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Original poster

son wants to sit 11+

29 replies

daisydoodoo · 23/06/2012 08:51

My yr 5 son has started getting letters home about the entrance exams for the 11+. He is a bright boy, but in all reality probably not of grammar school standard, my dilemma lies in that we had decided not to put him forward for the tests and to apply to the two good local schools in September, when he is yr 6.

The first letter about an information evening came home last week, we (myself and xh) did not attend as this wasn't in the plan. However ds2 seems determined he wants to sit it. Shall we let him? Would he perhaps be resentful if we decided not to let him, that in future years he might think what if?

I did find some examples of the 11+ online last night, he got 80% on verbal reasoning, 80% on non verbal reasoning, 90% on english and 85% on maths, this was without any revision and on the spur of the moment.

I guess my reluctance comes from his teacher telling us not to bother, as in her words hes bright and very clever but far too lazy in his work and seriously under acheiveing! and yes we have had a conversation with her about encouraging him to try harder in class and to get him enthusiastic regarding school work. We do encourage him at home and he is a prolific reader and always seeking information at home.

What would you do?

OP posts:
ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 23/06/2012 09:13

Teachers often have their own ideas of what constitutes an 'achieving child.' at the information evening at DS2's school last year you'd have thought you had to be a potential astronaut recruit from the way his teachers were talking!
Sometimes there's also the agenda that primary schools, certainly in our county, are not nn support of the grammar system, so, subconsciouy or otherwise, try and put people off.

The same teachers had been quite dismissive of his abilities since he joined the school in y3, but luckily I'd already seen his brother and sister throgh entry, so knew full well he was up to it. I think if he'd been our first and we hadn't already been familiar with the process, we would have thought twice about entering him.

Those scores sound pretty high, btw, although the practise tests do get harder as you progress through. Even so, they do indicate that he can cope with that level of work.

My DH wasn't entered for grammar school but his sister had been; his head teacher at the time was keen on the new comp which was 'just as good,' and of course stressed that he'd go to the secondary modern if he failed. His sister went to a school which is regularly in the top three nationally for results, while he took a circuitous route to his current level of education and professional experience. It's not something he dwells on, but he still can't understand why no one could see that he was easily bright enough to breeze through.

Ignore that teacher and have faith in your son's enthusiasm and obvious intelligence. Some teachers just can't engage the bright kids, and have rigid ideas of what constitutes an able child.

Oh, and did I say you should let him take the test? Smile.

hmc · 23/06/2012 08:58

I would let him do it if he is intent on taking it - irrespective of whether he is likely to pass or not. You don't want to feed future resentment

Savannahgirl · 23/06/2012 08:54

I would let him have a go. If he doesn't pass at least it sounds as though you have two good non selective schools he can go to.

rabbitstew · 23/06/2012 08:54

Let him take it. I would seriously resent my parents telling me I couldn't take an exam if I wanted to. And there would always be what ifs, because you deliberately ensured they would remain what ifs.