AIBU to think it's unfair DS didn't get a scholarship?

[parksidewestley]

DS is very athletic and smart. He has always been very intelligent and was one of the top children in his class (not a stealth boast!) He plays relatively highly in a particular sport and is in competition teams for 2 others. We went for a scholarship at a private school, but didn't realise that the prep school attached to it practise for the exams from Year 3 specifically for scholarships and prepare them for it. I don't see how that's fair. He scored very well in his athletic assessment but not so well in the academic side of things, he did very well but obviously not the best, due to being so unfamiliar with the exams they set, unlike the children who got the scholarships (the 2 that got it already attend the school ) he also didn't do certain technique they were looking for in a sport, yet this special technique is only something they look for and the children who go to the school are already told what it is and practice it

yabvu I agree about catchment but not about faith schools. Catholics or Muslims (for example) are no more likely than the rest of the population to be wealthy or live in a posh area, but having a school that subscribes to their belief system isn't something we should be in a rush to take away from them just to please jealous people whose DC don't qualify.

@Hedgehog - but we should be in a rush to take away prep and public schools to please jealous people?

how about pleasing the people who are keen on social cohesion? or indeed fairness as the op claims to be? (admittedly without realising the irony)

hedgehog, this data is a few years old but I dont expect much has changed
faith schools are more likely to have wealthy/less likely to have poor children ie are not representative or inclusive
www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/mar/05/faith-schools-admissions

Ah yes religion. It teaches peace and harmony, respect for others. It breeds tolerance and caring for our neighbours. It doesn't segregate, it doesn't teach that those of different views are sinners or damned for eternity and so are to be pitied, despised or ridiculed. No war has ever been fought in the name of religion, no one has ever been killed for thinking differently. The Romans didn't throw Christians to the lions. Filling children's head with this at primary school is to be recommended because it will make them such nice people. Heaven forbid that children should mix with people who believe different things and actually learn to think for themselves.

Can anyone recommend any practice papers for 16 plus verbal reasoning tests ? I have spent ages online and everything is for younger children or adults preparing for employment interviews.

I would have thought that if you felt that a particular school would suit your child, you would do as much research as possible to find out what requirements the school has, it’s ethos and expectations.

The days are gone when, for example, 11+ exams were taken, where you turned up on a Saturday to a local secondary school and just sat the test. No preparation, other than normal classwork.

I’d look at other schools that offer the type of sporting opportunities you think your child would benefit from and look carefully at their selection process,

Most decent schools will have past papers on their website or at the very least share this kind of info on enquiry. It makes sense - they want scholarships to go to able DC who wouldn't otherwise come. You do have to do significant research, which you've discovered. I agree with the previous poster also who said your son may be an all rounder rather than an outlier.

There is nothing "fair" about an education system which is divided by the ability to pay. You're just learning that

A thousand times this.

Your child didn't fo as well and fidget earn the scholarship. If he didn't perform as well as another student why should he get it?

@parksidewestley the thing is, there often is a difference in learning and curriculum for top schools and that will account for what scores the students get.

I think these are great teaching tools for helping your dc be proud of what they accomplished and not pick holes in other's achievements. Not saying you are doing that, but hold your heads high and be proud of what he did do!

It was always going to be rigged in favour of those 'in the know' with resources and connections. How did you not know that?

The children at the prep school will have covered more work possibly - their parents would want more bang for their bucks than at the local primary. Perhaps they'd already used bunsen burners.

*@Hoppinggreen
Not stronger - more prepared aka had had an advantage which enabled them to learn the secret handshake. It's not fair but private schooling in itself is not fair.

I'm sure both child and parent have got over it by now!

Zombie....

Closing this thread, it's a zombie and it was started by a troll.