2023 Eleven Plus support thread

A state sixth form Newham Collegiate, most of its student from state comprehensive schools has achieved 80% A/A, and 97% A-B in 2023 A level. 188 students received at least three A* / A grades. The impressive result dwarfed a lot of grammar schools or selective indies even in London where most intake is via 11+.

https://sixthform.london/

Just a great example to demonstrate public exam results are more related to students abilities rather than the school been to at secondary level. The later stage the selection take place the higher correlation with the public exam results.

My daughter's school was one of those grammars that hadn't been inspected for years and everyone who wasn't part of it wanted it to have a bad result, but after an inspection about 18 months ago it got an outstanding (with bells and whistles). I know of many other grammars who haven't fared so well. If you go on this 11+ journey be prepared for lots of people to love to hate you.

The school we're aiming for also hasn't been inspected since 2011 either. I'm not too worried about it since it gets great results and has a great reputation.

I've given DD a bit of time off as we've been on holiday but I think we need to do a few little mocks over the next few weeks as it's getting close now.

How is everyone else doing with prep?

In fairness to the school not inspected since 2011, AFAIK it’s still a great school. If it weren’t for the backlog I’m sure it would’ve been inspected already.

My experience on primary school is that even outstanding rating doesn't mean anything for the quality of the school.

Schools can delay inspections for a number of reasons. The most common is when they transfer from local authority control to an academy- this is why many haven’t been looked for years.

Also they have only just changed the rules so all schools must be inspected regularly regardless of grading. This means there is a massive backlog especially with the impact of COVID etc.

Are Outstanding Secondary schools inspected as infrequently as Outstanding Primaries?

The secondary I was referring to was Outstanding in 2016 and finally inspected this year.

A local outstanding infant school hasn’t been inspected since 2011, which is absolutely nuts.

"Are Outstanding Secondary schools inspected as infrequently as Outstanding Primaries

@Eastie77Returns yes they are, you can find a lot of outstanding secondary school last inspection is more than 10 years ago
Also the ofsted assessment regime change overtime, some of the grammar schools with outstanding rating 10 years ago are downgraded to good in recent inspections.

Are Outstanding Secondary schools inspected as infrequently as Outstanding Primaries? DD’s primary was inspected and judged outstanding in 2015 and hasn’t had an OFSTEd visit since! I think standards have declined but it is still hugely popular and over subscribed, I know families who moved into the very expensive catchment so their DC can attend (but still miss out as the catchment is now tiny). @Jellycats4life there is an Outstanding secondary fairly close us which could be a fall back for DD if she doesn’t get into the Grammar but I think it is also dining out on past glories. It is indeed a very unpleasant situation.

Yes she would have been born in the September if on due date. So would be going into Year 5 (one of the eldest) not the youngest in the year.

@Discodiva101 if your DD had arrived on her due date, would she have been in a different school year? ie if she was born in July or August, was her actual official due date in September?

If so, it's worth bearing in mind that while the normal age standardisation process won't take this into account some appeal panels can, and do. Hopefully your DD will sail through her exam but if you do find yourself having to appeal, this can sometimes be a strong argument.

There is proven elite illusion effect on selective state schools, on the academic side, suggested by nobel prize winning economists.

https://quorasessionwithjoshangrist.quora.com/What-is-the-elite-illusion#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20Elite%20Illusion%E2%80%9D%20asks%20whether,schools%2C%20actually%20improve%20student%20outcomes.

The only reason we finally decided to knuckle down on the 11+ revision was after hearing from a mum friend that she regretted sending her child to the local school (it was still dining out on an old outstanding rating) which had gone rapidly downhill in recent years. So I totally sympathise! It’s a horrible feeling knowing that choice is an illusion when it comes to state schools.

Gosh that sounds tough - rather humbling that I’m in the situation that grammar would be “nice to have” but plan B school is one people jump through hoops to get into (faith school so many parents have sat in church weekly for years to get this one we’ll get anyway because I work there)

Typos galore sorry! Puppy is climbing on me as I type 😅

Same issue. Inadequate school. Drugs, knife incidents. I may homeschool if DD doesn’t pass eleven plus. I ideally don’t want to as feel I won’t be able to keep up wi the her eventually. Socially she needs to be with peers also.

Just feel the local school will be sending her into an unsafe environment. The school have said they are making improvements but it will “take time.” My child is a bit anxious as it is and I think the environment will be horrendous.

Such a shame as they have an excellent Primary. Tbf all the Primary’s are great. Just seem to be surrounded by terrible secondaries. Not sure what’s happened to them. Don’t think it helps that DD has older friends from dance school that have shared how bad local school is 🙈

Similarly the main reason we are going through all of this is because our local secondary is quite bad. Last OFSTEd Requires Improvement. I wouldn’t be so concerned if it was ‘just’ the academic side of things that needed improvement but the report mentioned children feeling unsafe and our friends removed their DC following a knives in the playground incident.

@Eastie77Returns have a great holiday! That’s good to know 🤞

I can prove prematurity as have medical evidence but I won’t contact if it’s not going to be of benefit. Also have photos of her being so tiny she fit in the palm of my husbands hand :)

Will try my best to not seem stressed 😬🙈. She’s performing well at home and in tutor so hopefully the last two mocks will be better. Also help with the pre exam nerves.

If our local school wasn’t so dire it wouldn’t be so bad.

@Discodiva101 They obviously apply age standardisation across the board and late summer borns benefit the most, but I don’t think they would add any extra for premature birth. Not least because you would have to prove it - there would be dodgy parents out there claiming prematurity right up to saying their child was born at 38 weeks so they need an extra fraction of a mark 😅 It would be a minefield.

@Discodiva101 agree with @Eastie77Returns they normally standard for age automatically. But get why you might want to mention she was premature you’ve nothing to lose by mentioning it but as other poster said it probably won’t make a difference.

I think our children can pick up on our stress so if you can try to relax I know it’s easier said than done. Fingers crossed for you and your daughter.

I think most schools automatically standardise for age if a child is summer born. Do you mean mentioning she was 7 weeks early as extra information to also take into consideration? I’m not sure it would make much difference. Sorry if I’ve misunderstood.

FWIW I’ve seen several threads on here from parents whose children were suddenly performing dramatically below par and scoring 25-30% a couple of weeks before the exam and ended up sailing through on the day. Fingers crossed for your DD. None of my DD’s friends are applying either. It’s all quite stressful. We are going on holiday for 2 weeks now and giving the study a bit of a break (might sneak a few worksheets into the suitcase though😂)

*fail not dial

WWYD:

DD is late summer born was 7 weeks premature. Is it worth mentioning for the age standardisation?

Starting to stress a bit now as we get closer. In practices with tutor been doing so well but the mocks struggling with timings and getting 60% so every mark will count 🙈 It’s frustrating as the questions DD answers are correct it’s a timing issue. Plodding on with practice but DD cried yesterday saying it was stressful :( I don’t want her to feel like that.

I did ask her if she wanted to still apply as it’s ok if she’s changed her mind. I think the hardest thing is at school she rarely gets anything wrong. Struggling like this has been a shock. We started the process late which didn’t help due to issues at our local school being inadequate.

Just needed somewhere to get it off my chest. None of her friends are applying so know one irl to talk too. If anything they would like her to dial so she goes to the same school as them…

That's a really good score and a relief for you I can imagine. 😊

That’s great @Coraline353