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Original poster

London Consortium Independent Girls' Schools scrapping 11+

30 replies

jeanne16 · 10/10/2017 17:45

In the papers today, it says the Consortium is scrapping the 11+ from 2019 as it is now so stressful for pupils and parents and affecting their mental health. They will have an online verbal reasoning test only plus interview.

They also want to try to stop the incessant tutoring. Of course, the format will simply change with tutors focusing on verbal reasoning rather than maths and English comprehensions, so I'm not sure it will make too much difference.

However at least they are acknowledging that there is a problem.

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 10/10/2017 22:06

Interviews are just going to favour a different set of of skills. And children will be tutored to hone those skills...with private schools still having an edge over state primaries.

Middleoftheroad · 10/10/2017 21:59

My DS passed the 11 plus on paper with a strong score. He would have completely failed an interview though so I don't believe that an interview always is the best way.

EmpressoftheMundane · 10/10/2017 19:13

I think it will just shift the tutoring to VR. At least extra tutoring for maths and english was potentially useful to the DC going forward, VR not so much so.

An interview by an able teacher is probably the most effective thing, but do the schools have the resources for this? A 15 minute interview might be a little too little ,and these schools have 800+ candidates per year.

Abitofaproblem · 10/10/2017 18:15

I think it is an interesting development. I hope there won't be so much pressure to tutor because even if parents do tutor, it's only one subject (VR). Also the interview will be a key element and even top VR scores won't guarantee a place.

CruCru · 10/10/2017 18:11

Yes, I saw that. The letter from the Heads said that instead of having two 11+ exams, there will be one 1-hour test.

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