How do we apply for JAPS school?

[gt14]

Does anyone know what the procedure entails to apply for JAPS - Thinking it's going to be impossible to get into? - Does anyone's children go there? How did you find it all? Any feedback would be great.

[DVdad]

Have a look at www.jags.org.uk for the admissions info: two entries, at 4 or 7 (as of 1 September). At 4, there is an interview session, at 7 an exam and interview. Highly selective. One daughter went to JAPPS (the pre-school), two went to DVIS; the former's class sizes were very small, but facilities not as impressive as DVIS (where the class sizes are larger). I really liked both institutions, so far. JAGS may be ruthlessly selective at 11, however, so we shall see.

[ClareC]

At what age do they start JAPPS? If they then go onto JAPS at 4, do they still have to do the academic assessment to stay at 7?

Guessing they do at 11.

[dulwichmum]

My daughter started at 4, I have never heard of JAPPS or seen it written on the paperwork. She is now almost 8 and has had no exam to progress that I am aware of.

[trinity]

The jags website has the entry information for 4+ and 7+. entry at 4+ is done through 2 play based assessments. 7+ is via exam and interview (I think). Entry at 4 into the Pre-prep (japps) means that you go straight into the middle school (JAPS) without the need for further selective exams.

Dulwichmum calling the preprep Japps is a relatively new thing. I think it is used just to distinguish the preprep from the middle school on 'official' literature.

Entry into jags at 11+ is not automatic and all girls sit a competitive exam. All girls are tested in year 5 and told whether they have an automatic place in jags irrespective of their performance in the 11+ exam. Some girls are told that they have to reach a certain level in the 11+ exam and others are told to look for another school.

My girls have thrived at JAPS. We entered at 4 and the school is a lovely warm and nuturing environment for the girls. As they go through the school the academic pressure does increase which does cause problems for some children.

[dulwichmum]

On the website, it gives all the details on application at 4 and 7. The school is called JAPS on all of the literature I have ever seen and on the website too. My daughter doesn't actually start at the prep until next week, so I should have noticed it over the last three years.

[trinity]

Dulwichmum, in the jags post mailbox the newsflashes are referred to as JAPS newsflash (for the prep) and japps newsflash (for the preprep). It's not used in the newsflash itself but only in it's description in the mailbox. I agree that it's not often used and the terms preprep and middle school ate used more often.

To return to the original questions. It is a difficult school to get into and a lot depends on how your daughter performs on the day. As we are talking about assessing 3 & 4 year olds there will always be an element of chance involved.

[dulwichmum]

Aah! You see I don't get the mailbox email thingies. Just the invoices and school reports - which this year were not printed, and I think that is a shame.

Yes I agree, the assessment for the little girls is all down to performance on the day, luck of the draw.