Yes, I know I am... People who tutor their DCs within an inch of their lives and then boast about their achievements

[lilolilmanchester]

Sorry, it does my head in

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

I'm just starting to tutor my DD - and it's really not black magic. Go through what she knows, and fill in any gaps. Do some papers to time. Give some tips on good exam technique (checking work, moving on from hard questions).

Well said. This is exactly what I did with DS1 and DS2. Took half an hour a week, building up to an hour a week close to the test. Doing the test was their idea though, not mine. DS3 (Y5) is already asking me when he can start preparing.

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

Interview is better than written test for assessing innate ability rather than learned methods/facts. But that's not practical for choosing several hundred new Y7s.

[Procrastreation]

& I don't mean PP = free pass into grammar school.

I mean more that it is a measure of bias in the admissions process.

[grumpyoldbat]

I think there is a line between support along with a gentle nudge and cruel overly pressured environment. I also think some parents cross that line. (not referring to anyone on this thread).

One of my classmates at uni was hot housed. Don't get me wrong she's very intelligent and successful now but being made to study late into the night 7days a week, corporal punishment when she scored less than 90% had a profound and negative effect on her. Her parents crossed the line IMO.

[Retropear]

Have to say re VR my year 5 gets 100% with little effort.It really is just like a puzzle book you can just hand to any bright child.

The maths although very able at it he is at a disadvantage because of the content not covered at his Satisfactory primary where maths is a weakness.The essay I'm worried about too for similar reasons.

I could do the PC thing and do sfa which in effect hands his place to a kid in a private or Outstanding school but you know what why should I?

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

As you said yourself OP, yes, YAbu.
Despite your protestations your position on this issue just appears petty and envious.
It's a bit like saying that someone only looks good with lots of make up. I can hear the whining "oh but without all that foundation and mascara she's really plain...."
Boring.
Well, with it (tutoring or make up) she's stunning/ going to a good school/ feeling confident/ getting good grades.
I'd be feeling chuffed too if my DC was bright enough and we'd all put in the hard work and effort to help them make the most of it.
I might well feel a bit if I couldn't afford to help the out though. That's unreadable.
And I agree that it's a myth load of bullshit that grammars are destined to be full of below- par students who were tutored out of their comfort zone. They're going to a tutor, not a magician.

[TheRealAmandaClarke]

Think the real problem is that regular schooling doesn't adequately supportchildren's education and that there are too many shit secondary schools.

[Procrastreation]

I also think there should be an extra 13+ exam for grammars - and generally a slightly less drastic process. It would give independently driven/late bloomer DC a second chance. Equally - maybe the grammar school kids might like to change schools at that point - if they decided they wanted some vocational qualifications. (our grammars exclusively do traditional qualifications & subjects).

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Well, if you have pre-selected the DC who do best on the 11+, I'm sure you would be doing something very wrong if you weren't doing better than an average "bog standard" comprehensive school.

Comps take DC with significant learning difficulties nowadays as well as often having the higher ability DC creamed off if in a grammar school area. With good teaching, setting and behaviour management, however, all the DC in a comp have the chance to achieve their potential. (IMO)

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

I think comps have a better chance of achieving if they are allowed to be truly comprehensive, though. So no grammars! I don't suppose that would stop aspirational MCs going private, though, to avoid hoi polloi.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

That's depressing, LaQueen. It would make a big difference in my next door town, though. Four single sex grammars and four so called comprehensives, all failing. The only comp doing well is the catholic one.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

It is absolute bollocks that children from an outstanding primary school will get top set places over children from a satisfactory primary school. Usually, Year 7 is all about assessing ability and children are usually placed in sets in year 8. I never even did SATs and it certainly didn't affect me getting in the top sets. Maybe the children who don't get in top sets at secondary school are just not as bright as their parents think they are..?

[lilolilmanchester]

I said upfront iabu ... But There's more to this than I can write on here, and was out of concern for the child, not jealousy whatever you might think. I'm coming off this thread now, but jus t wanted to point out that my OP was NOT about tutoring for grammar entry.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

Sorry, lilo, these threads have a life of their own, sometimes...

[Retropear]

Candy not all secondary schools are organised the same.Your school doesn't speak for all.

My dc aren't that age yet but we have several secondary teacher friends as worried as we are.I have also checked with our feeder head who said they do use the Sats to group in year 7.

Schools vary.

[Retropear]

Sets aside the fact remains kids coming from Outstanding schools will have had 7 years superior education than many children in less desirable schools.To pretend that won't make a difference is ridiculous.I'd love to think that 3 months in at secondary any child could close the gap but I seriously doubt it.

[candycoatedwaterdrops]

An outstanding OFSTED report does not necessarily mean superior education unless you believe all the political guff.

[Retropear]

My sister's are in year 1 at an Outstanding school- o.m.g the difference already.

[Philoslothy]

Grammar schools may not have a huge national impact however locally they do. We live on the edge of a grammar area. The secondary moderns in the centre of the grammar school area are dire - some of the lowest performing schools in the country with awful standards of behaviour.

Our local school - not outstanding according to OFSTED is a good school. It provides for the less able and stretches the most able - we send students to Oxbridge every year , behaviour is good and pupils and staff enjoy the very mixed environment .