Hello there - my son has just been offered a place at a fantastic secondary school - which we are thrilled about... but having seen him go through this process, it has made me very worried about what lies ahead for my daughter.
My son is naturally academic and very sporty - and competitive. Where as my daughter is the sweetest, funniest, kindest little girl - she isn't competitive and isn't naturally a sporty child. Although very good at swimming. She is fantastic at art and incredibly creative. She struggles academically but is ahead of her age for her social skills of how to read people and situations. When I'm around girls her age I notice a marked difference in her maturity and kindness. I really feel she has a special way with people as she is ever so popular as a gentle child who will go to help anyone she sees is in need.
I know she has more in her academically but her CAT scores were terrible! So I can't marry the two up and feel that perhaps that will improve but I know academically she isn't going to be in the top sets.
Having two kids who are very different makes for a great home life but I have this fear in me that I won't be able to get her into a school that matches what my son is about to have access to.
We have a few years until she needs to move but I'm wondering if we move her from her prep school now into a school that feeds into a secondary school so she doesn't have to sit exams as I just don't see how she will show all of her magic in the system and the way it is set up.
We live in Hampton Wick and we love the kids school they are currently at and don't want to move her but they only go up until 11.
We went to Thomas's open day and loved the ethos... and the head was very impressive.
But if we were to move her now - to Radnor's Prep (although I can't get her to Kew) - or in 2027 when Kneller Hall opens and the prep comes to Radnor... she would be going into year 5.. would that mean she can get in without sitting exams?
I feel Kneller will be great for her with the drama and art facilities they will have and with the pool.
Thomas's could also be lovely ... although further from us and a pain with rush hour traffic - and still an entrance exam.
I don't want to have her on a bus for hours but hear there are wonderful art schools towards Cobham?
I just know that we can't put her through an 11+ so wondering what to do!
Thank you for any help or advice.