London grammar and private senior school entry 2025 part 2

[CruCru]

Here is the new thread for when part 1 is full.

Which has the easier journey?

We accepted CLS - DS’s strong preference and the easiest journey - but now I am really second guessing myself!

Worried about the workload and pressure, wondering whether we should have gone down the 11+ route at all…

Very grateful for any experiences from families whose children went into academic schools from non-selective primary schools. Is it going to be a horrendous shock to the system?

These very selective schools have far more candidates who can handle the academic workload than they have places. If CLS offered your DS a place, they think he's going to do fine there. They're usually right.

Not at all, year 7 and 8 were really about everything else but academic pressure. At least nothing compare to 11+, this is from LUS experience, almost no homework in year 7. Only started building up from year 10. For my elder daughter, she went far and beyond in terms of music, sport, maths Olympiad(starting from year 8), Mandarin-HSK level 5 distinction(we are not Chinese nor can speak any) during the first 3 years. Loads about trying all sports, building up friendships, getting into routines.

You would need to continue investing into your child in terms of time and resource on top of the fees though, this is from our experience. Although so much less from 6th form especially if the child boards(my elder daughter will apply to US Univ and we registered for her to sit SAT, bought books etc.)

P/S: my kids went to state primary

Thanks @11plus2nd

Out of interest, which school have you accepted for your 2nd DC?

We accepted SPGS.

Well done and to all those who’ve secured their offers

DD was at state primary and now at G&L. She is fine and doing well. Of course at the start it was a bit of a learning curve on actually having to turn all homework in and be responsible/organized. She is naturally disorganized and still struggles a little bit with that. But much better.

Thanks for the reassurance - makes me feel much better! I keep telling myself that the admissions team know what they are doing…

Anyone going for KGS? Especially those of you with boys. I'm not seeing much chatter about them on this thread.

Also, for anyone w/ kids at Hampton... what happens when the kids are older? Do they still take the coach? I don't know why, but have trouble seeing the older boys taking the coach... yet, for us, it's the only realistic option as public transit would take forever and we're not prepared to drive him on the regular...

@JusTheFacts we are going to KGS! Went to offer holders this morning and loved it and have just accepted!

Congrats with all the decisions that have been made so far! Good luck with those still deciding!

is anyone going to Dulwich on this thread?

This is so good to read. Thank you. We’re very close to accepting LUS and reading positive experiences is really helping.

Plenty of older Hampton boys use the coach for the reasons you’ve mentioned. We live quite close (Thames Ditton) and probably half if not more are older than year 9 and live locally to us. Similar patterns across the other coach routes and then those who live easy public transport routes start to use the buses rather than coaches as they get older etc.

We just accepted an offer from DC :)

@NoSleepMum2023 congrats and how exciting! Can I ask what the other school was you were deciding between or was DC always a favourite? Is your son an all
rounder, sporty non sporty? We are leaning towards DC and need to decide tonight!

We went for a really academically selective school and were offered. I was worried that my super sporty DS was put through because of his sport and I didn't want him struggling to keep up academically especially with incredibly academic children around him. I spoke to admissions who said they know exactly the type of children that would do well at their school and would never put -even the very sporty ones -through to interview unless they knew they could keep up and thrive -It made me feel much better and I think given the strong results it means they do know what they are doing.

State places are out now. Just declined ours!

Yes we have Tiffin girls too.

Anyone here going to Highgate ?

Anyone choosing Tiffin Boys over private?

Yes we are, got a surprise offer from Tiffin so we will take that over our other options!

Anyone choosing Tiffin Girls over private?

@Museumvisitor I think we’re edging that way too. Our other top option is Kings.

Both are excellent, Kings has a few plus points more than Tiffin but no fees is a massive pull!