Can a home aducated child take exams in one of schools?

[Leo12345]

Hello!
My daughter is 9 yrs old and she was in primary school up to year 3 and since September she is on home education.
Is there a way for her to take exams in some (perhaps private) school to have her ability officially evaluated?
Many thanks!

[itsstillgood]

What exams do you mean?
GCSEs in the future? SATs?

Most school assessments at primary age are ongoing assessments and teacher observation. SATs test schools and are usually disregarded by secondary school I would seriously doubt many private schools will use them. You can buy or download past papers and mark them yourself - I've done this for a general idea of gaps to plug.

I would imagine that you may well be able to access the 11 plus or Common Entrance Exam as external candidate. You would have to apply to the private schools directly. But these are a test to pass rather than a measure of ability.

[Leo12345]

Thanks, we also do past papers.
I was thinking of sitting SATs test, even though they are disregarded by secondaries, but just kind of trying having test in real environment.
So she will not be afraid to sit 11+ in the future etc.

[itsstillgood]

I don't know but doubt you'd be allowed in a state school as the point of SATs is the school's overall performance so submitting it to be marked alongside the school would skew results. They are usually done in the classroom to try to make the relaxed rather than an exam like set up too I believe.

Would be surprised if you find an independent that sit them. Worth asking independent schools if they do mock 11plus exams they'd let her sit in on.

[iMatter]

Why not enter her for the 11 plus? There's no obligation to take a place at the grammar school if she passes but it's a full on "proper" exam so good experience if that's what you're after.

[NewLife4Me]

I don't think you'll get anywhere with state schools because she hasn't attended school throughout primary. H.ed is rejecting what the state offer by deregistering from their services.
You could do past papers and mark the Maths yourself as it comes with answer sheet.
English is more complicated as the results are interpreted in part, but id you have a teacher friend, they may offer to do it for you.

I think the best way forward for you is the 11+ which would be more in keeping with the schools you are looking at.

[LIZS]

Many private schools don't do SATS and yes, 11+ is sat in Autumn or possibly January of year 6. Mist children sitting won't have had formal exam practice unless they've been at a prep school but sometimes the state grammars do a mock day. If you are concerned about measuring her potential an ed psych could assess but you are looking at £500+.

[Blackberryfields]

If you want to assess the child's ability and what educational stage it is in and strategies to follow for her education the best and certainly most reliable thing is to use privately a professional. You need to decide on the advantages of what you are looking to get versus the costs. You can speak to a PATOSS professional and explain what you you want and ask costs. A professional would tell you strategies for the education of your child.

[badoll]

You can get expensive professional assessments - but two different assessors may give you two totally different pictures of your child! I know from experience! You know your own child best. Teach her what she is willing to learn, regardless of age. Ensure she reads and writes well and your job's done. Let her choose what she reads - she knows what she enjoys. My daughter was home educated exclusively from age 11. No GCSEs, just A level subjects later on, ones that required no coursework, so required no private marking. She had no "teaching" at all, no tutors apart from guitar lessons, as she fancied the guitar. She ordered all the books she fancied herself. They used to arrive in a big box periodically. The rest took care of itself. She went to Cambridge and read political sciences and recently, aged 28, completed her doctorate there (incredibly having been awarded a full fees and maintenance scholarship by the Cambridge Scholarship Scheme). People kindly "warned" me that she'd be a social misfit! But she became ladies captain of her college boat club in her second year, entertainment officer for the May ball and sat on the students' investment panel. What I'm saying is, you know your child best, have faith in her and enjoy these wonderful years (as I did) of having her around the house all the time.

[guerre]

Where are you in England, because in our area 11+ is nothing like KS2 sats?

[MariscallRoad]

badoll glad to hear about your daughter. She did A levels and after that she applied to do her degree I understand.
GCSEs are used only as predictors at the universities but students can take A Levels only. My son did six American APs before applying to University. These don't require labs or coursework. Then he had unconditional offer to study at Oxford. After he finished his degree he did a second one in engineering and he finishes now his Masters. He is dyslexic and during his studies he needed educational psychologist and has had a mentor at uni.

[MistyMeena]

11+ is generally taken well before SATS and is in most areas a very, very different test. Tuition centres will often do mock 11+ sessions, I'd try that approach if you want her to experience a test environment with other children.

[00100001]

Are you home educating your DD yourself OP?