to think that the 11plus forum is the scariest forum in the world!

[stillenacht]

anyone agree??

MollieO is right. My (primary school) daughter did summer Stagecoaches (obviously her thespian talents are great and I am such a proud stage mother - not!)
at the girls' Grammar and mixed Secondary Modern in High Wycombe in successive years. The contrast between the quality of buildings/facilities (down to the state of the toilets) was enormous. I understand that they are now finally refurbishing that particular 'Community School' (word they use for sec mods round here) but I thought that the state that it had been allowed to get into was appalling. Just because children fail the 11 plus they should not have shoddy schools.

But the grammar school parents may have paid for those building repairs through PTA fund raising, just a thought it could be neither school is getting much in the way of funding.

If ds failed we will be in the comprehensive system in Berks. I'm not sure that I understand why we are in catchment for Bucks grammar schools but not the secondary schools. Most of the secondary schools (at least for boys) are better in Bucks than the comprehensive alternative in Berks.

Quite a few of ds's friends are already in catchment for grammar or planning to move to be.

In Bucks funding used to depend how far you were from county hall. The nearer the better. My old grammar was very poorly funded and the council actually admitted that it was because it was so far from county hall they forgot about it. Having said that it was many years ago that I was at school so hopefully things have changed.

Mollie, are you talking SWBGS for grammar?

Yes mumblechum! I'm rather hoping that the talk of private tutoring there is just talk but I've heard it from a number of different sources.

Should add that SWBGS re tutoring reputation and my old grammar was Burnham.

Don't fret too much about the tutoring. DS is in year 10 there and didn't have any tutoring other than my buying him some test papers which he went through at home.

Having said that, the majority of his friends went to private schools, esp. the one in Maidenhead.

Do you mean the co-ed private? Ds is at the single sex one there! They definitely don't tutor for 11+ as they want the boys to go onto the attached senior school.

I'm not bothered about tutoring for taking the 11+. We will do what you did on the basis if he needs tutoring to pass then he shouldn't be going. What I am concerned about are the rumours regarding tutoring once you get into the school - to maintain its position in the league tables.

Oh, I see what you mean. DS has never been offered or had tutoring suggested, and he's firmly in the middle somewhere.

There is one boy I'm aware of in his class who does v little work and certainly everyone knows that the he's under pressure from the school, the head and deputy head take him out of class on a regular basis for counselling (read bollocking) and his parents are forever having to go in to hear much of the same.

In other words, they don't like to see anyone slip through the net.

Ds's weakest subject is Maths (only got a 7 in his KS3 Sats, only predicted A, not A* at GCSE and so he's supposed to go to remedial maths club one lunchtime per week. He missed the last couple so the maths teacher is nagging him about it.

Sounds quite pressured mumblechum but then with a 5 yr old ds I don't have anything to compare it with. It certainly has a very good reputation. Apparently this year 70% of the year 6 leavers at ds's school are going to the attached senior school. I assume we will face a lot of 'encouragement' to do the same.

It's a pretty scary forum for sure with lots of obsessively competitive parents. BUT there is some useful info there. If you don't use a tutor or go to a school where there are lots of other kids doing these exams, then the 11+ forum is a useful store of advice, espcially for DIYers like me. You just have to be very selective...

I was wondering if I should go and have a look on this website...
I think I'd rather not know..
Ds1 will be fine

I've just been banned from it. For being an atheist. I offended Tipsey and she told me that my comments were more appropriate for MN.

ROFL at the idea that us "angry" "lowest common denominator" "lefties" may "invade" the site.

Oh. You lot are mean.

I frequented the website and there are some lovely people on it.

And - it's free; it's done as a labour of love; it's for people who aren't going the tutoring route; and it offers support for what can be quite a stressful time.

And I laughed at what they said about AIBU. Now AIBU is scary!

T.i.p.s.y wrote:
"The lefties on there will love it. If that's a great British institution then no wonder standards are dropping in schools if that's what Labour want to emullate!"

Hmmm. now I would never ever get at anyone's spelling and 'gramma' on here (mine being not so fantabulous at times!) - but from someone who purports to believe in very high and correct educational standards???

There are some very helpful people on it. As I've said before, living where we do, I have used the site for advice on indies and grammars. But there are people who only want to talk about themselves and others, who whilst proclaiming a belief in meritocracy, seem determined to get their own children into particular schools whatever their ability. And I feel incredibly sorry for them (the children, that is). The very worst I have seen is someone refer to the children at secondary moderns as 'pondscum'. Luverly. We might go hammer and tongs at each other on MN but I haven't seen that very often. (Although I realise that person must be in a minority. I hope.)

NB luverly spelled (spelt?) in the ironic sense!

I think some of you are missing the point of why you have to tutor for the 11+. I live opposite one of the country's best state girls grammars, my DD is very bright (on the top table) and at a local state primary who have categorically said they do not prepare the children in any way for the 11+, so she will not have covered the correct work to give her a good shot at the 11+. The grammar will pick the children with the top marks regardless of where they live so she will be competing against girls who attend prep schools some are over an hours drive away who have been crammed for the 11+ since year 3. This is by far our local state school as its a 2 min walk from our front door, but that will make no difference as the places are allocated on marks alone, the other schools are all a bus ride or drive away. So I will be sending her for tuition when she starts year 4 so she can cover the work that is required to give her a fair shot at the 11+ and will make no apologies for trying to give my DD the best chance possible.

luvverly.
Live and let live. Tipsy is great.