Advice re moving schools

[Nubbin]

Dd8 is currently in a local state primary. It is fine - isn't setting the world on fire but a good, solid school.

It has 15 only entry a year so after reception the classes are mixed year. Her year group has gone from 15 to 11 with now only 3 girls. Her closest friends (2 twin boys) left at the start of this term.

She isn't loving year 4 - partly year dynamics (other two girls v close and the boys are moving on to football being the only game) plus mixed with year 3 she is finding dull.

I want her to go to independent secondary as the secondary provision here is dire - only good option is faith based (which we will meet) but I'm not super comfortable with.

I went to see a private primary today for in year admission as I'm worried that staying at her current school she is going to struggle to access a v competitive 11+ against 1,000+ others - VR and NVR are not done at her school and there are no'tests' so exam technique isn't ingrained.

I wasn't blown away by the primary for £15k a year but it has excellent leaver results for entry at year 7.

Wwyd - what are people's experience of passing the 11+ where you are looking at the odds of competition above from a standard state school + parental interest?

[user1483972886]

We were in a similar boat with DD1. Mediocre primary schools and cap senior schools. We planned to send her private for senior school. Schools not that competitive around us and DD1 reasonably bright.
She was in a year of 17 but that fell to 14. 2 years in a class. Year 2 wasn't very stimulating and she did OK but as well as I think she could have in the sats. She often complained of being bored. We got her a tutor to spice her up who helped her with her English and told me her maths was exceptional (sats maths results unexceptional).
A number of things went wrong at the primary and the school handled it badly so we moved her half way through year 3 to private primary.
It's much more stimulating and she has guaranteed entrance to the senior school.

[user1483972886]

Sorry crap not cap!

[user1483972886]

If you weren't blown away by what you saw it might not be the school for you? We were impressed when we looked round and out daughter was literally buzzing after the taster day and has never asked to go back to her old school despite being happy there too

[Nubbin]

Thanks - good to hear. We aren't spoiled for choice unfortunately most of the private around here won't accept entry into year 4 or 5 so the offering is v limited. Going to send dd for an assessment day and see what she thinks about it!

[user1483972886]

The problem with small classes, as you highlight, are the social issues. 3 of any gender wouldn't be great.