SW London grammar and private year 7 entry 2024 - Continued

[11plus24]

New thread continued here

Oh thanks @Trickleg
So not a whole new sixth form in new location as such - thought that would be difficult for the teacher resource unless they have teachers solely teaching A Level.

If some of this increase is to absorb VAT costs to avoid passing to parents, I wonder have big they plan to expand number in year groups and if class sizes will increase as well... still something for me to check out when visiting this autumn!

Headteacher has explicitly said that they will not increase class sizes. Year 7 next year will be 6 forms rather than 5 and the implication was that this will continue - so around 150 rather than 125.

@paradiseseeking at the offer holder event they said they will build a new sixth form centre for which they have planning permission and they do plan to increase numbers in the sixth form in the future. There is no plan to increase numbers in other year groups. The extra intake this year is a one off due to high acceptances as the sixth form move has freed up lots of space but next year should be back to 125 intake.

I think it is very cheeky to only tell parents of a larger year group once deposits have been paid.

As a pp said, a school will only know its full numbers once deposits have been paid. By definition, there isn’t any way to warn parents that acceptances are looking high before the acceptances have come in… I guess it might be possible to warn the last few before they accept, but then the ones who’d accepted early might feel hard done by at not having the same information.

I am a KGS parent and got the letter. I would assume the extra form would be a recurring thing not a one-off?

@Slippersandrum the Head discussed all this in detail at the offer holder event so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone.

it very much sounded like a one off possibility not a general plan to increase numbers, they wanted the extra space so I don’t think they plan to take any more than 125 next year. But at least there is far more space now in case they ever have higher acceptances than planned.

Me too and I agree that it didn’t sound like a one off - it sounded like a permanent expansion to 6 forms, hence the new House.

Hello! I wondered if any parents here had a DS on the Tiffin waiting list and had received an email about their place on the list? We had an email before the Easter holidays saying it would be sent on or around Tuesday 16th but we haven't hear anything yet

My son got a place at Tiffin's and he has a few friends on the waiting list.

Apparently they have received an email with their waiting list number this week from what I've been told (yesterday I think). I have not heard of anyone getting a place via the waiting yet. You could always given them a ring if you haven't got anything - but I would check my junk mail first in your shoes.

Good luck hope it works out for you and your son.

Thank you! He has his heart set elsewhere so is keen not to get in, the sod, but I'd still like to know so it can be put to bed one way or another!

We had a phone call this morning to say he has got a place! I might give it a weekend to see if we can persuade DS to consider it but he really has his heart set elsewhere so I don't think we'll get very far

That’s fantastic news I’ve not heard of anyone who has been offered a place off the waiting list so it’s good to know that it’s moving now. Well done to your son. Difficult decision now for you I guess especially if he’s set on another school but at least you have the choice now.

Let us know what you decide best of luck

Will do! For information's sake, he was 3 points away from the cut off and we live just under 4 miles as a straight line (not sure how they measure distance and whether they take it into consideration but just in case)

@Bookingorcrooking

Do you mind telling if his heart is on another Grammar school ( Assuming you got your second choice and tiffin was first) or independent school

He is really wanting to go to Hampton. It's so hard because obviously we'd like him to be happy where he goes and he is incredibly anti-Tiffin!

@Bookingorcrooking

Fantastic. My son will also be joining hampton In sept !
We have said No to his grammar school place

Ah that’s great! Can I ask how you decided?

We had a very similar choice to make with SPGS vs Tiffin Girls (some years ago) and the main thing that swung it for me was curriculum. The specific tipping point for us was languages - the variety on offer was so much greater at St Paul's and it was already clear that DD was interested in that area. As well as that, the creative opportunities seemed to be a lot greater at St Paul's. There were a number of things mentioned on the website that she was beyond desperate to take part in. I'd suggest taking a look at the GCSE options for both schools and seeing what you think, if you have any idea what kind of area your son might be interested in later on.

Another thing that worried me was the increasing underfunding of and pressure on state education. Some of the horror stories I've since heard from friends have made me think that we did the right thing and were very lucky to have had the option. I imagine these pressures are probably somewhat less at a good school like Tiffin, but if you know anyone with a child already there you might like to ask them about the frequency of supply teaching, subject specialists and so on.

The third thing that tipped me over the edge was what a horrible joyless experience SATs was and it was suddenly clear to me that if I opted for a state school DD would have continued to be a data point and I just didn't want that. She is lucky to have had her school years untainted by GCSE flight paths etc.

Anyway, it worked out really well for us but I am sure DD would have had a good time at Tiffin too.

Hope this is vaguely helpful!

@BonjourCrisette Well said. i concur with you on everything esp the underfunding aspect of schools which i personally experienced. It could be different with some grammar schools.

Also agree the SAT exams which my son is sitting and his state school is keen to be on the data point list of achieving top sat scores

Third point is Sports. In many grammar schools there is a dedicated coach ONLY for the A team and maximum B team. For the rest of the teams ( C to F) they are at the mercy of a volunteer from the school.. ( funding issues)

In indepedent schools, even the F team kids are made to enjoy the sport and learn a bit.

Lunch time clubs - There is no comparison. Over 150 clubs in Independent. And lunch time is 75 minutes in independent schools vs 50 min in grammar schools.
That extra 25 mins adds a lot of enjoyment to the kids every day

The money factor is always there, but if you can afford it, i would put my cards on the indepdent school ( as long as you have done your research - ie every kid is different and will thrive in a different setting)

Class ratio 20:1 vs 30:1

Language options - better taught and more options.

If i did not have the money or the choices, then would have def put my Ds in a grammar school.

DD was not interested in sports at all, but yes that is also an important point if you have a child who likes them!

@Bookingorcrooking I’m sure you will make the right choice for your son and if you don’t choose Tiffin you can be sure someone will be very pleased as a consequence, as the waitlist is very long and not moving much this year, from what I understand. Best of luck

Just found this post, very helpful thanks all. Have a child in year 5 who will likely be sitting the 11 plus exams this year for entry next year for both grammar and independent schools. Would like to get a sense whether the looming vat hikes is affecting numbers applying/accepting, is it less competitive for an independent place and more so for grammar places? Our prep has hiked fees for next year by quite a bit, with vat added on top it’s going to be quite a financial commitment. Weighing it all up, lots to consider.

I was wondering the same thing. I also have a year 5 dc.

@11plus2025 and @SamPoodle123 I have noticed from our circle of friends and the 11 plus chat forums like this, that some private schools seem to be offering more places this year and having extra classes etc -which is good news for some.

Whereas state grammars e.g. Tiffin Boys and Wilson's appear to more competitive this year with very little movement on the waitlists I have only heard of one of two getting a place from the waitlisting at Tiffin Boys and no one at Wilson's, but Tiffin Girls interesting is up to waiting list number 16? Not sure what is going on there? I guess ultimately, it depends on the schools your targeting.

The simple answer is it difficult to tell - although one of the moderators on the 11 plus exam forum has said movement nationally on waitlists this year is slow - so that's interesting and could be the impact of the potential VAT changes.

I got a lot of information from the eleven plus exam forum over the last year. Best of luck to you both with your journey through the system.