If your child is at a grammar school what did you do to get them in there? And when did you start? And do you have any tips?

[WideWebWitch]

Ds is 9, will be 10 in October and is about to finish year 4 and go into year 5.

We are in catchment for a grammar school. I really want him to go there.

So, what do I have to do to get him in? Happy to sell my grandmother, soul etc to do it.

Am I too late already? Is tuition to get him through the 11+ a good idea? I think he's probably bright enough so I don't think it's a risk coaching to get him in and then him floundering but all and any advice much appreciated. Thanks.

[EnidJane]

hmm the only people I know who have grammars nearby are sending their dcs to private prep to 'ensure' entry

worth taking him out and sending him to prep for last years?

[Carmenere]

Dp's eldest dd went to grammar and they had tuition for her, they also had it for ds but he didn't get in.

[EnidJane]

god I am so glad we dont have grammar schools here

would be so tempted to send the dds and dd1 would never get in in a million years without a long hard struggle

[tiredemma]

There is a mum at the school whose oldest son ( age 13 I think) goes to one of the King Edwards Grammar schools in Birmingham. She also has an eight yr old in yr 4. She told me that she had saturday tutoring from the beginning of yr 4 for both of them. Obviously it payed off with her ds1 - has to wait for the exam for ds2 but apparently the tutor has set him 'mock' entrance tests and he scores high- so she is sure he will get a place also ( this is what she tells me)

We have about 7 grammar schools in birmingham though so im sure that there are more places to go around.

[Freckle]

DS1 got there with no additional help. We did hire a tutor for DS2 but that was more to boost his self-confidence as he clearly had the ability.

Some people start in Y4 with the extra tuition. DS2 started partway through Y5 (Jan), so had a year's help before the actual exam. He passed with 100% in two papers and 98% in the other.

Alternatively you could just try purchasing the practice papers from WHS, etc., and get him to do them at home. It's useful as the style of question is rather different from anything he will have met before and it is helpful to learn how to time himself, to learn strategies such as if struggling with one question to leave it and go back if sufficient time at the end, etc.

[WideWebWitch]

We have just done some sums and worked out we could afford a private prep, one of the feeders. But I know ds doesn't wnat to move schools again so wondering if the money better spent on private tuition.

[WideWebWitch]

Oh just saw these other two posts, blimey, I did wonder if people started working on it at beginnning of yr 4, we're too late for that now but I could do from beg of yr 5 in Sept. When do they take the exams? How long from beg yr 5? Eeek.

[WideWebWitch]

Lots of competition for places here too.

I could easily do 2 nights a week tuition, is that too much d'ya think? HE goes to after school club so I think he would actually quite like it, doing something different on 2 days.

[tiredemma]

I think its the November before ( thats what they are in bham)

How does he do at school now? Is he a 'star' pupil so to speak?

[Freckle]

I think it depends on where you are. In Kent, the exams are taken in January. However, I have heard rumours that they are thinking of changing the timing so that you know the outcome of the exam before you have to select secondary schools - which seems sensible.

Not sure though, whether they are bringing forward the date of the exam or pushing back the deadline for secondary applications. It might be helpful to check with your local LEA.

Starting at the beginning of Y5 should be OK because it gives you at least a year even if the exam is taken in the Autumn term rather than at the beginning of the Spring term.

[WideWebWitch]

So that would be Nov 2008 then I think wouldn't it? So we've got a year if I start now ish, well next term anyway.

[tiredemma]

Dont know if this would give you any pointers?

entrance info

[tiredemma]

It would be the nov before he starts secondary school.

[WideWebWitch]

He got a 1 for effort so top marks, but a 2 for attainment which does worry me slightly. But apparently since the school has above ave results (according to them) a 2 for this school is still v good.

[tiredemma]

whereabouts geographically are you www?

[WideWebWitch]

home counties tiredemma.

[tiredemma]

this is a really good site- gives you an idea of each schools entrance exam.

here

[WideWebWitch]

fantastic tiredemma, thanks, there are tutor lists and stuff too so I think I'm going to ring round a few and see if I can find one from Sept.

[tiredemma]

Good Luck!!

( can you tell its something that im itching to do with ds1? far too young yet though- he is only in yr1!)

[WideWebWitch]

Well, they start in yr 4 NOW TE, it could end up stretching to yr 3 by the time he gets there

[Marina]

www, have you talked turkey with the head of ds' current school? Hopefully he or she will be able to give you an honest view on your son's chances, with or without coaching?
General tips are good, but every thread I read on grammars on here reminds me that the competition for places and the demographics of the grammars' intakes really do vary around England.
Advice that would hold good for the Bexley & NW Kent selection system might be completely wrong for your local setting
Good luck

[WideWebWitch]

Good idea Marina

[Marina]

(and mail tigermoth as well)

[WakeUpCall]

Does anyone know if 120 is the average entrance/11+ pass mark? I thought it was a lot higher but my sil is sure that anything over 120 is a dead cert for selective schools.

[Freckle]

We were told 120 (out of 140) is required in all 3 papers to be guaranteed a place. Two papers over 120 and one just under is pretty good, but two papers under 120 and your chances are rather slim.