Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

11+ process has to change...

58 replies

Gorobe · 01/12/2018 12:34

Dd took 11+ test at Wimbledon High last week. Sadly dd didn’t pass first stage. I suspect she did ok but not well enough to get through to the second round. Although dd is not highly academic, dd is an all rounder. She throws herself at sports, music and drama. She spends a few hours every week training. She loves it and is especially good at swimming and music. She has a full and well balanced life but now that she didn’t pass, I’m wondering if we should have spent all those extra hours revising instead? I know her friends who got through to second stage have tutors and definitely do lots more revision after school. I didn’t realise it’s that competitive! We don’t have a tutor. I believe she has done enough at school and comes home with an hour of homework everyday. My dd is bright, her scores at school are good albeit not the strongest but she’s creative and full of curiosity and drive. WHS advised against tutoring and yet they have put girls who have been heavily tutored through to the next stage. We have a few more weeks to go before dd sits for more tests in Jan. I’m panicking and think I need to find dd a tutor but don’t even know where to start. Does this mean there’s no place for well rounded children in 11+? How can schools even tell that these academically ‘gifted’ children have been tutored? Schools should look closely at children who have invested time in equally healthy pursuits. If my dd had spent more time revising, I’m sure she would have passed first stage. But is this what senior schools want from children? Am I too late in finding dd a tutor?

OP posts:
TeenageAngst1 · 01/12/2018 13:13

Rather than raging at the system I would direct your rage at your prep school (assuming you are at one if you are getting one hours homework a night). Why didn't hey prep her for the local indie senior schools? Are they a school that goes up to 18 and so had no interest in sending pupils elsewhere?

The fact is to get into any selective school, state or private, you need some practice on the type of questions to be answered and the speed you need to complete the papers. If you want a realistic shot at January exams you need to get the relevant practice books from amazon or Whs or wherever and do one hour a day between now and then. A bit every day means it will be second nature by the time of the exams. Good luck!

MrsPatmore · 01/12/2018 13:11

Isn't WHS an independent school? I took absolutely no notice of those heads that said don't tutor or 'we use an untutorable test'. It's rubbish - in London you are up against some of the most competitive parents in the world. I think it's disingenuous of them to say not to tutor as some people, like yourself, won't and it puts your child at a serious disadvantage. These parents are leaving nothing to chance hence the multi million pound tutoring industry. My ds was group tutored for a year but is still well rounded, musical and sporty. Being tutored doesn't mean you have to forego everything else (although some do!).

There are lots of very naturally bright kids out there but the 11+ is a test with a particular technique which combines speed plus accuracy. The Eleven Plus Exams Forum is a very good, if a bit intense, resource. Good luck!

cantkeepawayforever · 01/12/2018 13:02

Grammar schools aren't for well rounded kids, they're for the brightest.

Grammar schools are not for the brightest, tbh (or rather, they don't admit the brightest). They admit a selection from the adequately bright (ie there is a lower limit below which they won't pass, however well prepared) who are the best prepared, whether through preparation at primaries - usually private - who specialise in preparation; paid-for tutoring; or home preparation.

Absolutely exceptional children may need less preparation BUT from my observation it is an 'arms race', whatever the schools say - even the brightest children are increasingly highly prepped for the 11+.

sandybayley · 01/12/2018 12:58

The school OP is referring to isn't a grammar - it's an independent (Wimbledon High School).

RCohle · 01/12/2018 12:57

I don't think the 11+ process has to change just because your daughter didn't pass. Grammar schools aren't for well rounded kids, they're for the brightest.

sandybayley · 01/12/2018 12:47

The other thing most people did was to get DC to sit a mock test (Sutton Grammar it similar) in the spring before the actual exams to get them used to an exam environment. I'd highly recommend this for anyone thinking about 11+ in future years.

sandybayley · 01/12/2018 12:44

@Gorobe - it's tough. The schools all say don't tutor but the reality is almost everybody does.

DD1 did the 11+ a few years ago (now Year 10) and amongst her friends (from a State Primary) I cant think of anyone who didn't see a tutor beforehand. Most went for a year beforehand for an hour a week.

DD1 is bright but what she learnt from the tutor was primarily exam technique. For instance how to time herself in an English exam, how to write in a way that would impress.

When you say you didn't tutor what do you mean? If you did exam practice at home but didn't pay a tutor that's arguably still tutoring. If you didn't do any practice at home then you did miss a trick.

But you can definitely make things up if you get some practice papers and work on them between now and January.

KanielOutis · 01/12/2018 12:44

Granmar schools aren't for well rounded children, they are for highly academic children. The top of the cohort in academic ability. They care not one bit how talented your child is in swimming, sports and music. My DD passed the 11+ this year. She's exceptionally bright, but struggles to throw a ball competently and still can't ride a bike or swim. None of those things matter to the school.