This I wish I had known about starting a thread on things you wish you had known about the 11+ process

If you are the sort of family that goes on Mumsnet asking about how to prepare for the 11+, your children will almost undoubtedly do well anywhere- but a private or grammar school will probably provide cultural capital that in other schools you may have to provide yourself. Research this in advance.

Don’t listen to the extreme grammarphiles either on here or in real life-you will scare yourself. See previous comment about supported children doing well anywhere.

Do not let your child set their heart on any particular school- things can go wrong on the day. And even if they do go right on the day you can’t really know what a school’s like til you’re in it.

It might feel like the most important thing in the world right now, but it isn’t!

Think whiterose was saying half way y4 was too late to start thinking about a tutor because they are all booked, rather than too late to start tutoring . We didn't find that, but then trying to find who were the good tutors was impossible. And we my experience was that the recommended ones weren't as good as the one I found in the internet. I was sure that if they were advertising on the internet they couldn't be as good because it would all be word of mouth

I didn't know much about the process before going through it and that really helped keep things relaxed. It can become quite stressful otherwise. We looked at other good state schools but realised for the eldest the grammar school was a good fit so tried 11plus. For our second child it wasnt going to be right.

View schools really early, then decide if they look like a good fit for your child, if yes do a bit of tuition, we did once a week for a year before the test in a group situation for 1.5 hrs plus 30 mins or so homework. Reading lots of books is important to increase vocab, books from different periods in history etc. The 11 plus forum can be useful too.

My top tip is to realise that you have to be organised far earlier (years earlier!) than one might think really necessary - pre-registration, pre-testing, open days etc etc etc all happen really early on

Er Whiterose.... We've started in year 5. Im not sure I agree with the pressure of years of tutoring!!
Most from our school that got in didn't have years of tutoring. Although I know in more affluent areas some do!

Totally agree re the point on teaching ourselves. I have learnt that I am terrible in English, do not understand poems, cannot do advanced 11plus maths and I thought I was the most patient person in the house!

Mine probably got lost in the row. Book tutors early. Round here people were putting their DC names down in Y2 for tutoring in Y5! Half way through Y4 is not a good time to start!

this has made me smile. We are in the process and I have learnt that some tutors are shit, that I am not a patient teacher, that even with a motivated child it is hard to be motivated, that you have to be super careful about the balance between encouraging and pressurising (e.g. staying away from the latter), oh and that revision courses can be absolutely loved. And that learning to put work into something isn't a bag thing as long as not achieving a goal isn't a disaster (we haven't got to the exams yet so still learning). And that almost all 11+ threads end with an unresolvable disagreement about whether any form of 11+ should exist.

🤣🤣... It is a shame though. Page 1 is still really helpful!!

That'll learn ya OP.😂

🤣 it started well!

Goposie 😂