London grammar and private senior school entry 2025

[CruCru]

Hi all

It doesn’t look as though one of these threads has been set up yet so I thought I’d do it.

I have a daughter going into year 6 and a son going into year 8 next month - both will be moving to senior school in 2025.

Also - I hope it is okay that I have set this up for all of London. The previous threads have been about SW London but I am sure it is okay if people applying to Highgate (say) post on here.

Thank you! I'll be following -I find these threads so useful and have learnt so much from last year's one.

We are applying to grammar, 4 tests, 2 with second stages and 1 with music aptitude. Plus a comp with banding and music aptitude. It’s going to be a long autumn term.
Still wondering if I should apply to one private school as a back up as it seems grammar will be ultra competitive due to the private school VAT.

Our son will be sitting for Tiffin and Sutton Grammars. Glad that you started this thread. Would be good to hear from the people in the same boat.

Joining as have a DD sitting private SW schools this autumn. Thanks for starting this thread

Thanks CruCru. Joining too. We have DD preparing for SW schools. Time is moving fast. Wishing all the best to those sitting grammar school tests in September.

joining as a grandparent who will be watching by the sidelines. my dd and i are not from the uk so lots of worries that something will be missed.

DS sitting private schools, with state as backup. First time we are going through this in our family, so we are a bit nervous about navigating the next few weeks.

Joining as DD sitting G&L - anyone else? Got another DD going into Y4 so wondering if anyone has any tips for prep as feel we might have left it too late for older DD

Tiffin mocks today. Very well organised - impressed.

Gosh yes, I’d forgotten that the grammar school tests were in September. Good luck everyone!

All the best for those applying to Grammar schools!
@rainyboo G&L is also on our list but I am still thinking about it, as it has no school transport.

Ah where are you based? We can use the buses or tubes fairly easily I think

We are near Putney. Both DH and I work, and will need to bring her to and fro at least in the first 2 years. She’s v keen on G&L but I just don’t think sustainable for us. Anyway, the Consortium papers will be tough and competitive. We have not yet done any practice papers for Consortium. How is your prep coming along?

There are lots of girls travelling from Putney to Hammersmith for school. She will be able to go with friends after the first few days if you do the journey with her a few times. And I doubt she will want you to take her for very long at all! You will be surprised by how fast she gets to grips with her journey should she get into G&L. I have a daughter in her last year of A Levels at a Hammersmith school and after all the inductions and teas and other events before term started, not to mention the exams and interviews, I only went with her on the very first day. After that she was fine with it.

There are plenty of girls that travel on their own from start of year 7 and from Putney too. I took dd on her first day and after that she said she was fine to do it alone. Many take the bus together.

We did the ones on the consortium website a while ago. Are you using Atom?
Yeah, I think she'd be fine after the first few days travelling alone. Are you only targeting consortium schools?

Thanks all! Thats actually really good to hear and does make sense. We will likely apply and then make a decision if successful!

Hi CaptainOhMyCaptain, is the Mock exam organised by Tiffin? May I ask is by Tiffin girl or Tiffin Boy please?

How reliable are the Atom scores? We recently signed up. My DC shows zero consistency! Seems to fluctuate between 110-142 depending on the mood.

This happens for my ds as well. It makes me nervous for the real thing.

Traveling independently from Putney to Hammersmith is a perfectly fine and easy journey for a Year 7 kid. Many kids travel much longer distances in the same direction

Hello @Pokemongogo it was run by a third party but at Tiffin Boys, and both girls and boys could attend. It looked like some of the Tiffin staff were helping out on the day, too. English and Maths multiple choice. 11plustestkingston I think is the name. Booking has closed for this year but this post might be helpful to people for next year

It’s really good that they do these mock tests! How did the kids find the level of difficulty?

My son found it straightforward but that doesn’t mean it was!

the Sutton school PTAs also do mock tests in May/June at both Sutton and Wally Boys in SET format. These are also v good (again, for 2026 and beyond entry)