No independent school offers in North or East London, how did you cope?

[IsabellaAde]

Has anyone tried for independent schools (North London/East London) and not got any offers? How did you manage it/disappointment? We arent there yet but you read so much about the numerous offers people get. What if we get none.

You be really realistic about what your DC can achieve and apply to the right schools and you should get offers.

Its a few years ago now but I had another parent looking down on me for the schools I chose for my DC, and looked at me like I was mad for going for choosing "second tier" schools, except her DC was very very similar to mine.

They got no offers. Because they chose the wrong schools.

I felt very very sorry for the child.

As pp said, if you are realistic about schools then you’ll get offers. Are you at a Prep? If so they should be able to guide you. If not people on here will be able to give some ideas if you can give more info in respect of how academic and what your child is into.

Thank you @Fledgling1234 , @timetochangethering , DD is at an all through independent, the school are saying doing very well, always strong reports, top 3 in class, very strong at Maths/science/geography, sporty, not into reading as much.

School recommended Habs and also City if we were to move but location for. both was a sticking point, so now looking at Channing, Francis Holland, South Hampstead, and throwing HB and NLCS into the mix because they seemed fantastic schools. DD has been doing books and atom but not intensively for last few months and has taken breaks over the holidays so we have lost momentum. But we were only ever at 100, more for Maths. We are using HB as a practice mock but SHHS and FH are the ones we would take if offered. But i am reading about the numbers taking the exams, the numbers of offers people are getting, and I wonder whether we are being unrealistic

So worst case scenario is you stay where you are? So you have a good option on the table already.

Try and shield your child from your stress about this. They will do their best, and that is all they can do.

What are your state school options, as a fallback?

If it’s an all through can she not stay where she is?

If the school are recommending City the FH should be easy. Also look at Queens as a backup.

ranked by academic entry, I’d guess
city & NLCS & hb
habs & shhs
fh
channing & queens

Are you living in an area where the state schools are so bad? What’s your fear about them ?

@Melarus if no offers, will stay at independent where she is now. Not as challenging as we would want

Has anyone been in a situation where they didnt get offers though - we are shielding DD so not heavily pressuring but I would say I know we as parents would be upset because we really want those schools and believe DD has the ability. If you had no offers, did you wait till 13 and try again?

Not been in your shoes but feels like you are looking for a problem where there’s none. Incredibly academic schools are often hyper competitive and less good at pastoral care. Be careful what you wish for…

It is unlikely that you won't get Channing or FH if your current school recommends City and Habs.

100 is not enough for HB.

If your school is suggesting Habs and City, unless she’s had a super bad exam, she’ll likely to get FH and Channing offers. And I’d also say SHHS is also a fairly good chance. While FH and Channing are not as ‘academic’ - they are all top 100 indie schools so could be more suited than the current school.

HB is super selective - and unless very strong across all areas that is going to be a stretch. NCLS and City will also be looking for strong English as well as maths.

It’s unlikely that she’ll end up with no offers… just maybe not the super academic offers you are looking for.

You can always try the 13+ but a lot of schools are not doing that anymore - but you can go for an occasional place. I know two girls at my DD’s school who have been doing additional study as they didn’t get into the super selective and their parents are getting them to try for an occasional place at 13+.

There are so many fallback options OP, so most people really need not worry.

Lots of people just come out to less selective, indies including in Herts where actually academic results are still very strong. Kids come out on train or bus networks and it seems to go fine for them.

There is much more space in indie schools that fall outside the 11+ London circuit than there was prior to VAT!

I also agree with earlier comments about pastoral care. I know parents whose kids have ended up leaving super selectives. They are amazing for some kids but just not suited to others.

Thanks everyone, im feeling the pressure far more than DD and id rather it be that way round. We aren't using a tutor, just doing it at home when we can.

@IsabellaAde Do you still have your place at your current through school if this doesn’t work out?

In the current VAT environment I doubt this will happen.

Exactly @OVienna

If you’re considering NLCS why are you ruling out Habs when they’re not that far apart?

The thing is some very able children apply for various schools my DS applied for 8 and got offers from all of them, it was Covid and it was harder to look around, with hindsight we should have only gone for our top three as he is very smart. So some kids are turning down lots of schools so your daughter should be okay.

@Ansells we found habs to be very far from anywhere/more suited if you live nearer. NLCS has Canons Park station plus well located for bus routes.

@muminherts yes we will still have our current place if all doesn't happen but we arent that happy here. Its not terrible at all but not huge value for money and would probably need extra tutoring

Yes, very true. There’s also Edgware station on the northern line for NLCS but Habs only works if you drive or get the coach.

My DD went to FH for Sixth Form. Though the SS one (I assume you mean RP). It was surprisingly academic (she came from a non selective co ed school outside London) as I didn’t think it had that reputation. She said it wasn’t pressured but you were expected to do well, though I think it was fairly pressured! My DD got three A stars and is now at Durham. So if your DD gets an offer there do not consider it ‘less than’.
We were moving and had no back up. She got offers from KGS and FH, a no from Putney High (their loss - it was her fave by far), WHS and state Lady Margaret’s didn’t appeal to her. She chose FH as one of the main drivers for the move was all girls. As she went to an all through non selective and I didn’t go to private school or school at all in this country, I was taken aback by the whole process of exams and submitted work and interviews. We were rather unprepared for all that! Good luck.