To think its easier to get in to a 'Grammar school' for Sixth form than year 7.

[smokepole]

It seems every year the 11+ becomes more manic people seem to go to more desperate to get in to grammar schools. The reasons for this are obvious in that they are not enough grammar schools to go around. The result is a 'annual' bout of madness occurs between now and when the results come out 'different ' times in the various selective areas.

The reason sixth form entry is easier is because at least everybody knows what is required for admission to the school concerned. Admittedly requirements vary massively within grammar schools, but at least 'bright' kids who work hard have got a chance should they so wish.

The entry to sixth form is so much more 'democratic' and based on ability rather than two or three random tests on any day. It must make it easier and more fair for non 'trained' kids because they are not working against some 'secret' and unusual admission exams.

I am relieved its over for me having had three go though it and having possibly the 'brightest' one fail it. I still have the difficulty of finding a 'selective' place for DS ( be that private or grammar) who will be year 10 when I move next year.

The grammars in Essex have made headway into stopping tutoring and the superselectives in the centre of the county now also have catchment areas. They still have past papers on the website but it is so much harder to do more than familiarisation work for them.

Also on their website they advise if your child can get level 5's in their SATS they should be able to pass the 11+ at a reasonable level.

It makes sense, and all the practice the child should really be having is how to sit an exam and not be bored.

My understanding is that all state schools are not given the same 'perk'.

University admissions tutors aren't stupid, basically.

Yes - it's not supposed to be 'discriminate against private schools' (which clearly doesn't happen!), rather to look at if a candidate is coming from a school which generally has poorer results and take that into account. So sending your kid from private KS4 to an outstanding state 6th form shouldn't benefit them - except perhaps in that they might avoid the 'spoon feeding' issue which some studies have suggested (private school pupils sometimes adjusting less well to self-management at uni).

My daughter passed the 11 plus and went to grammar school for two years. We then moved away for a year and we wanted her to go back to her grammar school for year ten. She had to sit another entrance exam, which she passed and went back to grammar school to do her GCSEs. She didn't want to stay in the 6th form as she found it restrictive and said there was massive pressure on her to go to university, which she didn't want to do. So she went to a sixth form college to do her A levels. It does appear that quite a lot of children join grammar school do do their A levels, especially when there are really good sixth form colleges that children want to attend.

Chilly evenings. What did the year 10 exam consist of , I am wondering because DS will have to take an exam ,be that private/or grammar when we move. Another thing was isit usual for places to be available in year 10 provided your child passes the exam.

The exam was Maths and English. We actually decided to move back a week before she took the exam. I rang the school and they told me that there would be three places in her year (three children were moving to another area). There were about 7 candidates on the day. She's mid twenties now, so it's been a few years.

Thanks Chilly. I bet there would be '50' today if three spots were available.
You still live in hope though don't you.

I was actually very surprised that it was so 'easy' for her to get back into her school after a year away. When she took the 11 plus there were hundreds and hundreds of candidates from other boroughs as well as local to the school. Good luck!

Entry to GS (and private schools) after yr7 depends mostly on spaces becoming available. This may be most likely for starting yr8 because there may be some poor over-tutored kids who struggle or just don't like the style (there was only one in DD's cohort - but it's not a superselective) and then how many move out of area which is random but there's usually one or two. There probably won't be vast numbers trying to get in because (a) it may simply not occur to parents that it's possible, and (b)unless there is a real problem with their current school, moving can be disruptive - esp yr10 I'd have thought, as some GCSE courses start in yr9.