16+ (2026 Entry) Any Advice??

Original post by gabbie_eden

I haven't even started my gcses but, the application process for 2026 entry for independent schools starts September 2025, does anyone have advice for applying in general? Here are my choices for sixth form:
. Westminister School (King's scholarship potentially)
. King's school Canterbury
.Brampton Manor
. St Edward's Oxford
. Winchester College
. LAE Stratford
. Wycombe Abbey
Btw, I go independent school, let me know if I need any extracurriculars!

Ik that for Westminster school, the applications open as early as June/july, so definitely look to apply then (the deadline this year was 30th sep)

Reply 2

OP

Original post by floatyair

Ik that for Westminster school, the applications open as early as June/july, so definitely look to apply then (the deadline this year was 30th sep)

Did you apply to this school or do you currently attend another independent school???

Reply 3

Original post by gabbie_eden

Did you apply to this school or do you currently attend another independent school???

I applied for it

Reply 4

OP

Original post by floatyair

I applied for it

how did the exam go? What subjects did you take your exam in and what were the interviews like?

Reply 5

Original post by gabbie_eden

how did the exam go? What subjects did you take your exam in and what were the interviews like?

My advice is gonna be kind of useless as I didn’t make it to the interview stage 💀. I did maths, further maths, physics & chemistry. Would not recommend doing the further maths paper if you haven’t done the gcse 😭. The maths exam was a bit time pressured, but it wasn’t beyond gcse level. Physics for me was interpretative, and chemistry was ok-ish. All I can say is that you definitely need to make sure you know the gcse syllabus in and out with g9 questions

Reply 6

OP

Original post by floatyair

My advice is gonna be kind of useless as I didn’t make it to the interview stage 💀. I did maths, further maths, physics & chemistry. Would not recommend doing the further maths paper if you haven’t done the gcse 😭. The maths exam was a bit time pressured, but it wasn’t beyond gcse level. Physics for me was interpretative, and chemistry was ok-ish. All I can say is that you definitely need to make sure you know the gcse syllabus in and out with g9 questions

okay, since I want to do history, philosophy / religion , and maybe english / politics I will take this to account. Would you say it was more competitive for girls ( as I assume you are a girl?? ) and also, if you didn't end up in westminister, what school did you recieve offers from??

Reply 7

HHLT04

1

Original post by gabbie_eden

okay, since I want to do history, philosophy / religion , and maybe english / politics I will take this to account. Would you say it was more competitive for girls ( as I assume you are a girl?? ) and also, if you didn't end up in westminister, what school did you recieve offers from??

Westminster doesn't offer Politics A level

Reply 8

Original post by gabbie_eden

okay, since I want to do history, philosophy / religion , and maybe english / politics I will take this to account. Would you say it was more competitive for girls ( as I assume you are a girl?? ) and also, if you didn't end up in westminister, what school did you recieve offers from??

I mean I can say for sure there were way more girls than guys doing the exams, so yes in that sense. However, a lot more girls got interviews than guys from what I’ve heard, so also no? So far I’ve ended up receiving an offer from clsg w a full bursary (only private school I got an offer from, got waitlisted for another) and I’m applying for Harris Westminster, lady Margarets & greycoats

Reply 9

hp49

5

hi! currently at Winchester college at the moment actually!! so if you do join you'd be in my year! basically, I can't say very much for other schools but definitely for wincoll try and excel at things wincoll is good at. so maybe try and get into doing rowing, or climbing or squash. we've recently got a new sports centre so you might want to bear that in mind. there are only really 2 things essential to being accepted into wincoll...

1.

a wide variety of extracurriculars (sports, preferably county/competition standard) (community service) (other interesting experiences which other candidates won't be doing), do a lot of them and be very good at them.

2.

academic excellence, aim for only 8's and 9's in your GCSE's and apply to other things like ingenuity challenges and olympiads (basically academic extracurriculars)

Good luck!

Reply 10

OP

Original post by hp49

hi! currently at Winchester college at the moment actually!! so if you do join you'd be in my year! basically, I can't say very much for other schools but definitely for wincoll try and excel at things wincoll is good at. so maybe try and get into doing rowing, or climbing or squash. we've recently got a new sports centre so you might want to bear that in mind. there are only really 2 things essential to being accepted into wincoll...

1.

a wide variety of extracurriculars (sports, preferably county/competition standard) (community service) (other interesting experiences which other candidates won't be doing), do a lot of them and be very good at them.

2.

academic excellence, aim for only 8's and 9's in your GCSE's and apply to other things like ingenuity challenges and olympiads (basically academic extracurriculars)

Good luck!

What does your school offer in terms of extra curriculars for academics? For the a-level specifically, thanks 🙂

Reply 11

hp49

5

Original post by gabbie_eden

What does your school offer in terms of extra curriculars for academics? For the a-level specifically, thanks 🙂

there are quite a few options. there are regular olympiads and academic challenges (such as the IMC for maths students) going on at all times of the year. many societies also regularly enter into national and occasionally international challenges. there are also plenty of house competitions where each boarding house puts forward its cleverest students to take part in a school-wide competition. there are all ranges of difficulties and age groups for all of these so there will definitely be something to interest you.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 12

OP

Original post by hp49

there are quite a few options. there are regular olympiads and academic challenges (such as the IMC for maths students) going on at all times of the year. many societies also regularly enter into national and occasionally international challenges. there are also plenty of house competitions where each boarding house puts forward its cleverest students to take part in a school-wide competition. there are all ranges of difficulties and age groups for all of these so there will definitely be something to interest you.

Thanks! Would you say that girls find it harder or easier to fit in at an all boys school, I went to an all girls school before switching to my current co-ed school. Feel free to pm me, I have many questions about your school 😅

Reply 13

hp49

5

Original post by gabbie_eden

Thanks! Would you say that girls find it harder or easier to fit in at an all boys school, I went to an all girls school before switching to my current co-ed school. Feel free to pm me, I have many questions about your school 😅

I'm honestly not sure, probably a little more difficult but there would definitely be other girls joining to the same house year as you, so you wouldn't be the only one

Reply 14

OP

Original post by hp49

I'm honestly not sure, probably a little more difficult but there would definitely be other girls joining to the same house year as you, so you wouldn't be the only one

Okay thank you so much 😄

Reply 15

yumeizhao

1

Original post by gabbie_eden

I haven't even started my gcses but, the application process for 2026 entry for independent schools starts September 2025, does anyone have advice for applying in general? Here are my choices for sixth form:
. Westminister School (King's scholarship potentially)
. King's school Canterbury
.Brampton Manor
. St Edward's Oxford
. Winchester College
. LAE Stratford
. Wycombe Abbey
Btw, I go independent school, let me know if I need any extracurriculars!

What are your current grades and extracurricular achievements?

Reply 16

OP

Hi, I have currently recieved my predicted grades which is due to change under a month

IGCSE Edexcel Math - 7
IGCSE Edexcel Bio - 7
IGCSE Edexcel Physics - 6
IGCSE Edexcel Chem - 6
IGCSE Geography - 6
IGCSE Edexcel History - 8
AQA Spanish (Higher) - 8
AQA Religious Studies - 7
IGCSE Edexcel English and CIE World Literature - 7
AQA Computer Science - 5

(Keep in mind, my school will not give out a grade 9 yet for any humanities and, it only factors in-class work, my next set of grades will come out with test scores)

Extracurriculars:

LAMDA Grade 4 (Distinction)
ASDAN Award (International relations + trip to Nepal)
CCF (Royal Navy)
UKMT Intermediate Challenge ( Compulsory for higher tier sets in my school)

Overall, I am fine with my results so far but I know I can do better, I am aiming for a 9 in all of my humanities and 7/8's in STEM subjects, I am also considering dropping Computer Science, It is too hard for me 🤣

Reply 17

yumeizhao

1

Original post by gabbie_eden

Hi, I have currently recieved my predicted grades which is due to change under a month
IGCSE Edexcel Math - 7
IGCSE Edexcel Bio - 7
IGCSE Edexcel Physics - 6
IGCSE Edexcel Chem - 6
IGCSE Geography - 6
IGCSE Edexcel History - 8
AQA Spanish (Higher) - 8
AQA Religious Studies - 7
IGCSE Edexcel English and CIE World Literature - 7
AQA Computer Science - 5
(Keep in mind, my school will not give out a grade 9 yet for any humanities and, it only factors in-class work, my next set of grades will come out with test scores)
Extracurriculars:
LAMDA Grade 4 (Distinction)
ASDAN Award (International relations + trip to Nepal)
CCF (Royal Navy)
UKMT Intermediate Challenge ( Compulsory for higher tier sets in my school)
Overall, I am fine with my results so far but I know I can do better, I am aiming for a 9 in all of my humanities and 7/8's in STEM subjects, I am also considering dropping Computer Science, It is too hard for me 🤣

So what will be ur a level choices? I am assuming that you will be picking humanities, instead of the stem side?

Reply 18

OP