SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2025

[Wlondon14]

Hi! I know there are a few threads like this out there, but they seem to focus on grammar schools outside of London. I found this group really helpful a few years ago when my daughter was going through this process.

Where are you applying, how did you find the open days? Are you using Atom learning? What is your prep plan for the next month?

I have a son applying to - St Paul's, Kings, Latymer Upper, Emanuel, Ibstock, Hampton, Harrodian

all the best with the rest @SamPoodle123 💪

Thanks! I can’t wait until it’s all over! Spring can’t come soon enough!! 😅

Good news about St Paul Boys round 1 for DS, but no news for the girls yet!

Sorry to hear on not getting through. It’s tough all round. I recall getting the thin envelope with rejection letter before for DS. Not easy.

Do we know when LEH will share results for interview? Feels like some of the girls schools are releasing info late / Jan! Will be an anxious Christmas.

Mid-Jan. Interviews 22-24 Jan.

Our daughter will be done and dusted with all other schools by 10th Jan and yet LEH won’t even have confirmed the second round. They’re taking their sweet time over it.

Same with outcomes: we got Sutton High yesterday, SWPS follows on Friday and the others around end Jan… but LEH don’t confirm until mid-Feb!

Painfully slow… G&L is also in Jan on whether you go to stage 2.

They say by Sunday. Maybe today or tomorrow?

Congrats! May I know it is for 11+ or 13+? We are anxiously waiting for DS’s 13+ result😢

Congrats! May I know is it for 11+ or 13+? We are anxiously waiting for DS’s 13+ result🫠

Thanks!

Thank you, it was 11+ for us

Does anyone know how many boys Hampton bring through to interview stage and, of that, how many are given offers? Just trying to figure out what sort of chance my DS has. Also, can anyone recommend a good interview course/tutor they have used that would suit for the Hampton interview?

I would love to know this too!

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

When I picked up DS at KCS, they said roughly 750 boys sat the exam. I have no idea on numbers for interviews

That may include the boys who sat the 13+ on the same day.

@swlondon2024 Wow that’s definitely more than I expected hopefully half of that was 13 plus! Where do all the kids end up that don’t get a second round interview at all the schools? I mean with the amount of kids writing at all the schools and only 70 places? New to all of this and numbers are freaking me out!

Its a super long wait till the 13th!

Many kids sit multiple schools, and they can only take one spot. First experience the numbers also freaked me out. Some kids get multiple offers, but also some unfortunately do not get any. However, it does work out in the end. It is stressful, especially when they have worked so hard and so young.

Thank you @SamPoodle123 . Having a bit of a wobble this morning thinking of the numbers who sat the exams and interviews emails looming in January as we havent had any emails as yet!
What happens to the kids that dont get interviews? Is that when the prep heads step up and make magic happen as kids could have had an off day? Just trying to underatand where the rest of the kids go that dont get any interviews and make it to the second rounds?

@Twinklestoes198 , they do all get places and the places that are right for them, you have to trust the system. When my ds started at Hampton age 11 many years ago in a class of 22 they had been offered around 100 places between them across KCS, KGS, Epsom , St John's leatherhead, Dulwich, Ibstock Reeds Whitgift, RGS Guildford, Tiffin, Wilson, other state secondaries etc. because of the distance dc travel the volume of schools is immense.

@Twinklestoes198 not all children have to have a 2nd interview. Some will be offered places based on their exam outcome, school reference and 1st conversation with teachers.
The waiting is tough, especially when you don't hear anything from the school until February. Keep the faith that no news can be good news... although, I realise that's easier said than done. Good luck!

I think potentially some prep school heads that have strong relationships with schools can work their magic, but my dc are in state schools, so our head does nothing. I know of a boy that applied to only the most academic schools for the 11+ and he did not make it to one interview round unfortunately. The parents changed him to a prep school for year 7 and 8 and the head worked his magic and he managed to secure two spots as in year transfer for end of year 8 (to start in year 9) at City and St Pauls!! So, the 11+ sometimes does not work out, but it will eventually.

I also know of cases where children did not get into WHS or Emanuel, but then got into G&L or Kings for 11+, but they had gotten the no news first so it was stressful waiting.

Kids can most def have an off day and that is why it is good to apply to at least 3 schools I think - stretch, middle and safe school.

I get waves of being worried and then remind myself they will end up where they are meant to be.

Good luck to your dc!

Feeling very anxious here too. So far the results look good as DD has a couple of 2nd round exams and three other 'enrichment' interview days in January, but as we're going for really competitive schools I don't know what is going to happen next. DD took grammar exams as well so the process started really early, quite deflated and understandably unwilling to work right now. I am exhausted too, tired of reviewing written work, solving maths problems for marking (for sample papers without answers) and explaining where there is a knowledge gap. I just want it to all end!
@SamPoodle123 really comforting to read, that they'll end up where they are meant to be.. I need to keep reminding that to myself too.

Really?! I had no idea children could receive an offer before the interview stage - were you answering specifically about KCS or in general?

On another note, I feel so bad for my two DC having two exams each on the first week in January. At least it will only be interviews after that!