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Original poster

Eleven Plus

56 replies

MagicalMrsMistoffelees · 04/06/2016 12:29

Hope someone can help please. Does every child who is put forward for the 11+ have coaching? Is that just the culture these days? Our eldest is in year four and bright enough for a grammar but do we need to organise coaching for him to stand a chance of passing the entrance exams?

For background, I took the 11+ in the late 1980s, passed and went to a grammar school. I didn't have any coaching; nobody did for my school (Tiffin Girls) back then (or did they?!).

My husband went to Manchester Grammar. He said only a few had coaching and they really struggled as they had been taught to pass the entrance exam but were not well equipped to cope with a highly academic environment.

So I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea that children need coaching to pass the 11+. Doesn't that make it an 'unlevel' playing field for children who are bright but haven't been coached to pass an exam and therefore don't get in? And unfair on children who are taught how to pass the entrance exam but struggle later? Isn't it better if everyone just sits the paper 'dry' and those who do well pass? Or am I being very naive?

This is in no way a criticism of parents who have their children coached. I understand that as soon as some children have coaching then it becomes necessary for others to as well. And in all likeliness we will be organising coaching for our son soon!

OP posts:
HomeGeekHome · 04/06/2016 14:45

Speaking from personal experience, no you won't definitely need to tutor your child. My two siblings and I all passed it with no tutoring. That was admittedly 15 years ish ago but more recently my own child passed, with a good mark and had not a jot of tutoring. Several of his classmates are in the same position.

Catmuffin · 04/06/2016 14:37

I know.

RueDeWakening · 04/06/2016 13:20

There are usually over 2000 girls sitting the first stage tests at WHSG and Nonsuch now, so about 1 in 10 will eventually get an offer of a place. I think the boys grammars are similar, though there are 3 of them not just 2 so perhaps it's slightly less competitive.

Local schools don't provide any support in terms of practice in class time. Exams are now the eligibility test - to prove the child is of selective ability - and the 2nd stage test a couple of weeks later. They both cover English and Maths, there's no VR or NVR now.

Catmuffin · 04/06/2016 12:58

In my old school i mean. The year 7 intake has about doubled i believe.

Catmuffin · 04/06/2016 12:51

I went to one of the Sutton grammars in the 80s and I never heard of anyone being tutored, but i think the difference then was that we did a bit of practice in class. I think it was VR and non VR papers back then. Also as far as i remember you could only apply to a Sutton grammar if you lived in Sutton then whereas you can apply from further afield now, so maybe more competitive? (Although there are about double the number of places available now I believe.)

RueDeWakening · 04/06/2016 12:35

DD is also in year 4 and we've been pondering similar things. AFAIK most children are tutored for Tiffin and the superselectives in Sutton, simply because there are so many children applying for so few places. A county that retains all its grammars is unlikely to have quite such a hot-housing mentality as they take proportionately more of the cohort.

We won't be paying for an 11+ tutor for DD, but will be doing some work at home to make sure she's covered the material and is familiar with what will be expected of her in the exam.

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