Want to come join the pre-11+ meltdown?

[willow]

Just want to say aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggh.

Thank you.

[controlfreakyhohohohohohoho]

i feel your pain... that was how i felt this time last year.... this too will pass. good luck little willow.

[StanHouseMuir]

We're remarkably calm at present. DD is applying to two schools, one who set their own exams (Maths, end, VR, NVR) and one who use CE. It all kicks off on the 8th Jan. It's going to be interesting

[sue52]

My DDs did the test a few years ago and it turned me, a reasonably sensible and intelligent woman, into a complete wreck for a while. Good luck.

[LIZS]

We're building up for 13+ mid January ...

[harvalp]

Why are these exams now held in the middle of winter? I'm sure they used to be in the spring or summer like other public exams. Holding them in December/Jan surely means that more children are ill or whatever. I really don't understand this.

[StanHouseMuir]

harvalp - I would guess that it's to give parents a chance to find alternative choices should they prove unsuccessful. In our area, state school places have to be confirmed in April (I think)

[LIZS]

I'm sure when I sat 11+ entrance exams many moons ago it was still Jan/Feb. In fact a couple of the local schools have put them back about a week following snow disruption last year. Some like to hold them before term starts or on Saturdays. For 11+ private entry you really need to have the whole thing done and dusted by end of Spring term so that parents can give notice at Easter to current school.

[harvalp]

It was a long time ago since I took it, so maybe I'm just remembering it wrongly!

[RatherBeOnTheMulledWine]

Good luck to all DC taking entrance exams soon. My youngest took these this time last year, and I can empathise with you all. My two were very calm about the whole thing, I had kittens ( at least a few litters!)

[Natty67]

Seems an inhumane procedure to inflict on a ten yr old tbh.. and my life at present is dragging him from xbox to desk

[miniwedge]

I'll join you. Am not enjoying this at all. Have been very relaxed about this with dd but the chuffing uber family have just secured the same childminder as me and want to discuss endlessly. Am studiously avoiding them, even their dd keeps wittering on about what high scores she is bound to get........

[Ingles2]

I feel for you ... we've already been through it here in Kent. They took the test in September and we've had the results...now waiting for school places on 1st March.
My only advice is to try not to stress them out about it.
Don't listen to the uber competitives
Make sure they attempt a timed test with the right sort of answer sheet a few days before
then have an early night and a good brekkie.
Good luck everyone

[MinaTannenbaum]

Good luck, we had this last year. Angst was worth it in our case though, and I hope it is for everyone else this year.

[Notevenamouse]

good luck all !

[newpup]

This was me last year. So just wanted to wish you all Good Luck!

[harvalp]

September seems a much more sensible time to hold the tests.

[Notevenamouse]

It is in some ways, although the younger ones are so young in september.

[Notevenamouse]

Also they haven't covered some of the things that will be in the exam

[QODrestyemerrykidneystones]

shudder
DD is now yr7 at grammar in Kent - thankfully! But jeez the stress...... we do the test in September, result in October and apply for school places in March - hear after that but I can't recall when - it's so dragged out!

Bonds 10 minute tests were really good - not long enough to bore them or pee them off but lots of examples of the things they'll come across

DD missed the maths automatic pass by 1 point but is now a 6c in maths - after 1 term!! I think I'd score a 3 at a push......

[miniwedge]

Only a few weeks until results day now. I'm just hoping we get a place at one of the schools on our list, not worried if it's one of the two comps I chose.

Am still trying to avoid the uber family, although they have now employed the same childminder as me so that our children can "bond before grammar"........

Am really annoyed, the children don't get on and I am pretty sure that dd is unlikely to secure a grammar place, the sheer numbers this year apart from anything else mean it's a huge lottery.

[willow]

So how are we all?

[StanHouseMuir]

So far so good. One down ("boring") and one to go. Bit of an anti-climax thus far. You?

[stillfeel18inside]

miniwedge - feel for you with uber family and lol at "bonding before grammar". My every step is dogged by a similar famliar with their scholarship-grabbing A-team offspring. Thought I'd seen the last of them actually as my DS1 and theirs go to different secondaries but now we seem to be doing it all over again with our DS2's!

[willow]

Two down and a handful to go. So far he seems pretty chilled about it all.