11+ Results - Why Don't Independent Schools Release Scores?

If they released scores they would be under pressure to take kids who achieved high scores. And parents/schools would be under pressure to prep/tutor kids so that they achieved these high scores. Tutoring for some Grammar schools can be intensive starts impossibly early and actually works against a young child achieving a broader education.

Selective independent schools are looking for potential, rather than who is VR/nonVR practiced at 11+. They will want to give weight to curiosity, engagement and wider interests. They may also want a mix, consistent with the culture of the school, so some quieter children and some more alpha ones. They will want to allow for differences in preparation. They also have the ability to take the "one-sided" child. So DD was dyslexic and hopeless at English but good at maths. Some classmates were arty or musical but not so strong at science. Grammar schools in contrast, using raw scores cannot differentiate.

I understand that very selective London private schools choose to be opaque because there is an increasing trend of prospective parents engaging lawyers if they are not happy with a school's decision. This means that the school has to be in a position to justify decisions. Publishing internal criteria in advance would cause unwelcome bias, and reduce the independence of a schools' decision making.

If you don't get in you can ask for feedback as to whether it is worth reapplying at another entry point but how would knowing the exam scores in isolation be of any real help.

Lentils What do you think knowing the actual mark would give you?

I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't give a fig as to what the marks were, just want to know the outcome!

Unlike state 11+ the results are based not only on exam attainment but take into account interview, references, extra curricular etc. So the exam scores are only one aspect of any decision to offer.

Grammars in our area only publish certain results. They give the minimum mark required to apply for the school and the lowest pass mark that gained entry the year before on offers day. However, that doesn't account for the waiting list scores that get in. The 11+ forum collate those unofficially.

Do the independents not even do that?

I can imagine lots of demands for remarks when a child narrowly misses the pass mark too. Too much hassle potential.

Publishing scores will increase hysteria.

If Sam got 60% in the 11+ maths, why is he in a higher set than my son who got 75%?

If 70% was enough for a place year why has my child who got 70% this year not got a place?

Why was the passmark 70% last year but 60% this year? Is the school going downhill and attracting less intelligent kids?
Etc

In my opinion, there's enough parental neurosis in the 11+ process as it is and publishing results would only make it worse!!

But in all seriousness, as pp have stated, the exams are merely a hurdle and not a result, with the school taking into account a host of other factors before deciding whether to offer a place and indeed what type of offer.

They’d be opening themselves to all kinds of grief if they did though ... as the ‘pass’ mark will vary from child to child. The tests themselves are purely a means to an end so in that case a yes/no/scholarship answer is all you need surely? No one will ever ask your child what mark they got in an 11+ test ...

Generally because they’re not just going by the test results, they’ll also be looking at the interview, previous school’s report, any extra-curricular stuff a child can bring to the school, some will give siblings priority others give weight to a family connection to the school etc etc etc