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 plus support thread for exams 2024

638 replies

ElvenDreamer · 11/10/2023 08:55

Hi all,
Anyone fancy joining me for for an 11 plus support thread for those yr 5s who are probably just starting a bit of prep now ready to sit exams in September 2024?

State grammar is the angle I'm personally coming from but all welcome no matter if you're applying to private selective, state aptitude tests etc.

This will be my 3rd and final time of going through this and I've found support threads here really useful the previous times.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
SamPoodle123 · 15/10/2024 08:53

Congrats to the ones that made it through. And to the ones that did not, I hope your dc are not too upset. I believe everything happens for a reason and further down the line you will be thankful you ended up where you are. All the studying means you will be in tops sets for secondary and ready for it all.

Anyone waiting for Tiffin? I am hoping it comes out today, as waiting is the worst. They said on or around the 15th. But then again, for the sports assessment they said mid Sept and notified end of!

juliaxxl80 · 15/10/2024 08:21

BarqsHasBite · 14/10/2024 22:43

I’m so sorry your son’s hard work has not paid off @ElvenDreamer (and your hard work too…!)

In case it’s of any consolation, I know a few people whose kids started secondary this year and last - a couple of friends who went to great lengths to get their kids in the “top” local school are now massively disillusioned with it now they’re there and realise it nowhere near lives up the the hype. And two others who ended up getting none of their 4 choices and being allocated to a schools they didn’t want have been bowled away by how supportive they’ve been.

And my dad failed the 11+, got sent to a technical college (meant for the 11+ rejects) and went on to get a PhD in physics from a now RG university.

There's definitely more than one path and more than one destination in life!

Exactly!

BarqsHasBite · 14/10/2024 22:43

I’m so sorry your son’s hard work has not paid off @ElvenDreamer (and your hard work too…!)

In case it’s of any consolation, I know a few people whose kids started secondary this year and last - a couple of friends who went to great lengths to get their kids in the “top” local school are now massively disillusioned with it now they’re there and realise it nowhere near lives up the the hype. And two others who ended up getting none of their 4 choices and being allocated to a schools they didn’t want have been bowled away by how supportive they’ve been.

And my dad failed the 11+, got sent to a technical college (meant for the 11+ rejects) and went on to get a PhD in physics from a now RG university.

There's definitely more than one path and more than one destination in life!

Danascully2 · 14/10/2024 20:05

Sorry to hear your news was disappointing. I'm sure with your support your DS will do well at any school but I hope you get the one you want.
And adding my thanks for starting the thread, it has felt quite lonely before I found this. With my younger one I will look for a thread like this earlier (or start one myself!) for some moral support.

Original poster
ElvenDreamer · 14/10/2024 19:55

Aw, thanks for your kind words everyone, it's really helped me through the evening. Sadly our catchment school is quite rubbish but I'm going to chance my arm on the one we are only just ooc for and live in hope for a place as that one is really quite good and I think it would suit my DS. If we do get catchment I'm already having a think how I can supplement my sons education to make sure he gets the best out of life no matter what!

OP posts:
PencilVania · 14/10/2024 19:30

@ElvenDreamer Sorry to hear, I am sure things will work out for the best! This thread has been of great support so thank you for setting it up. Not sure if you are near Becket Keys but I have heard amazing things about the school and it may be worth checking out if you have not already x

UmberBee · 14/10/2024 19:00

Sorry to hear that @ElvenDreamer. I wish you and your son the best of luck! I am still waiting to hear back for my daughters’ CSSE results! No email with the results anywhere! Ive checked junk and inbox. Is anyone else experiencing the same thing

scissy · 14/10/2024 18:34

ChairmanMeowww · 14/10/2024 12:18

We just missed out on qualifying ranks here, gutted for him. Don’t know whether it’s worth trying to appeal or not. I’m dreading picking him up as I know he’ll be upset and I need to pull myself together for him!
We did tutoring for 2 years and he’s the brightest kid in his class (teachers have said), he sacrificed quite a lot of his summer on 11+ homework, poor kid.

This was my DD last year. We decided not to appeal and opted for our local comp instead (historically always good/outstanding). She is flying. She gets to walk to school, is in multiple (varied) school clubs and after initial setting, in top sets. I guess I'm trying to say that depending on your local option, missing the qualifying rank is not the end of the world. If he was that close he will likely do well regardless.

yoshiblue · 14/10/2024 18:10

@elvendreamer so sorry about your news. Must be terribly hard with siblings at grammar too.

I wish you and your son all the best. Thanks too for linking us all together on this journey! Its a rough ride and have been grateful to chat on MN about it x

OutOfNameIdeas · 14/10/2024 18:07

So sorry to hear the not so good news from some of you and I hope the disappointment is short-lived for your DC. @ElvenDreamer I echo everyone else’s thanks for setting this thread up, and thank you to everyone for sharing your stories, even when they haven’t had the ending we all wanted. It’s really helped me to feel part of a community and like I’m not alone in this process, so thanks all and good luck to those still waiting.

pocketpairs · 14/10/2024 18:04

ElvenDreamer · 14/10/2024 17:24

I'm here to join the not so good news gang sadly. CSSE results show DS has passed, and if we lived in Southend he could be looking at a place at a grammar, sadly we don't and we're looking at CRGS and KEGS and he will not be high enough for that. He's taken the news really maturely, I'm so dang proud of him. But I am gutted too, with both the older ones at grammars it's hard not to feel sad for him. Good luck to all others still waiting, and those who's result perhaps means a nail biter until March. Commiserations to those who didn't get the result they wanted and thank you to everyone who's joined us on this thread journey.

Sorry to hear that..glad he's being mature. Good luck for the future.

Gilmoregirly · 14/10/2024 17:35

I am so sorry to hear that @ElvenDreamer . Thank you so much for setting this thread and it kept me sane throughout this crazy process.

SquashSqueezee · 14/10/2024 17:31

Sorry to hear that @ElvenDreamer and I imagine you must be proud of your sons maturity, I hope you’ve got an alternative you’re both happy with.

Big Thankyou for setting up the thread to keep everyone sane, I’ve only started posting recently but have been reading since Easter and great knowing joy going through it alone!

Original poster
ElvenDreamer · 14/10/2024 17:24

I'm here to join the not so good news gang sadly. CSSE results show DS has passed, and if we lived in Southend he could be looking at a place at a grammar, sadly we don't and we're looking at CRGS and KEGS and he will not be high enough for that. He's taken the news really maturely, I'm so dang proud of him. But I am gutted too, with both the older ones at grammars it's hard not to feel sad for him. Good luck to all others still waiting, and those who's result perhaps means a nail biter until March. Commiserations to those who didn't get the result they wanted and thank you to everyone who's joined us on this thread journey.

OP posts:
PencilVania · 14/10/2024 16:53

DS has received a great result, all the best to the others expected CSSE results x

SquashSqueezee · 14/10/2024 16:21

Sorry to hear that @ChairmanMeowww I hope it goes ok breaking the news and I think it’s only natural for you both to be upset and disappointed.

i have no idea how the appeals work but I’m guessing your sons tutor has a good view on likelihood of success so if they think it’s worth it then worth a shot, good luck!

PencilVania · 14/10/2024 15:57

CSSE marks are out!

ChairmanMeowww · 14/10/2024 14:52

Thanks guys, for numerous reasons his tutor thinks he has really strong grounds for appeal, so we'll see! Just a waiting game till March now.

If he doesn't get in, he'll be top set at this local comp, and it is a good school... most of his friends are going there. Trying to not be too down about it, as I need time to put on a brave face for him later.

PencilVania · 14/10/2024 14:48

Danascully2 · 14/10/2024 14:40

Aww sorry to hear that some of you have had disappointing news. Although it's worked out ok for us this time I still think it's a rubbish system, they are so young to have this type of exam.

Agree, I initially didn’t think these last couple of months would be so emotionally exhausting! Can’t wait for it all to be over.

Danascully2 · 14/10/2024 14:40

Aww sorry to hear that some of you have had disappointing news. Although it's worked out ok for us this time I still think it's a rubbish system, they are so young to have this type of exam.

Moglet4 · 14/10/2024 14:21

ChairmanMeowww · 14/10/2024 12:18

We just missed out on qualifying ranks here, gutted for him. Don’t know whether it’s worth trying to appeal or not. I’m dreading picking him up as I know he’ll be upset and I need to pull myself together for him!
We did tutoring for 2 years and he’s the brightest kid in his class (teachers have said), he sacrificed quite a lot of his summer on 11+ homework, poor kid.

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully he’ll be ok

pocketpairs · 14/10/2024 14:19

ChairmanMeowww · 14/10/2024 12:18

We just missed out on qualifying ranks here, gutted for him. Don’t know whether it’s worth trying to appeal or not. I’m dreading picking him up as I know he’ll be upset and I need to pull myself together for him!
We did tutoring for 2 years and he’s the brightest kid in his class (teachers have said), he sacrificed quite a lot of his summer on 11+ homework, poor kid.

That's tough. Hope he's ok...

Gilmoregirly · 14/10/2024 13:53

@69pbiryani and @ChairmanMeowww so sorry to hear that not the results you were expecting. We are also waiting for Essex CCHS and CSSE results. CCHS is saying mid October and CSSE saying emailing today.

PencilVania · 14/10/2024 12:46

@ChairmanMeowww and @69pbiryani sorry it was not the results you were hoping for, all the best securing a place at their future schools x

troppibambini6 · 14/10/2024 12:43

@ChairmanMeowww and @69pbiryani really sorry to hear that hope your dcs are ok x