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.

Good luck to all those who sat the exams for Blackheath yesterday. I hope it went well.

I’ve noticed that a really similar thread to this one (but specifically for SW schools) has been set up. I’m happy to carry on with this one if people find it helpful … but if people prefer to post on the other one then that is okay too.

Oh..Can you share the link here, please. I couldn’t find it.

SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2025 | Mumsnet

Thank you! Great that there are different threads of conversations! Assume that we are all in the thick of 11+! I’m aware that a number of SW schools have kicked off, and it’s moving fast! From what I have seen so far, the girls seem fairly positive coming out of the exams. Hoping for the best!

City Girls is underway right now and the Consortium schools have their exams at the end of the month and beginning of December.

It looks like January is going to be a busy month for interviews. Then we’ll have to hold our thumbs for good news on Valentine’s Day!

Thank you for this thread, really! I’m eating my nails right now. We have a bit more than 2 weeks ahead the first exam and I’m trying to keep my cool. Should I continue working on mock tests until the very end? I ran out already of previous tests for different schools. How different are the sample papers from the actual ones?

@WorkinMumsince4ever what schools are you applying to? We stopped with mock exams this week, just trying to stay relaxed and healthy.

Applying to NLC and HABS. That’s a good point, staying healthy. The weather is horrible.

I remember doing actuarial exams (many years ago) and one of the most useful pieces of advice was that exams are a marathon, not a sprint. Don't go into an exam tired and depressed from doing work right up until the end. Eat sensibly and get some exercise. I would also say that it is worth limiting your daughter's time on electronic devices the day before so that her brain gets a rest (the advice I was given didn't cover this because it was so long ago).

That’s really good advice! We are now half way through the exams, and it’s quite an effort to switch the mind to ‘exam mode’ per paper! I keep telling myself that DD is just 10! Need to somehow keep the energy up till the last paper - Consortium in early Dec.

@WorkinMumsince4ever when are those exams? I have mine just doing something small each day to keep fresh, but no more 20/30-minutes. Once he starts exams I will drop that on days he has exams. Main focus now is keeping spirits up and getting to bed at a decent time.

And City Girls is done! It was really nice, each girl got a postcard from a girl at the school wishing her luck.

Oh that's nice! We didn't get one...

@CruCru it is indeed a great advice. Seconding @JustInvolved . We’re actually starting early in the morning, before school. We noticed she’s more fresh and her performance is better.
@Wlondon14 exams are on the 2nd and 3rd week of December.
It’s crazy. My DD is 10. We’re approaching it as a contest against herself. It’s challenging.

Exams running into 2nd and 3week of Dec is not friendly!! So close to Xmas! Our last paper is on 3rd Dec and I already feel that it is pushing the limits!

Gosh, does your child have exams past the first week of December? My daughter has the Consortium exam on 5 December but that’s it until the interviews start right after New Year.

Hi anyone has a ds at kings. I like to understand the difference in the school compared to Hampton. Is it more liberal more strict etc. any insight from
parents with boys already there will be much appreciated.

We had entrance exams this week and the next and final exams in three weeks. I can’t wait for it all to be over, with the grammars in early September it feels like it’s been going on forever. DD and I are going to spend the entire Christmas holidays in our pyjamas eating chocolate and burning verbal reasoning test papers 😂

@CruCru December 12/13 for second part of Ibstock- December 7th for Kings 😵‍💫

Can't wait for November and December to be over!! I like the idea of burning reasoning papers.

Crumbs! I suppose Ibstock run their exams after the pupils have broken up for Christmas.

Me too! 😂

The late papers in Dec is such a pity. The kids are exhausted! Counterproductive. Some DC are done or done by this weekend! Rest of us, just need to keep going!

Before Covid they were mainly early January. I remember DDs first exam was Ibstock on January 2nd- followed by another on the 4th and 2 on the 5th- that was fun!

So much better most are before Christmas! That would be so annoying to have it after the holidays....