11+ waiting for results

I’m trying to put it out of my mind but really not looking forward to Tuesday. DD worked so incredibly hard but I’m not sure it was enough. She’s going to be gutted if she doesn’t get in.

Back on the thread in advance of results coming out here tomorrow - I shall be hovering over my email account mid afternoon! It’s felt like a long month..

Good on ya Font

Personally I'm appalled at the level of involvement religion has on education in uk. I'd do away with it completely.

We chose a non religious primary ( not much choice once all the church schools are ruled out) but it turns our HT is an evangelist and the dc now have more god pushed on them than ever before. Really bothers me but not much I can do about it.

I think that's pretty harsh, fontofallknowledge. I don't like the 11+ system much, but I do have an academically-inclined child, and I do think that, of the schools open to him, the grammars would suit him best. If he hadn't passed 11+, then Bennett would probably have suited him best - but I would only have got in if I had asked the local vicar to 'big up' my church attendance - which, given our friendly relationship, I'm sure he would have done. However, I would not have done that - it would have gone against my own values and morals. I totally agree that grammars are (largely) free schools for advantaged kids. However, if all the parents of kids who've got into Bennett have genuine faith or genuinely intend to continue attending church once their kids are through the door, I will eat my hat. And very often it's the 'advantaged' parents with the sharpest elbows who are most likely to 'find God'.

Well done to everyone, my DD just passed for South Wilts grammar school 11+ but being totally unprepared I know very little about the school and wondered if anyone out there had any experiences of it they could share. Looking round it next week but DD is adamant she wants to go there inspire of it meaning her leaving her middle school....confused dot com! Thanks all! X

Unbelievable!
So you Kent lot are all wringing your hands because you may or may not get into Grammar and have the audacity to complain about the admission criteria to Bennett Memorial . A school you wouldn't give a second thought to if your kids 'made it to grammar' (despite god knows how much coaching )

Why do you think Bennett is so popular ? A why the admission criteria is so stringent ? Perhaps its to stop it being used a a 'second' choice for 11+ failure. And BECAUSE it has its Christian ethos at the heart of everything it does. Christian in the true sense of the word. Kind, Charitable and caring.

It works hard to make sure it isn't a second choice.
I am vehemently anti - grammar having seen fabulously gifted children denied a place a grammar because their parent can't afford to coach them through the exam ahead of less clever children with money. Until that changes and grammar is once again awarded in genuine merit it is just a free school for posh kids.

My children all went to Bennett Memorial. My eldest is just finishing her 4th year at Uni along side her 2 best friends who went to TWGGS. I refused to put my children through the grim brag-fest that is the current 11+.
They are better people for it.

Yes, I agree. It’s best to avoid the y6 teacher’s eye! I’ve taught Y6-it’s not much fun for them on that day either!!

Have you got a good plan B?

Well done for all the passes and sorry to those who haven't.

@Holidayshopping yes this week feels like it's going backwards. Tuesday is taking forever to arrive. Monday is going to be painful, especially knowing the school knows and we don't.

We are in Birmingham, DS got a score of 246. So proud of him.

Another good pass for DS here in Kent. So glad it's over! Well done to everyone who's had good news, and hugs to those who haven't.

I wasn't expecting results until tomorrow (Kent) but they came today. Dd passed both with a comfortable margin and she is so happy. And I'm really proud.

We didn't tutor so though I was confident she would do well, I did have some "oh fuck" pangs when I realised everyone else was using tutors.

On the back of her results dd will be guaranteed a place at local girls grammar. Really happy for her.

Yep. Get posted out tomorrow so will hopefully get the letter on Saturday but could have to wait till Monday

Still 5 days to go for Essex! Is anyone else going slowly insane?

I am absolutely proud of him ! Thanks everyone !

Oh congrats hibeat (I did read your first post and though WAIT - What did the email say?? )

Congratulations @hibeat

Congratulations to your DS @hibeat you must be very proud of him.

Thanks @Dixiechickonhols

Oh ! He's in.

I just received my email from Kent. So the results are out, all the best to you all. Thumbs up for everyone, working hard always pays. I have read the thread up until now and it has helped me cope.

Oh OP, I am going through the same thing as you!!

Waiting for the hertfordshire results which will be released on 17th October! Tbh, we live in the outer catchment for Watford Boys school, so not sure how likely it is that we'll get in anyway!

We have an oustanding faith school near us, though we are Muslims who do attend Mosque etc and have been for years, the critera for that is right at the bottom and not sure of my sons chances there! Oh this secondary school stuff is stressful! How do you know which school??? Though we are lucky that we have several good schools around us so I shouldn't be too worried...

Very Well done to your second DS Mumski.

Grammar school my DD at is the same as what Mumski describes. It is very different to oversubscribed schools down south.

No scores are released just met standard or not. If the child passes and lives in catchment then they know they definitely have a place in October as less pass than places. Last year 98 in catchment passed and there are 150 places. The top scoring OOC children are also told in October they have a place (OOC goes solely on score not distance so anyone can apply). Of course you still fill in the CAF but 1st march is a formality.

The wording on the pass letter in October is

I am delighted to inform you [name] reached the required standard in the tests and, in accordance with Lancashire County Council's Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme, we have informed the Local Education Authority (LEA) that we would be pleased to accept [name] as a student at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School from September. We understand that the LEA will allocate [name] a place here if your common Application states that you have put Clitheroe Royal Grammar School as your first preference.

furry - in Glos, we get told if they have passed, and the rank, for the school they have done the test for.
So, the school we want has 150 places, she will either pass in top 150, and then there is no reason why she woudn't get a place. Or is ranked from 150-about 400, and you can make a good estimate as to whether or not they have a place. Eg last year the school took kids down to rank 365, so if you kid is no. 200, they will get in.

Obviously, until you get the letter on March 1st, nothing is set in stone, but really, for most people you know.
The difficulty is people in the grey zone, eg they dd ranked at 350.

I think the reason it works is because although there are so few places there is not as much competition for them as in some areas. I think there are about 450 ish applications for 150 places. We have the advantage that there are a lot of very good comprehensives which are genuine comps and not secondary moderns. There are also a lot of very good faith schools. The lack of grammar places and the distances needed to travel to access them combined with good alternatives mean that not as many people apply.

Every boy who passes and lives within the inner catchment gets a place with residual places OOC going in order of score achieved. Hence not every child who passes but lives OOC gets a place but they will be on the wait list. Virtually everyone who takes the test will want a place unlike applicants to London Grammars who may take the test for 4 or 5 schools including some private schools so the school don't know who the majority of their cohort will be until offers are accepted in early March.

Good luck to all those still waiting for results.

That's very interesting, mumski, thank you. The people of the south east fighting over all those places will be very jealous!

By the way having a sibling there gives us no advantage as each child has to qualify via the 11+ test.