which did you go for?

@ALongProcess we went for St John’s.

Well done for making a decision farfalla!

We are still mulling. Nearly there I think (but then I thought that last week, in the other direction…)

I think we have finally decided upon Reeds (over Epsom). If anyone has a DS going in Sept I’d love to know! 😊

I sure hope you are right about this. We had dd last year and my ds is next year. It went well for dd, but I am worried as I feel like the boys schools are more competitive close to us.

I do think it will get less crazy overall year by year, but obviously the experience will depend on the individual child! It does seem tougher for boys unfortunately.

@Conundrummum my son is also going to Reed’s. He’s so happy. It was always his favourite. 🙂

Hang in there and watch the 50% increase of UCAS applications until it peaks at 2031.

Cheery thought!!

Ah hello @londonlady2023 😊
That’s lovely to hear!

@farfallarocks congratulations on the decision!

Has anyone heard of any movement from the WL's yet?

Someone reported FHSS movement in another thread. Someone told me they had a waitlist place from Emanuel but another poster called admissions and apparently no wait list places have been offered! So who knows. I think Friday will be a big day as people release offers and make a decision as well as state school offers. Good luck, limbo is just awful place

I really dont understand how parents with 2 or more offers haven't made a decision yet! Surely fav schools are in your mind for a while! I totally understand those who are waiting on State school offers but if they hold more than 1 offer, surely they could release the extra ones, whilst holding out for a state school. The wait and stress is awful on WL parents...

I totally agree. it needs collective will to stop everyone paying unnecessary deposits! I think some offer holder days are yet to happen though so I do understand wanting a last look at say the final 2. I think Dulwich is on Thursday for example.

I completely agree if offer holder days are yet to take place, but again, surely the debate is between 2 schools. I see so many posts where people have 4-6 offers and are waiting on a final decision before releasing the rest. Its selfish in my view, keep the 2 that your thinking about but at least release the others...
many parents, such as myself, will be forced to pay a deposit on one school whilst waiting on the WL to move...
I have kept one offer open and released the rest whilst we wait on a WL for our first choice school.

Total agree with you! Hoping you get your top choice.

Parent of an older DD at Surbiton High here. A really lovely school. Of course there are ups and downs for all teens but the school have been amazing and are very responsive and supportive which counts for so much. I can highly recommend it. Loads of clubs, sports, arts, drama, D of E, rowing, skiing, horse riding, book clubs, language clubs, etc. Tons of things to get involved in.

Now looking for DS but no Surbiton High for boys at secondary exists and I can’t find anything that fits the same blend of focus on learning and support without the overwhelming pressure you get at some schools.

We are looking at Ibstock for him so would anyone know what CAT scores are needed for 11+? I’ve asked in another thread but maybe here there are more eyeballs!

Also anything about sport for boys at Ibstock, DS not sporty and hates rugby so would like to know if it’s compulsory.

I think they have to play some sort of rugby at Ibstock but most schools now offer non- contact.
Hampton they can choose football.
Kingston Grammar seems an obvious choice- No rugby and near Surbiton.

Thank you it’s a great suggestion but I don’t think DS would make KGS. CATs are coming in around 120/125 and our school have said no point unless 130+

It would be great and we’ll give it a shot but it’s a stretch school for him we’ve been told.

CAT score 130 in a normalized scale means top 3% percentile. But sounds like in MN 130+ kids are all over the SW London now.

Yes Perplex, I agree but in DS’s school there are probably 40% achieving 130+ in his year.

I think that SW London attracts a very bright crowd and intelligence is a 50% heritable trait. It’s somewhat shocking/PITA but it is what it is. It means hopefully at least for uni DS will be ok but the very limited number of spaces at private/grammar secondary 11+ mean we can’t consider top academic schools for him. Being top 10% isn’t enough!

At GCSE and beyond there’s no limit so things will hopefully improve somewhat for him 🤞

Everyone we know at DS’s school have pretty high paying jobs, and are prob high CATs themselves!

It might also suggest CAT is not a good objective measurement on natural ability/intelligent anymore, it can be skewed and improved by external inference.

@farfallarocks are you sure Dulwich is doing an offer holder day ? I have been told they dont🤷🏻‍♀️
@Vive42 dont think that way , we have been told same about our son and he got an offer and others offer 2 that were considered “a stretch” he still has time to practice.

I thought I heard that this morning but may be wrong, could be another school!