SW London Grammar and private senior school entry 2026

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Setting up this thread for those of us with DC joining year 7 SW London schools in 2026.

We’re planning to apply to KCS, Hampton, Epsom and Reed’s.

Have been living in Dubai for three years, returning in August for year 6 at DS’ old prep school.

DS has an online tutor focussing on exam technique and any gaps in the curriculum, plus Atom. Current school is great but definitely not preparing him for 11+!

Whoop whoop we have an offer from Emanuel.
We also have an offer from Ibstock Place.

We didn’t make the second round of Tiffin and Kings 13+.

Good Luck everyone

Just got Emanuel and KGS email through- positive results for both. Finally the light is at the end of the tunnel

@Offtheygo Just got our email, hope you’re come through soon also.

We have now heard from dulwich college with an offer which is fantastic. To balance this I would add that our DS didnt get through to interview stage at Emanuel or Alleyns - seems the co-eds are tough (so very well done to all those that got!)

We've just got Emanuel and Alleyns, both offers - am thrilled with the results and that the wait is over!

Got Emanuel, still waiting for Alleyns here!! Well done todayortomorrow I am envious!

Amazing that GL is still not out

Us too…

It’s so important to remember that getting an interview means that our children have excelled.

I know the head at Dulwich spoke about how all the boys they interviewed were boys they wanted at the school and the hardest part was figuring who they would waitlist and pass on.

Our children are amazing and will have great success wherever they are. I am so proud of them.

yes we got in too ! (Emanuel)

called KGS who said emails will be out before end of day. Letters were sent out yesterday but some will get delivered next week as its not special delivery just first class. So if you have not received letters, its royal maiil not KGS.

Yes from G&L … hope everyone waiting gets good news x

We’ve had some results come through and genuinely struggle to understand how some of the admission process works…

scholarship offer at a very competitive academic school, and two scholarship offers from other slightly less intensive day schools, outright rejection with no feedback from another school that we thought was a back up option.

luckily I do believe it’s all about the right fit - the schools choose for their fit as much as we choose the school to suit our children.

it all works out in the end but my goodness WHAT an emotional process.

glad we have the right place for our child and fingered crossed for everyone still waiting.

All in now. Yes from NHES, FHRP, Emanuel and G&L. But a no from Latymer Upper which was all of our favourite - local, co-ed and academic. So now the tricky choice between the commute to Emanuel or all-girls at G&L. And a couple of hours before seeing DD to make sure we can pitch this as an utterly brilliant result - which it is!

@Aregularjosephine ive heard that schools won’t make an offer if they think you’ll reject it. So your backup may have suspected they were a backup and decided to pass and offer to someone more likely to accept.

(however I have no experience or knowledge of this. Simply what I’ve read as rumour)

It’s a no from Latymer for my son. Not going to lie, I’m a little upset but will fix up by the time it’s pick up time.
I genuinely thought if he’s got through to the interview, he would be in with a good chance.

he is on the reserve list for CLS - does anyone know how much that is likely to move?

he also has offers from St Benedict’s, Thomas college and Wetherby senior. CLS and Latymer were always our top choices.

well done everyone for making it to the end!

If you are close to G&L you are lucky. We live closer to Emanuel, but dd wanted G&L. She is very happy there, but traffic is a pain.

@EverydayPuzzling remember it’s not about what you child didn’t do or achieve (you already know how amazing they are) it will be about what the other children did or have done - nothing that your child could change or control.

Celebrate their effort and achievements.

thank you and that does make sense! The rejection was the first response I had today so I was proverbially shitting my pants…

Waitlist for G&L for DD sadly - but a surprise yes from LU!

If it helps at all, LU was our top choice a few years ago and the only academic school which said “no” after the interview round. Naturally, we were upset at the time, but I am so happy we ended up accepting an offer from a more academic girls only school and moved houses for it. I love the vibe of my new community. Also, got a yes from the same school for my second daughter today and counting my blessings. I am sure that LU is a wonderful school, but definitely not worth stressing over it if you have an offer from G&L (which I’d take in a second if I were you).

Offers for DS from all 6, Kings and LU, DC and Alleyns (both scholarships) and Emmanuel and Hampton. Not a brag, we will probably take Kings, so there will be 5 slots hitting the waitlists once we make a decision. All these schools everyone mentions are great, and the kids will all have a fantastic education. So glad it's almost over, well done to all the kids, it's been a tough ride.

DCs definitely deserve a big hug and a treat this evening. And maybe a glass of wine for us tormented parents after a gruelling emotional roller coaster!

100% agree @Aregularjosephine it's needs to fit both ways and whatever choices we make for our DCs will be the right ones.

Congrats on all the great offers to all of you and your DC.

For those of you WL - if it's your first choice school, do phone Admissions and make it known that you'd still really like a place, and that if you were offered one, you'd accept it straight away / pay the deposit. Although schools do have an order for their WL, I have known parents get moved up by sheer persistence. At the end of the day, most WL candidates will be much of a muchness, and all will thrive at the school (and the school know this). The last thing the school want is to be phoning round endless WL candidates, giving them 24 hours to respond, only for the parents to turn it down and them have to go to the next family. So if you're really keen to convert a WL place to a confirmed place, let Admissions know asap, and keep in touch with them on a regular basis. Keep your DC fresh in their minds so if a place comes free, you're the first WL candidate they phone.

we will probably take Kings, so there will be 5 slots hitting the waitlists once we make a decision

It doesn’t quite work like this sadly, all schools over offer so it’s not like one turned down offer equals one immediate offer to the WL. They need to see if enough of their first round of offers turn them down that they likely won’t be able to fill all places from that. Of course, every little helps so it’s good to turn down as soon as you have decided! Congratulations to your DS!