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Original poster

Independent middle School entry for boy from state comprehensive. Remote chance??

34 replies

Annabellina · 12/11/2013 12:46

Hi - Has anyone any experience of this situation? My ds is in Yr 8 at our local all boys comp in South London and we were pleased when he got a place there. Many of his friends went there and generally a lot more children of educated parents were in the mix. Great arts provision, his passion is music, and he is provided with some good opportunities and is well supported. School also excels in dance, drama etc. He seems to be making some progress in the subjects that they are effectively streamed in, but the school does not seem to stretch him at all and he is - as is quite normal amongst teenage boys - pretty lazy about doing just what is asked and NO MORE. He is very dyslexic, but highly articulate and imaginative and I think school just think he is doing fine, considering. I am absolutely sure he has more to offer and to discover within the academic sphere (humanities - he's never going to be brilliant at maths). The school has quite a lot of playground aggro, so much so that two of his best friends left last year (for an alternative state school). His best friend is moving abroad forever at Christmas. He can generally handle the aggro, he's small but surprisingly strong (he's a gymnast and drummer so very developed) but it definitely adds a layer of tension to his days. I have just cracked and thought he should have a shot at our local private schools which are highly selective. We deliberately didn't pursue it for year 7 on ideological grounds, plus we couldn't have afforded it. Now I'll sell a kidney or something and hurl my principles into the compost, but we've left it so late. Not sure if we can even secure the services of a tutor for the next 6 weeks - they're all booked up. However, he simply won't have covered all the curriculum that the prep school boys will have.... Is it just an absurd thought? He has mixed feelings. Likes the prospect of a electric guitar bribe but not sure about the upheaval, the going to a 'posh' school thang (both his parents were privately educated), change of friendships, MASSES OF HOMEWORK (currently gets virtually none). Likes the thought of ' a less hectic atmosphere', oh and one of them is co-ed and he likes the idea of the girls.... Any thoughts would be very gratefully received.

OP posts:
urbancupcake · 13/11/2013 19:00

The schools you're going for are really important so you'll need to say for more specific advice. As you're based in SE London and it's Whitgift and Trinity for example, they set their own English, Maths and VR for 13+ entry I believe; whereas I think the others do Common Entrance exams which the prep schools have been preparing the children for and my understanding is that is a whole new ball game. I'm sure it would be next to impossible to plug that in a few weeks, therefore, but others should be along soon to clarify.

LittleSiouxieSue · 13/11/2013 15:52

I would say go for it as others have. I would sound a couple of notes of caution though . Do make sure that highly selective schools accommodate dyslexic children to your satisfaction. Be certain their SEN provision is not just highlighted to parents to get them hooked into the school and then the provision is not as good as advertised. Highly selective and dyslexic may not go that well together in the world of independent schools. Also be aware that not all children at independent school are pleasant. Just because people have money,it does not mean their offspring are what you would expect at an independent school. Times have changed.

Original poster
Annabellina · 13/11/2013 13:28

Thanks very much for your contributions. I think we will give it a go and see what happens.... the Ed Psych we used 5 years ago with his initial diagnosis is miraculously available - a cancellation - in time to get report to accompany registration in two weeks. Without it he would not be able to use a laptop (essential) or have extra time (his idea of hell, but useful). I've clearly gone barmy and see it as a sort of omen that we should proceed. The poor lad also injured himself for the umpteenth time at training last night ( he has only just recovered from a back injury which pretty much took him out of gym for some months) and was practically in tears this morning at the prospect of having to contend with the crazy corridors of feral badmen on a crutch. (That's so unfair - not all the kids are like this of course, and he mostly can handle it, just very wobbly this morning). We are going to tackle one of the comprehension papers tonight and he is quite enjoying doing practice of the reasoning papers. Maths will be a different kettle of fish. We'll see. Anyway - I feel very bolstered by your contributions. Thank you. I've never posted before.

OP posts:
SthingMustBeScaringThemAway · 12/11/2013 15:02

"should be doing...."

SthingMustBeScaringThemAway · 12/11/2013 15:00

It's certainly worth giving it a go.

I was going to say that if he currently has very little homework it's not as if he can say he's being overworked - but have you double checked how much homework he should be going? Given what you say about doing the minimum. Some children can be a little elastic about the truth regarding homework set....

It's good that he seems to be fine but almost no homework in year 8 is not the best preparation for GCSEs and A Levels.

If you say which school(s) you're thinking of you'll probably find people here with specific experience.

GetMeOut · 12/11/2013 14:01

If he is a drummer and a gymnast that might help offset any academic gaps as some selectives are keen to recruit musical and sporting talent. Maybe worth seeking if he would meet any of the sporting and/or music scholarship criteria of your chosen schools

SonorousBip · 12/11/2013 13:52

I actually think you are in quite a good position - give it a go on a "why not" basis, no stewing or pressure in advance and if he does not get in you will know you gave it a shot but he is not majorly upset. And if he does get in you don't have to take it up if he really does not want to go or you can't afford it, but it will clarify your thinking.

I would spend the time just making sure you know what the exam paper are going to look like (length, format tc), and if there are any discrete areas he has not covered, try to do those, but not attempt a wholesale re-teach as that will only be confusing. Also, do not you or he be fazed by the papers - they will be hard - but you just have to do what you can.

(Am with you on the 12 year old DS who manages to finely callibrate his output to do exactly what is required and not a whisker more Hmm and I agree that him being at a school which requires quite a lot is his saving grace ATM Hmm)

Original poster
Annabellina · 12/11/2013 13:41

Yes we have two weeks left to register him and have a visit arranged for the end of this week. Thanks for your comments. I think we'll do some practice papers and give it a go and just see what happens. It will help me see clearly for myself where some of his gaps are even if he stays on at his current school.

OP posts:
scaevola · 12/11/2013 12:51

Is he actually registered for any schools? Lists are closing.

But yes, it's worth a shot. Tutoring might not make that much difference now, but yes he needs to ge familiarised with the exam formats and style of questions and working through specimen papers (and the books of Bond papers) will definitely be worth it, and either you or a tutor can do that. A good tutor should also be able to improve exam technique generally. Even ifthey spot gaps in eg maths, there might not be time to fix them properly, but every little helps.

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