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Original poster

Stockport Grammar 11 Plus

137 replies

MushPeas · 19/12/2023 10:23

Hiya, does anyone have experience of 11 Plus entrance exam at Stockport Grammar?

My DD is taking it in Jan. She's bright, but tends to panic a bit in exams so might not do as well as she's capable of. I can't find any information online about the pass mark.

I also wondered if they invited all children to an interview? She does really well in those!

Thanks, a slightly stressed mum ;-)

OP posts:
Mrsmoo1971 · 21/01/2024 20:14

Good luck for tomorrow!! Hope it all goes brilliantly for you!! Xx

Mrsmoo1971 · 19/01/2024 07:00

Oh really! Its his visual acuity thats the issue, his optician cant correct him any further without making things worse. Im not sure if its his astigmatism thats the issue. I will ask his opticians if they would be willing to do this, hes been referred to the visual impairment team to see if they can assist, so she may prefer me to wait and speak with them.

Thanksyou so much for replying thats really given me hope!

underneaththeash · 18/01/2024 22:01

@Mrsmoo1971 i’ve written a letter recently fir a music candidate and there was no problem in getting a large print score for sight reading (I’m an optometrist) I just wrote what the acuity was and what it relayed to in terms of what they could see.

Original poster
MushPeas · 18/01/2024 21:47

Hiya @Mrsmoo1971 oh that's a shame about the music scholarship :( Hopefully he'll get into SGS and find a teacher who will work with him!

Wow, all eyes on DS! Yes that makes sense, I'll warn my DD 😵

Keeping everything crossed. I've just put 27th Feb in my calendar, as if I'd forget that was news day 😂

Will let you know how Monday goes! x

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Mrsmoo1971 · 18/01/2024 21:09

Yep maybe we kind of wanted ds to answer for himself too so all eyes were on him 🤣

Yep so not been put through for the music scholarship for some reason, which im gutted about, i dont think for a minute he would have got it, but he has worked so hard on his piece i felt so bad for him!

Anyway things happen for a reason so all i can do now is keep everything crossed!

We asked about the test and they dont give feedback or results out for them unfortunately.

Original poster
MushPeas · 18/01/2024 20:52

Hiya @Mrsmoo1971 I'm glad it went ok and wasn't too scary! It was good they asked DS about favourite lessons, at least that shows they were interested! Maybe the interviews are so short because they just want to check the child is able to articulate themselves ok?

I'm guessing they didn't say anything about the test :(

Oh gosh, this is so stressful isn't it!!

Any luck with the music scholarship?

Keeping everything crossed for you. xx

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Mrsmoo1971 · 18/01/2024 20:13

Thanks. It was fine! Absolutely nothing to worry about, just really spoke with ds for a few.mins, then asked what his fav lessons were, then if we had any questions. To be honest it was that low key and informal im.now doubting we are in with the chance if an offer!

Original poster
MushPeas · 18/01/2024 11:34

Just logged on and thinking of you @Mrsmoo1971 I was sorting out a load of washing and wondering what to wear on Monday! 😂
Wish we knew too about the exam!!
Keeping everything crossed today 😊xx

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Mrsmoo1971 · 17/01/2024 16:59

@MushPeas omg thank you so much! I’m already really anxious! Got my hair in heartless curler already 😂

terrified I’m going along to be judged! Don’t actually think they entered DS into the music scholarship so need to discuss that too 🥲

wish we knew how they had done in the entrance exam before we go!

Original poster
MushPeas · 17/01/2024 15:09

@Mrsmoo1971 good luck for your DS tomorrow and anyone else this week :) Ours is Monday x

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Original poster
MushPeas · 14/01/2024 19:42

Oh that's good news @TimMcGraw , she'll be v happy! x

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TimMcGraw · 14/01/2024 18:52

There is a girls rugby team!

Original poster
MushPeas · 14/01/2024 16:57

Hi @TimMcGraw and @deeprealisation thanks for the info. Relieved it's more of a chat than a hard core interview for the kids! Though I do realise I need to think about what to wear ;-)

Will make sure DD knows about the extra curricula activities in advance. She's interested in rugby though and I'm not sure if they have a team for girls.

That's interesting with the instruments. We didn't apply for music scholarship as DD is currently Grade 1 & 2 in her instruments.

Thanks for all your guidance, it really helps with the nerves!

Good luck to everyone with interviews this week x

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whiteboardking · 14/01/2024 13:31

All the parents I know went in with them & dressed up for it. They are defo screening parents. They also seem to sales pitch to the ones they really want: I know DC that were told eg where they had scored on exam (at top) and parents said it felt like a sales pitch as well as interview

TimMcGraw · 14/01/2024 11:42

DD1’s interview was less of an interview, more of a chat, so don’t stress too much. They asked how she found her primary school, what interests she had, if she was in any clubs (sporting or, say, scouts/ guides) and what kind of extra-curricular activities she might like to get involved in at SGS. At times it felt more like they were trying to sell the school to us, rather than the other way round. I do remember there being lots of children who had brought instruments, which was interesting to me as DD1 didn’t play an instrument at all. We do go in with them - they want to interview the parents as much as the kids, I think!

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 21:11

I know what you mean! 🤣

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 20:02

oooo will go and hunt the other thread!

im not sure which I would prefer, going in with him or him going in on his own! He tends to look at me rather than answering if I’m there! They might get more out of him if he’s on his own! But then again he may just nod and shake his head if he’s alone 😂

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 19:18

Hi both, it's such a stressful waiting game!

@TwinMum88 doing the familiarisation papers would have Def helped them :)

@Mrsmoo1971 the music department sounds great doesn't it! Ooh my DD is interested in moving to viola after she gains her Grade 3. I'm shocked about the problems you're having with access to the music exams, I hope that gets resolved asap.

I read the invite as if we go in with them.

On another thread (if you look in this secondary one), you'll see some parents from last year shared info. about the interview.

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 18:57

I’m really glad I found this post! It’s made me feel so much better knowing that he isn’t the only one that hasn’t been tutored for the exam!

does anyone know so we go into the interview with them or are they on their own?

Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 18:50

To be honest DS wanted to audition I didn’t want him to! But he loves performing so I ticked the box!

he seems a natural on the piano, he plays viola too but not to any level, we’re having trouble with teachers though because of his vision. We tried and tried to get him the enlarged print books but each time we were told no, his optician has referred him to the partially sighted team at the hospital to see if there are any adaptations they can provide, he has the same issue with reading books, so I’ve had to buy him a magnifying glass so he can read what he wants to. His latest teacher has said she can’t adapt to teach him so we are trying to find someone new.

he loved the music department at sgs when we went to look around, which is why we are waiting now 😂

TwinMum88 · 13/01/2024 18:46

I’m more stressed than my kids are too… I think that’s the way it has to be! I don’t want them stressed about it, but I know they’re invested and have their hearts set on going.

We also didn’t have a tutor. I took the view that if they’re hothoused for the exam they might need that level of 1:1 support to thrive long term, and that wouldn’t be sustainable or healthy. I hope I made the right choice on that score!… maybe it put them at a disadvantage 🤷🏻‍♀️ We did the familiarisation papers and some workbook stuff so they were prepared, so I hope that was enough. 🤞🏻

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 18:37

Wow that's really impressive with Bohemian Rhapsody!! I'm surprised at the lack of accessibility for the piano exam, that doesn't sound right and I think you should challenge.

My DD has Initial and Grade 1 for piano and Grade 1 & 2 for violin, but we assumed this wouldn't be enough for the music scholarship. She enjoys music but wouldn't be able to teach herself Bohemian Rhapsody! That's v cool 😎

That's great he thought it went well on Wed :) My DD was upset she didn't answer all the questions with Verbal Reasoning.

It's really hard not having anyone else to talk to about it, isn't it?

I had told my DD she could chill this weekend and then SATS practice papers came home from school for homework 🤣

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 18:23

Yes he’s applied for the music scholarship but we are under no illusion, and know he won’t get it. He has a natural talent for the piano, he did initial grade and grade one, but his vision is poor, so his old teacher said he wouldn’t be able to carry on with the exams. Abrsm won’t allow him to use enlarged print as he isn’t registered as visually impaired, but he can’t read the scores. So he teaches himself really, he’s prepared bohemian rhapsody for his audition 😂 the lack of exams will be his downfall. We went to see kings school who told him because he can’t do the exams they won’t listen to his audition so we didn’t apply there!

he thinks that Wednesday went well, so that’s enough for me, he said he found it not too bad, but also said the school is huge 😂

and the same at our primary we are the only ones that applied, there are usually a couple so I was a bit surprised.

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 18:09

Hi @Mrsmoo1971 it sounds like you have done the right thing by giving him a chance! We started preparing in Sept, and then read that most kids start in Year 5 so I've been totally panicking it's not enough. My DD would do ok on the questions when we worked through them, but found the few practice tests we did much harder.

Did you apply for the music scholarship at Stockport?

Good luck on Tuesday :)

Hope he felt it went ok on Wed. I still can't get over how many kids there were!!!

I'm also hoping that being invited to the interview is a good sign 😁

PS I'm FAR more stressed about this than my daughter. Relieved to have found a few other parents on here as I've had noone to chat with about it. Nobody else at our primary school is doing entrance exams / 11+ and seem surprised when we say we are :(

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 17:47

Disadvantage isn’t the right word, I’m just struggling to find the one I actually mean! 😂