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.

Congrats, us too. The Westminster 13+ is a comprehension exercise and also creative writing from the text provided.
Yes, St Paul’s ask for an assignment of discursive writing now.

Thank you. It seems both schools are much more guarded with the types of questions that will be faced compared to other schools! Good luck!

How is everyone feeling about interviews? I can't believe we are finally over exams! I know some people have exams in the New Year. We had an intense two weeks of exams, so glad it is over for us now. We have two interviews lined up and waiting to hear back from the rest. Always feels like a long wait.

Re SPGS candidates, last year they had Y10 girls supervising each group (of about 15 in a classroom), and they played board games etc with them in between papers. They had a nice long lunch break including some group singing. It sounds like a long day, but they make it really relaxed and fun. DD came out having thoroughly enjoyed it and not in the least stressed. My advice to parents would be to tell your girls it'll be an interesting, fun day, and encourage them to enjoy it.

Re clashes, SPGS are really clear throughout that they don't offer an alternative assessment day. Last year, everyone I know managed to get an alternative from whatever other school they were sitting.

Last year there were just over 400 at assessment day and about 220 called back for interview. We were told by the school that they make about 145 offers for 120 places and they keep a very small waitlist.

Good luck!

Does anyone know how many are invited to sit the 13+?

Also note that SPGS has updated their second-round maths paper format this year. It now consists of 2 sections instead of 3 in the past years, and section one includes a few multiple choice questions.

Hi, I'm new to the thread but I've been lurking. Anxiously waiting the results of LEH and G&L. Wondering why these schools are holding back their stage 2 results....we have applied to other schools Putney and Surbiton but it would be so useful to know now the outcome of these. It's hard when the girls are at school and the results come out. So much better to get these before the Xmas break. For their confidence and our nerves.

Welcome Londonangst! I love the name.

We are now waiting to hear back from South Hampstead, who said they will contact everyone in January. Presumably LEH and G&L are doing the same?

It feels a bit weird now that the other interviews are booked and there’s nothing left to sort for now. I should really get on with wrapping my Christmas presents.

Thanks Cru Cru. I guess I should do the same but it’s hard to switch off. My daughter made a few silly mistakes on the ISEB and I’m worried she wouldn’t have accessed the harder questions but then I’m telling myself they are all good schools and does it really matter which one she goes to!

I’m also worried all the girls applying to all the other Hammersmith schools will get interviews at G&L and we won’t stand a chance. The level of tutoring in central London seems insane.

The thing about tutoring is that, while it can be useful, it won’t transform a child into a different person. Although lots of people do a lot of tutoring, the benefits become more marginal once it goes much past an hour or so a week.

I hope you are right about the marginal benefits. I have seen some kids who were middling in years 4 & 5, get into top schools, to everyone’s surprise, thanks to years of systematic tutoring. I have also heard of kids who practiced on Atom so much that they knew the questions that came up in the exam. These kids then struggled once they got in. Also, there is tutoring and there is tutoring. Some tutors charge £150 an hour - maybe one hour a week with them is better than 4 hours a week with a less competent one. It is by no means a level-playing field. But the norm seems to be that a reasonably bright kid who is reasonably prepared, will do well.

Most of the children I know are pretty busy. Four hours a week is so much that they may need to give up an activity or interest to fit it in, which is a pity.

You hear of many that drop activities during the 11+...which I do not think is great for the child.

As for the tutoring, some children require more of it to get in and they just continue once they are in. My dd is at G&L and she said all her friends have tutors. She does not have a tutor and came from state school, so we were not in this super competitive type of environment. She does not feel any pressure from the school and is thriving there. But she said some kids have tutors multiple times a week!!

Don't stress. She will end up in the school that is meant for her. It is possible to get in without crazy tutoring. I think St Paul's you would probably need tutoring, but G&L and Putney you could get by with just doing the online prep. I am actually quite shocked they do not have any creative writing on the exams....at least when my dd did it.

Does anyone know how many boys wrote KCS 11+ and how many are normally invited back for interviews? The long wait till January

From my experience, the scariest tutoring is from the parents that no school nor tutor could match.

So true this statement. May your DC flourish there. We know so many being tutored during the term and intense tutoring during holidays from Y7 to Y13 in GL and SPGS that openly tells us since we not at those schools. Not all but that is a minority. Glad your DC showing natural study skills.

She did have a learning curve at the start on studying. She was used to not having to study and just knowing everything from it being taught in class. Secondary school was a whole new level and expectation for turning in homework and actually studying before an exam. It was really good for her to learn, as you can't just coast through life. Hard work pays off.

I agree, the wait until almost mid Jan feels like forever. I would much prefer all the schools let you know on the same day and prior to Christmas! Did you find out any out already?

From the schools I do know, it seems after the exam they take 1/3. I assume applications to kings is probably almost 1000? Exam day seemed pretty busy and a few times lots. What do you think? Perhaps someone will come along that asked the school so would have a better estimate.

I think if you make it to interview you have a 50/50 chance or maybe slightly better odds.

This is just mental isn’t it….your child goes to a very good school, presumably most children are quite bright, and they still need to be better! My daughter is at LEH juniors and many of her year have tutors as well. I had assumed it would stop in seniors but now it’s making think it won’t! It does make her and those girls who don’t have tutors fall “behind” and that’s my concern. Along with teachers being told they are not teaching hard enough topics as the kids have already learnt the curriculum for that year (and the year above!).

Yes, it is just mental. They do it to stay ahead. It continues on probably until they take their A levels....hopefully stopping when they go to University 😂

@SamPoodle123 - there is nowhere near 1000 applicants for KCS- last year it was about 510 according to their info. There are 60 places. I know of plenty of boys who have got waitlist places as well so they will offer considerably more than 60 places. Once you've got an interview it's pretty good odds

I am sure I know some of the LEH girls you’re talking about.

I don’t agree that they are “ahead” though - a couple are naturally v bright, that’s just the truth of it - but as for others, from what I’ve seen, I’m sceptical of this never-ending tutoring not for actual exam prep purpose. I had an LEH teacher express real exasperation at the method a couple of girls had been taught by a tutor who apparently gets their maths material from YouTube.

I hope so! one calendar month to send outcomes is a long time. They had the most comprehensive application out of all the schools we have applied, so they must take that into consideration for interviews too. We shall see. I feel so relaxed and relieved that exams are over...