SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024 - Continued

[11plus24]

New thread continued here

What are the three schools you have left in the running? And what are your / your DD's key priorities? If she's had a tough year socially, is a school that's going to be kind and deal well with pastoral issues a key consideration?

Having visited the schools did you not get any sense of "I can see my DD being really happy here for the next 7 years"?

Thank you HawaiiWake it’s FHRP she has a place at FHSS and NHEHS. FHS are a both the same in terms of short commute NHEHS is much longer. I’ve heard mixed direct and anecdotal reports on all three. We turned down SHHS and a couple of others as commute too long. Just don’t want to let her down- this is our first child.

We have the same choices and will be accepting NHEHS.

Thank you 11PlusCraziness, re- feeling of happiness at school, not really…but I’m unfortunately a glass half empty type. I felt there was more of a buzz and energy to FHSS.

Thank you W8anxious- do you mind if I ask why please?

@ThatPoliteCat Demographically they're quite different schools. FHSS is more affluent, NHEHS much more classic middle-class. Does that make a difference to you?

How long would the NHEHS commute be? I wouldn't be going for a very long commute unless you had to.

What about extra curricular - which of the schools best suits your DD's preferences?

As some said - I think demographics played a big role for us. I felt like FHSS is a bit too much about the hype. I absolutely love the vibe at FHRP although as my DD said: it feels too much like a family less like a school.
I think NHEHS academic performance also played a role for us. NHEHS has a school bus, which makes me feel more calm vs taking public transport.

DH and I are both working professionals. Commute to NHEHS would be around 40 minutes and opposite direction to our work. She loves drama, science and dance. She’s not sporty or particularly musical. These are brilliant questions. Have never used mumsnet before and am very grateful for the replies.

Very helpful, thank you W8anxious

40 mins isn't a horrible commute, though as others have said on these threads many times, it somewhat depends on whether there are alternative routes (eg on tube strike days). And, given you work in the opposite direction, whether you're happy for her to travel solo from the outset.

Working professionals is very much the NHEHS vibe. Not sure about FHRP.

Does your DD really have no leanings towards any of them?

Do think about commute - not just for your DD but yourself too, which one is easier for parents to get to for attending school events, concerns, shows, meeting etc.

She liked FHRP the best. I just worry that it seems a small school, would she be more or less likely to find friends?

How many in a year group at FHRP?

I think if she has a preference, and you're on the fence (plus the commute is easier) I would probably go for that. They're pretty similar schools academically so it really is just about the fit / culture.

Thank you very much indeed

Unless you have a strong feel for a particular school, I would choose whichever is more local. It’s much harder to build friendship, when you live far away…

Really helpful if DD has a school preference. @ThatPoliteCat so maybe go for that one?

We have just release DS’s offered place at Reed’s. We have accepted Whitgift-DS was offered a Sports Scholarship at W but, although he did really well in the scholarship trials at R, didn’t get one there.

I feel a bit sad about it because Reed’s is lovely and DS would have been very happy there. I hope whoever gets DS’s place will be really happy there.

However the scholarship offer at W makes it rather more affordable (especially when the R fees jump at Third form) and W will give him one on one sport mentoring, fantastic support in his current main sports, and opportunities to try new ones along with that. W have seemed very keen to have him -they were in contact a few times following the offer including a long call from the Director of Sport to talk through what the scholarship involves, and it was his top choice (along with Trinity where he didn’t get an offer-too
much of a spiky profile in the exams we think).

W is a big school and can give the impression of being a bit ‘alpha’. DS is not exactly ‘alpha’ but is amiable, quietly confident and used to dealing with some pretty big personalities via his current sports. The boys we have met have all been charming, and friendly to DS, so we’re hoping he will be happy there! Looking forward to the next chapter in September!

Well done on your decision Littleduckses! Scholarship plus your DS’s top choice and enthusiasm from the school all sound like good reasons. DD’s current schools sends lots of boys to Whitgift and they’re definitely not all alpha.

It is so hard to let a really good school go, even when you have chosen somewhere else that is also great. Gives a flavour of how the schools must feel when trying to decide between lots of excellent candidates…

Any more WL news? Fingers crossed for anyone waiting.

We’ve been told by our WL school, they are unlikely to go to WL…

Which school was it?

Our WL offer turned into an offer this morning, im so thrilled to say that DS is going to Dulwich College in September 🎉🎉🎉cannot wait to break the news to him !

Totally agree with this! Living closer means you can meet up easily at the weekend, stay on after weekend sports fixtures etc, maybe do outside activities together etc.
For what it’s worth, we did a lot of research into FHSS and my DD found them very kind and friendly throughout the process (much more so than some of the other schools she interviewed with and did equally well at - not on your list) - this was both the teachers and the girls.
But i have also been warned about the high affluence point (people going to Milan for the weekend for better shopping) - though by no means all the school will be like this, and you can also find pockets of this in many schools.
i wouldn’t worry about the school being too small. FH definitely has a friendly vibe. So i would go with FHRP if closest and your DD likes it.

THIS IS THE POST I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!! So thrilled for you @Wondermumof4 well done for hanging on in there and huge congratulations to your DS!! 🎉🥳🥂

Sending the best of luck to all others on the WL. Hoping there’s lots of movement over the next few days. I know a fair few kids both in state and indies who are accepting grammar places (Sutton/Tiffin etc) over KCS, Hampton, KGS, Trinity etc.

@Wondermumof4 thrilled for you though we shall miss you at KGS! Brilliant news!