Private secondary without 11+ in London?

[Privateeee]

Every single secondary I’ve come across - even “non academically selectives” have their own 11+. I do not want to tutor DS, or put him through exam prep; but I am looking for a school that isn’t as big as a major comp, and has lots of options for subjects like art and music and also a really warm and fun place to be.

Are all London private schools selective at 11+? Or do any non-selectives exist?

Do you mean common entrance?

The Cedars, south London (Crystal Palace/Norwood way) is a small, non-selective private secondary school. Entrants do sit an English/Maths test, but places are not offered on an academically selective basis. Very nurturing, takes a holistic view to education of the whole child.

You can contact them and arrange a visit if you're anywhere near.

Even the all-through schools that aren’t traditionally academically selective like King Alfred and Belmont have exams they put kids through at 11+.

Two children on my street (delightful, smart, engaged) didn’t get through to round 2 of King Alfred this year after its exam day, which I’m told was a 3-hour computer based exam. And that is supposed to be a non-selective school!

Last year, another neighbour’s child didn’t get through to Belmont, even after extensive tutoring. Another school that’s not meant to be academically selective.

I’m not looking to let my kid feel he’s failed at age 10, or sit through exams, and I’m not looking for a school who is creaming off the best academic kids to make their exam results look good. I’m looking for a school that’s really good at what it does, and a really wonderful place to be.

This school sounds lovely - I will look it up!

Exactly. Quite a few. Hampton school does it if a child joins before the age of 7.

London Park School say they don’t do a test, the are based in Clapham and Mayfair. Halcyon International school also state they don’t do a test. Northbridge house in Cannonbury do test but say they are not academically selective.

If your child already goes to a private prep I would assume they already have done some sort of testing - like CAT or electronic Progress Tests? If so i would think with academically non selective school tests will be fine and no prep needed.

For NBH they say they test to know where the child is level wise, but as with any non selectives if there are a certain number of places they almost certainly use the test results as part of their decision but would hope references / interviews are used too.

Tbh both king Alfred and Belmont are really difficult to get places at. That's been the case for years no OP. King Alfred not for academic reasons- they have a smidgen of places for y7, some years only 2 of 3, and they have to find a child that would fit into their ethos which isn't easy. They're not testing academics really. My DD sat that test and it wasn't anything like a normal 11+.
Belmont has been very selective for years now and lots don't get in, they have multiple waiting lists every year. It's not the non selective people used to know it as. It sounds like you're in N London so should really be looking at Northbridge House or Mount House. Just bear in mind that all kids have some sort of prep and if you have a bright child, they might find being in these super non selective schools boring and you're better off going state tbh.

If location works, worth considering The Hall School in Wimbledon, we know a few families with kids there and they are all happy.
A couple of thoughts in case useful.

• there has been a mention of The Cedars (we also know families there which are also happy). You may be interested (or not) in links with Opus Dei.
• You refer to not wanting your child to fail, which is a very respectable view. We entered the 11+ with nervousness (and an anxious child) but also with a feeling that challenges with a risk of not always succeeding are part of life and the learning process. Of course, we had "safety" net options. As I say, just a thought.

The Northbridge House in Canonbury is not the same as the one in Regents Park. It's like an economy version.

Thing is, if schools are oversubscribed, you need some way of picking which children you take. As mentioned above, one way of getting round this is to move at year 4 or 5 to an all through school (for girls in south London, people do this for Sutton High, for example)

Through school at a good independent is what I’d do now, knowing what I know. I expected a non selective independent school to be a bit like a good comprehensive but with more money. Lots - particularly the small ones have not come across as great.

I still think childhood is about play certainly when you’re at primary school. But we have had to tutor DS as the nice schools with the inclusive ethos we like, appear to all be selective schools. It took us a while to work this out so it’s not guaranteed we will get any of the schools we want as DS is up against north London kids tutored to get into specific schools since year 4 (minimum).

I think it’s a ridiculous system. Not a good process for 10 year olds to go through and I’m not convinced it’s a good way for schools to manage oversubscription either. Diversity is good and they are just getting families that know how to play the game rather than the brightest curious teachable kids if that’s what they are after.

I completely agree - the system (particularly in north London) feels a bit messed up. If non-selective then just hold a waiting list maybe? I don’t know what the answer is!

Would you mind sharing the schools you like? (Selective or not!)