To ditch the idea of Grammar as DD isn't good at maths?

[ICameOnTheJitney]

despite the fact that she's extremely good at literacy? She's in year 5 and one of the youngest but just flew through a test paper for verbal reasoning in literacy but the maths made her go

I COULD get a tutor couldn't I....she's "ok" in maths but finds it a struggle...her grade is as expected for her age....but she'd need a BIG leap in the coming year.

Considering we have excellent state secondarys here shall I just forget Grammar or put her through a year's worth of hothousing?

I don't know if it is important for her to go to grammar school or the local comp. (I don't know the schools or your daughter! )

But without all the details, I would say it is worth trying to improve her maths just for the sake of improving her maths. Math is important; it is the gateway into many attractive careers. Giving up on maths at such a young age is closing a lot of doors prematurely, imo. It's easy to stumble in maths and get thrown off track and never get one's confidence back. She is still only little. I'd find out where she is falling short, and try and sort it out.

At this age, the math is still pretty easy and you should be able to help her. Maybe a couple of days after school a week for no more than 30 mins a session. You could work through practise problems with her till she feels secure. Thereby making sure that her foundations are good and she is ready to move forward with confidence.

It's not about being "bright". Plenty of kis are bright, but lazy and disinterested. Plenty of kids are good at sport but don't want to make a career out of it.

Do you seriously think that all children are capable of academic brilliance? Or high achievement in any other field?

The vast majority of children, and adults, are average. Thats why about 50% go to university. They don't call come out with top degrees and get marvellous, high-flying careers.

There's nothing wrong with being average. There's plenty of opportunity to do on the job, vocational or HE study and training.

There's no shortage of opportunity and if you are "bright" and hardworking you'll realise your potential.

"Do you seriously think that all children are capable of academic brilliance? Or high achievement in any other field? "

No. But I don't think you can select those that are at 10.

And I don't think that grammar school = academic brilliance and high achievement.

Hey apologies for the typos - it wasn't my crap education, honest.

I do think it's sad that lots of children don't get the opportunities they should, but I've been thinking that since I was taking DD to toddler groups - well before school.

Have been thinking about this in the light of recent figures from school.

At dd's comprehensive last year, I think 5% got 10 or more GCSEs all at A and A*. Given that there are nine state comprehensives in the city, if we assume dd's school is about average, at a year group size of 150', which I think it is, then that's 63 year 11s who did similar. So about half a grammar year 7 intake. So to get the next half, if we were to change to a grammar system, you'd need to go into the pupils who got 10 as and bs.

So unless in grammar schools, it is universally the case that all year 11s get 10 or more a*s and as, how have those 5% (av.) been disadvantaged without a grammar to go to?

I think you should prepare for the grammar and at least she will have a choice when it came to options. If you don't practice, the grammar won't even be an option.

You have a whole year ahead and could just do hour a week. It will help with with her school maths generally in a round about way - so no loss even if she doesn't do the test.

The maths like the English is very technique based, once she knows how to crack the code it's simple. Knowing times tables will help lots.

Statistics show that the same kids get practically the same results whether in a grammar school or the top sept of a comprehensive in a similar catchment. This must be true, or the wholly selective
LEAs would have significantly better results than non selective ones. Which they don't.

Which demeans that all the angst, coaching, money, appeals and heartbreak must be for something else. Can't be results..............

Means, not demeans.

But you don't know what that something is soooooo chances are neither do most parents.

If they're not ready for high standard secondary education at 10, there's no disgrace in that, but don't for a moment think they'd be able to cope with s high standard comp either.

But if problems can be identified beforehand and nothing is then done to help them prepare for secondary school, that's a shame, but the responsibility for that , in my view, lies with the parents. They don't normally have 30 or so kids to look after.

If the child doesn't get in to a grammar despite extra help, then that should lead to sighs of relief all round because they'll then be a big fish in a small pool which might well suit them better.

Honestly, what's the real problem here? If you are annoyed by grammar schools you must be just as annoyed by people who, when they are forced to move for work or any other reason,aim for the best school catchment they can afford, rather than live where they'd prefer - as we did. Mea culpa! (As they allegedly say in Latin).

And just so you know, I left school at 15, no grammar school for me. DH got into a Kent grammar but his dad died when he was 14 and he left at 16 for an enginerting apprenticeship, but has studied and worked hard all his life and is now successful in a completely different field.

Curlew, it's not just the results that matter. For example, DS had a friend at his prep school and they both sang in choir. DS continues singing in choir in his new grammar school, however his friend did not join choir at his new comp because it is considered "gay". Again, I am not sure what is going on in other schools but after watching Educating Yorkshire I am quite happy that DS ended up in grammar. But to be honest the choice was always between grammar or private school.

I was a bit shaky on maths. My mother had me tutored in maths which really helped. I passed the 11plus and attended the grammar school where I was happy, made brilliant friends and got lovely exam results. I didn't continue to need tutoring once there and was very much in the middle of the pack for all subjects, bar English, where I was in the top stream. Does your daughter want to go?

MrsMaybe... Was the choice grammar, private or non selective, though, not 'comp'? Because that's quite different, and suggests that your ds's friend is not actually in a comprehensive at all.

There are a couple of boys in dd's school choir but no, not enough. I once heard a rather bizarre if endearing talk by a catholic priest about Boys and Singing (yes, really): it's a problem.

I mean if he did not get into our first choice grammar (we got 5 in our area) we'll send him to a private school instead.

I think 20% of kids in our area go to grammar, then a lot go to private schools.

Where do you live??

Laqueen, this is very sad. DS told me that he does not have bullies in his school, it is all boys school by the way. He loves it, especially music, he plays in several orchestras and a band.

Ah well... What do I know? Our school doesn't even have a 'refectory'! Unless its that area that's been cordoned off with police wire for the last five years after the terrible head-kicking incident, come to think of it...

Do we need all the rest of the year group to be saying 'woah man, you're so totally kewell with your A*s, dude, anyone who doesn't get that is way not cool' for our children to do well? Not in my experience.

Ah yes. I remember now. I forgot how rubbing shoulders with a Level 4 in the "refectory" is such an alarming prospect.

And anyone who says there is no bullying in any school- even a grammar school- is sadly deluded. And anyone who thinks that geeks and nerds are not ridiculed in grammar schools is equally deluded.

I can completely see that the parent of a bright child in an area where the choice is between grammar and not, would want their child to be in the grammar.

What I don't see is why that means comprehensives in a comprehensive area are bad places for bright children.

Curlew. I have posted a current thread on this topic,about my friends DD being bullied at her super selective grammar school.
The sole reason for the bullyung is because she is only predicted a B for gcse maths. The worst part is the school seem to agree with the pupils who are smirking at my friends DD.