Can you do the 10+ and 11+ at city of london boys?

[Storkpelican]

For example if you fail the 10+ do the 11+?

Yes you can. Some boys sit the 10+ as a dry run for 11+, without much preparation. Others give it their best shot, wanting to avoid the 11+ madness (where you would be sitting exams for multiple schools). I know CLS boys who narrowly missed out on the 10+, learned from the experience, and then got in at 11+. But I also know others for whom the 10+ was a car crash. City will give a rough indication for where your boy ranked at 10+, so you get an idea if it’s worth trying again. There are fewer applicants for the 10+, but then again they make fewer offers because none of their competitors (Westminster & SPS) do a 10+. So it’s probably almost as hard to get in at 10+ as at 11+.

Many boys do sit both. What you can’t do is sit both 11+ and 13+ right now, though it seems CLS is phasing out its 13+ after this year (for Y9 entry in 2027) and moving to (an occasional place?) exam for Y9 entry in 2028 and later that the boys would sit in Y8 (instead of Y6 like they do now). This is based on their admissions website, so I could be wrong.

I will say that CLS 11+ is probably more competitive than 10+. While there aren't as many places at 10+, far fewer are applying (only those for whom CLS is their top choice probably and very few state school applicants), so the percentage of offers/applicants is probably higher. And the pool of applicants may not be as competitive since many of those also wanting to apply to Westminster, SPS, Highgate etc wouldn’t be sitting the 10+.

I don’t know whether the addition of the City Junior School has reduced the number of 10+ places, but given that 13+ is changing, my guess is not.

The introduction of the City Junior School, whose first 7+ cohort is currently in year 5, will probably change things, as that cohort moves up. But up until now, numbers looked more or less like this (anecdotally of course):

11+:
800 applicants, 180 called for interview, about 120 offers for 85 places.

10+:
280 applicants, 70 called for interview, about 45 offers for 40 places.

So @Jackal313 is probably right that 10+ is a bit less competitive. On the other hand, most of those who sit the 10+ are VERY focused, and already top of their class.

I really thought CLS would phase out their 10+, and as you point out @Hatcher, the first CJS cohort are in Y5 this year (so Y6 next year) - but apparently not since there is a separate 10+ going ahead again this year. That’s why the change to 13+ seems like it could be related. Perhaps the school is now filling up earlier (CJS, 10+ and 11+) and will take far fewer at 13+.

@Jackal313 Would this mean that they will take fewer boys at 11+ next year, since more will be coming up from the junior school (i.e., the inaugural 7+ and this year's 10+ entrants)? The website used to state how many places there are at each entry point but I can't see it this year.

Given that 11+ has always been the main entry point, and when most state school boys enter, I really doubt they’d reduce the number they take at 11+. That would make it even more competitive! But 13+ has always had a limited applicant pool so reducing those numbers makes more sense to me if they’re staying at their current size.

I am not sure about your 10+ figures but when my son got his acceptance after 10+ it said that there were over 500 applicants for 40 places. He is now in first form ie year 7. i dont know how many sat for 11+ but I would think there is nothing stopping you from trying for both.

The CLS email that year, i.e. the year your son got in at 10+ read "with over 250 candidate sitting our entrance exams". I guess this could mean 500, but it is unlikely.

City told us on the phone they’re expecting 450 boys to sit this year (2024) for the 40 places starting in year 6 in 2025. (The 10+)

I guess this is based on how many have registered. If that many kids sit the exam it would mean that, despite the VAT, City is becoming even more popular. Or perhaps it means that more people think 10+ is worth a shot, to avoid the 11+ madness. It is also a common phenomenon in economics that, in times of financial stretch, high-end products/services benefit as much as low-end, with everything in between shrinking. This might explain why top private school don’t seem particularly concerned with absorbing part of the VAT

When did they tell you this because when I tried to get numbers they said they were not sharing it. Unless there are different start time for the exam I didn’t see more than 150 for sure. Unless they phase in starting time

They will be in tranches. They close the school to pupils for the 11+ this Friday but it is open today.

I have a child at both CJS and CLS. I do recall them saying they were intending to expand CLS to accommodate the c35 that will come from CJS. I have to say I did expect they would quietly move to drop the 10+ but apparently they like the calibre of kids they get from it. For the last few years the 10+ entrants Old Grammar (year 6) boys have been taught in the CJS building but that won’t be an option from September as it will have 4 full years from the 7+

We know families with multiple kids that looking for London day schools plus VAT instead of boarding school fees plus VAT. So the London day schools competition is still ongoing. 10+ entry is getting very popular to avoid the 11+ madness and some London prep schools charges are higher so the move will save some money.

I see thanks because honestly it looked more like 100 kids top. Do you know how many are sitting and how many spots there is then?

Well for the last few years there have been 2 classes of OG at CJS so perhaps around 45 of them. No idea how many are sitting.

Sorry to hijack - does anyone know how roughly how many boys sat the 11+ at CLS and how many are being interviewed? Thank you!

A Mumsnet thread last year said:

11+:
800 applicants, 180 called for interview, about 120 offers for 85 places.

But no evidence at all.

The email I got from City said just "several hundreds" of candidates applied this year.

I hope it can help you.

Thank you so much - my DS got an interview, I was just wondering what the odds were. The Good School Guide says 80 places at 11.

So my DS was. Good luck for us!

That is great! Hope you DS is thrilled, mine was so happy. Good luck all round 🍀

Re places, the Admissions Policy 2023 says:
--
Appendix 2: Number of places available

The exact number of places available varies from year to year, but the approximate number of places available in the current admissions cycle is:

Entry point

Approximate number of places available for entry

10+ in 2024

Up to 40 places

11+ in 2024

Up to 85 places

13+ in 2026

Up to 30 places

16+ in 2024

Up to 20 places
--

So, 85 places might be correct, but I couldn't find the latest version.

Has anyone who sat 10+ heard back?

Last year, City said it was due by 15 Dec 23, but we got an email on 12 Dec 23. I hope it'd help you.

We received the email today (10+) for an interview in Jan

Congratulations!