JAPS, Alleyn's, Streatham & Clapham High School or Hornsby House for 7+?

[showmethewaytothenextwhiskybar]

I'm thinking of taking dd (6) out of her primary school for y3 and sending her to one of the above (if she gets in of course), but I don't want to overburden her with assessments so would try for a maximum of two

She's very able - free reader, very confident with numeracy, articulate, good at sport etc so I think she'd sail through 7+, but of course I don't know what the other kids are like and their parents may well be thinking the same thing

I'm not sure about single sex for primary age, although from this point onwards ime boys and girls don't really mix until they start getting interested in each other again at secondary

I want her to be happy, busy, stretched but not hot-housed - which would best fit the bill do you think?

ps have name changed cos got bored with my old name

[LadyMuck]

What do you perceive the difference to be between being "happy busy and stretched" and "hot-housed"?

[EldonAve]

have you considered Thomas'?

[showmethewaytothenextwhiskybar]

LadyMuck I think the difference is I don't want her to feel unduly pressured or to have too much homework (she should be playing at 7), however I do want her to be doing work which challenges her

EldonAve Thomas' has always rather scared me! it seems very posh and I thought that you had to register at birth, even to be considered for selection iyswim - I also don't want her to be the poorest in the class - we're relatively well-off but I know a couple of families whose kids have been to Thomas' and you could put our house down inside theirs and lose it ...

[EldonAve]

I looked round Thomas' - fab facilities and no posher in feel than the other schools I saw

People register at birth for reception - 7+ there will be spaces as people move etc

[LadyMuck]

Hmmm, OK. In terms of JAPS and Alleyn's I understand that you need to consider what her story writing is like. JAPS is a written comp, Alleyns is an oral comp and written story. Alleyns put emphasis on reading aloud. "Free reader" means different things - some schools have children as free readers after ORT level 7 or 8. Dcs prep school took them up to level 13+ by end of Year 2, so check the complexity of what she is reading.

Not sure whether the others have formal 7+ exams as such. Wouldn't be too scared away from trying more than 2 - the assessments are normally either v similar to a school day or at least "fun" (unlike 11+!).

[serenity]

I have friends whose daughters went through SCHS from Primary and they were always very happy with the environment/education there. (I went to the Secondary, but it was so long ago that it's pretty irrelevant now)

[EmNotPGYet]

Ooh I went to the secondary too Serenity, back in the Wavertree Road days, where the junior school is now, but don't know about the prep these days!

[deaddei]

Hornsby House is very nice.
I came across something very uncomfortablein Thamas' while waiting in the foyer. There was a file for visitors to read, about a yr 6 trip to the West country which all the children had written something for. One child wrote "Mr X (teacher) made us all laugh telling us how the locals were inbred".
I thought that was very unpleasant and inappropriate.

[serenity]

EmNotPGYet - ditto, was only on Wavertree when I was there, but I am exceedingly old I think it's still good. Out of my league now that they don't have the assisted place scheme so don't think DD will be going there!