To think it's cruel to enter your child for nine 11+ exams?

[48wheaties]

Seen the news article about the child from Isle of Wight who passed nine 11+ exams in various counties all over the country. I think it's unkind to put a child through that. Yes, he's a bright boy, but what are the parents thinking? And no, I dont know them personally. (Runs for cover)

Same here - genuinely.

We also don’t have them. As a migrant I don’t understand why some counties have them and others don’t, but I am sure there is a historic explanation and I am too lazy to google 😂

I’m on an 11+ group. This is not that uncommon within Indian families and I know a couple personally who have loved the whole family for grammar (not as far as this though)

the attitude is really different amongst those families and many believe their children getting the best possible education is the biggest outcome of their parenting. If Indian born, they sometimes only have a surface level understanding of the British education system so grammar school = the very highest academic excellence.

I just hope his sister gets the same opportunity when the time comes.

Speaking as someone whose older sibling passed the 11+ and went to grammar school and by my turn 11+ had stopped in my area so ended up at a shit comprehensive.

@Porridgeislife
The impact on the local DC is devastating. I know at least 3 DC who 'just missed' the pass mark a couple of weeks ago.
They are now having to appeal and won't know for months if it's successful.
It just makes me so angry, but these families boast that the DC passed multiple boards not caring about the collateral damage 😡

It's the kind of thing I would have enjoyed as a child. I knew I would do well in them so getting the results would be an ego boost and not cause any anxiety.

I find it interesting though that they didn't even consider any private school options, considering he's very bright and has sporting achievements, so he would have probably been offered scholarships (grammar school exams here in London tend to be more competitive than selective private schools). But his parents have professional careers which perhaps puts their income too high for bursary help.

I honestly think my DC is the same. She will get a boost out of doing well.

interesting re private schools, I wonder if it was a cultural decision or a personal preference for state schools. I don’t think sports or academic scholarships are means tested, at least not at the private schools we are considering. I understand there are circa 3-4 applicants per place.

my impression is that the best grammar schools (not places like Kent or bucks that have pass/ fail criteria, super selectives like QE boys) are generally considered superior to private schools.

Thanks! We are looking at girls schools and are too far away from grammar schools. I find it interesting to learn more about it as my kids are secondary age soon (at least one).

If he likes sitting these tests, it’s fine. Plenty of people relocate for good schools.

This is a very common situation on the 11 plus Facebook groups. I've had to snooze them to keep me sane! The only difference this time is they've managed to get their child in the local newspaper.

It is infuriating that the score of children who have no intention of going to your local grammar school bumps up the pass mark.

This does sound like a very talented all-rounded child who will do well anywhere though.

I’m in Bucks. Every child who lives in Bucks who passes gets a spot. Out of towners are unlikely to get a place unless their parents have moved into catchment before they take the test. This year you needed to be in your new address and sold your old house by 1 September.

It is individually just awful for kids who don’t pass if they had their heart set on grammar, but given catchment rules I don’t see what impact this lad passing has on a Bucks child who didn’t.

LOCAL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS FOR LOCAL KIDS.

This kind of thing pisses me off and not for the reason of a kid doing 11 exams. Families struggle and aspire and should be able to apply to local schools without spaces being sucked up by people hundreds of miles away who don’t even know the area.

How do you know “this type” @CommanderHaysPaperKnife ?

My kids are much older and live near several super selective. Some of mine went to selective schools so I don’t have an axe to grind here.

But it means I’ve seen the damage that such pressure on young children causes. That day might not be GCSEs where hard work and tutoring still produces results but might be at A level or Uni when it’s not what you’ve learned but now you can infer beyond that.

The entire family is moving 100s of miles because of the perceived “best” school syndrome. That’s a lot of pressure on an 11 year old.

But the thing is, people do it all the time. They might not sit a test first, but catchment areas and schools are always on estate agent listings.

It’s just that they’re in the newspaper and this time it was for the 11+.

Where I live, just about every parent has moved for a school. I think all schools should be good and this shouldn’t have to be a thing, but this family are doing what families who can afford to are doing all over the country - moving for the best school.

I think they ought to have catchment rules really. This is gaming the system and is going to make the problems of affluent kids and tutoring even worse. That bothers me even more than the pressure on the child.

I don't know the 11+ exam as it wasn't a thing in my area when I was young. But I sat entrance exams for 7 different schools (all private in my area) and wasn't phased by it in the slightest! I liked that it gave me a good choice of schools to choose from.

Because I know them and their kids know my daughter because they're in her primary class at school. because I've spoken to the kids.

Don't get me wrong, the parents are lovely and hardworking and have the best of intentions. The children are well mannered and polite. However, I have heard them complaining to my child about all of the tuition they have and all the classes they attend. It's every single day, and at weekends.

One of them regularly misses out on social occasions (birthday parties of her friends) because their calendar is choc-full of other engagements. She wouldn't dream of complaining to her parents about it, and smiles, going along with it. But she has no life of her own. Just the one chosen for her by her parents.

The children I'm thinking of all start tuition and extra curriculars from a young age (reception at least) it's their whole life. When they start applying for school places, others do not stand a chance. The average marks are now insanely high, the only chance most children have of getting in is intense prep.

It's a system that's being gamed.

storm in a tea cup
only a teeny tiny minority of parents will put their children in for multiple 11 pluses
the impact on pass mark will be negligible

exactly... and the parents have clearly contacted the paper to let them know and so are perhaps encouraging this in others....making it even worse

It baffles me why they don't - the catchment system in our area seems fine, the grammars are selective but not superselective. If you're not in catchment then realistically you only enter your kid for 11+ if they're very bright and on the clear understanding that it's a long shot. (Outside of the gs catchments it's comps with the other unfairnesses of year 5 epiphanies for 'faith' schools or moving into 'leafy' catchments). Each gs holds its own exam in the school and they're all on the same day so you can't apply for more than one. And regardless of score your kid won't get a place if they're not in reasonable travel distance.

I don't so much blame parents for trying to do the best for their kids, I blame unnecessarily unfair systems.

@CommanderHaysPaperKnife

did your child pass the 11 plus?
sorry if i missed you clarifying

I think this poster means the out of towns raise the pass mark so that local children who would’ve otherwise passed and been deemed selective don’t reach that standard

what's that got to do with anything?