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Original poster

Tell me about getting in to a selective STATE grammar school please.

108 replies

LupusinaLlamasuit · 07/07/2009 14:55

Yes, yes, yes. I know. It is wrong and shabby and my socialist principles will have to go in the bin and I will have to hand back my Trotsky hat and badge blah blah blah.

It is probably even MORE wrong than a private selective school.

But we are weighing up all the options, and the most likely is still the decent 'normal' state school just up the road.

But I just want to have a look at it (the out of county selective grammar) and see. So before I do, I need to know what I need to know IYSWIM. There will be examinations and 'inside information' and stuff won't there?

He is very bright but guess he will need practice papers, yes? Is it worth doing the exam just to see or is that too stressful allround and do we risk losing a place at the local school therein?

Thanks

OP posts:
margotfonteyn · 07/07/2009 15:49

If it is very oversubscribed, do not imagine your v bright child will sail in....that is the best advice I can give.

If you know the format of the tests, you will need to practice them with your child. There will probably be people who are having their children tutored. It is up to you whether to go down that route. (I didn't and my 3 still got places if that helps). I aimed for them to be getting at least 95% on the practice papers. (Sorry if this is scary but I presume this is the info you want).Mine were all pretty bright at primary school but were never flagged up as being exceptionally bright (gifted and talented didn't exist then!). Teachers certainly never came up to be extolling their marvellousness or anything, (apart from once with v nice teacher with DC3!.).

The eleven plus website has a wealth of info but is a bit over the top.

Once at the grammar school they have been fine. Haven't found it too hard or competitive. Found it less stressful than for some of their contemporaries striving to stay in top set of our local very good comp.

From a completely personal perspective I found it better for my boys to be in a school where all of them are of the same ability more or less (ie no bullying for being bright etc., and there is NO bullying at all there).

Hope this helps.

abraid · 07/07/2009 15:20

THere's a forum called Elevenplus.co.uk or something like that which has regional forums that might be able to help you.

Original poster
LupusinaLlamasuit · 07/07/2009 15:17

A long way from Kent

But thanks anyway. School in question is part of the Haberdashers' Company, but not fee-paying. Looks vv academic. I think we have to apply via local authority AND application/entrance exam via school.

It's all a mystery to me

OP posts:
heronsfly · 07/07/2009 15:14

Sorry,that sounded very pompous,obviouly I dont know it all,but a fair bit anyway

Original poster
LupusinaLlamasuit · 07/07/2009 15:13

And it is going to be even more competitive this year right? Because all the fee-paying schools will be emptying as parents go bust?

What does 'top quartile' of academic population really mean? I know what it means in the context of our little primary. But how do I work out whether that compares to national stuff? That is, is it possible to map on National Curriculum levels to the top quartile of ability across all schools?

Am I making sense?

OP posts:
heronsfly · 07/07/2009 15:11

I think a lot of the answers you are looking for depend on where in the country you are thinking about,different leas and schools have very different entry criteria,I know all about the system in east kent,if thats any help.

Original poster
LupusinaLlamasuit · 07/07/2009 15:07

For example, how important it the statement from current primary school? What other factors are usually taken into account? Do they interview? Do they want to see rounded accomplishments etc? Should we fill in the bit on the application form that says 'please add anything else you wish to add to your application'? And what kind of things go on there?

OP posts:
madwomanintheattic · 07/07/2009 14:58