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Original poster

Top English/Bottom Maths - 11+ Prospects/SWLondon?

29 replies

twirlgirl · 27/09/2019 10:20

I've just had a meeting with DD's Y6 teacher re school applications and 11+. She was also her Y5 teacher, so knows her well.

According to her teacher, DD is well above average in English (top 5 in class) but near the bottom in Maths. It's a high achieving class apparently, so not sure if class position helps much.

They don't do much reasoning (state primary) but her VR is excellent but NVR is weaker.

The teacher's assessment is consistent with our views and the 11+ prep we're doing at home, so I think - more or less - that's how she would perform at 11+.

Her teacher says there's plenty of scope for her to improve in Maths by January exams, and should be able to achieve 50-60% in an exam.

Also, the teacher thinks she would interview well, particularly in creative type interviews.

Has anyone's DC been in a similar position and have they successfully applied to schools such as Emanuel, Ibstock Place, Kingston Grammar and Kew House?

Thanks,
Stressed of SWLondon

OP posts:
Engden14 · 27/09/2019 11:11

Maths is very important at KGS I'm afraid. These schools are so oversubscribed that they can afford to be very picky. I know plenty of DC who were offered places there who were strong in maths and okay in English (you can't be terrible but you can be considerably weaker). They do subject interviews if you are marginal in it.

Emanuel used to be 55% pass mark so that sounds achievable for your DD . It's increasingly popular so maybe it's gone up? Ibstock is probably more rigorous than Kew House (which I don't really know) and I know the interview at Ibstock is v important (before the test I think?) so again, could be to your DD's advantage if she interveiws well.

christmas2020 · 27/09/2019 11:11

I think I slightly disagree as maths tends to be the one subject that is streamed right from the start. DD is at a selective girls school and there are friends of hers who don't find maths particularly easy but they have smaller 'bottom' sets and get a lot of help from specialised maths teachers that they may not have had in primary schools.
I know a fair few children who didn't really 'get' maths at primary and went on to get good grades at a level - it just suddenly clicked.

crazycrofter · 27/09/2019 11:01

This is just a general comment as I'm not in your area, but I am in an area with super selective grammar schools and some very selective independents.

From knowing people/friends' children who've been to these sorts of schools but not been great at Maths, I'm not sure it's an ideal experience. Struggling at Maths at secondary level is much more stressful than struggling with English. Also, I've observed that Maths strugglers often don't really get on with Science either.

Maths and Science are the sorts of subjects where you can get left behind and feel quite inferior and out of your depth, if the pace is too fast. This doesn't really apply in the same way if Maths is your strength. You might not get great marks in English but you won't feel like you're behind/struggling to keep up, if that makes sense as it's not a 'building block' type of subject.

I tend to think that highly selective schools suit all-rounders best, then Maths/Science buffs. A more mixed school is better for a humanities/English type, as they can access Maths teaching at the right level for them.

But all that isn't to say she won't get into one of the schools you want. I'd just have a think if it's best for her.

christmas2020 · 27/09/2019 10:35

I think at KGS maths and VR are important. DD was the opposite- very strong at maths, not so good at English, in particularly comprehensions, but good at VR. She got offers from all the ones you've listed except Kew. I suspect she interviewed well and she had a lot of other interests (none at a high standard!).
I would say that her friends who struggled in maths got less offers ( but still got some) even if they were stronger in English but I think your teacher is right in that maths is probably easier to improve than English.
We were also in a state primary in a pretty bright class.