I think the 11 plus is unfair

[LargeGlassofRed]

Dd1 failed her 11 plus today, she did'nt have tutoring just a practice paper from wh smiths.

It seams all of her close friends have passed, she' ok she does like the local comp, but she's dreading Monday at school

I seamed to be in the very small minority who hasn't paid for private tuition,

Just ranting really and feeling sad for her, I'm sure it will all blow over by next week.

Hi, not read lots of the thread, but just wanted to add my own piece of 'unfai' - in our area, a big group of schools use a paper that is actually widely available. I thought that there were just old copies around so those eg who went to long-established tutors would benefit - and have read stories of kids admitting to having done the identical papers just before with their tutor. Now iscovered I can actually buy the papers - am horrified. I don't wish to do this - think it is wrong and sends out wrong message to dc - but am guessing tat other parents might not be so 'moral'.

Feel a bit like the parent in May Contain Nuts - am v put off by the thought that the school deliberately conducts such unfair tests in the first place...

Any thoughts, anyone?

My DH says we should cheat - that it's not cheating but just how capitalism works.

Have thought of leaking this to papers in effort to get thigs changed - but suspect nothing would get done anyway.

Help please!

Go to the press, I think. This happened in the E. Midlands a few years back, and the test was changed.

Yes go to the press

Is this an actual 11+ exam or just an independent school calling their entrance exam 11+?

If it's a state school the authorities should certainly be notified.

I remember a couple of years ago a schools entire 11plus results were invalidated due to the pupils being shown the papers beforehand. Speak to the authorities if you suspect cheating.

It's a state school.

I did speak to the admissions tutor at the open day, who told me that he was aware of the allegations but that it hadall been checked and cheating was impossible. I then got home and thought 'no it's not'.

I just wouldn't even know where to start reporting it and uspect nothing would be done this year anyway.

Surely if you know you can buy the papers it's just a matter of pointing this out to the authorities as I'm sure they would want to do something about this if they knew?

Sorry if there's more to this and I'm missing something obvious.

I can't believe grammar schools are still going. Bloody awful idea. I went to one and hated it. I'm so glad I live in an area which doesn't have them. We have 2 great comps.

None of this tutoring nonsense went on in the early 80s. I would have hated that.

My nephews had to endure 11+. One passed and went to GS and one didn't and went to local comp. My brother is shocked that the local comp is not exaclty great ...I wonder why that is then?!

Why do people need a special school for the brightest children? They do stream them at comps. Weird system.

I dislike grammar schools for that reason especially in Birmingham. They were intended to be for bright kids from poor household but are now very middle class with kids from private prep schools and private tutoring. People talk about faith schools I would like to see grammars losing state funding.

The problem with the 11plus is that schools get the children to do it to early at the beginning of year 6 so children are no longer prepared for it. Some parents cannot afford private tutouring but alot depends on the school as well and the standards of teaching. Primary schools with higher sats results show higher standards of teaching and so usually have a higher percentage of pupils going onto grammar school. Also school's ought to recommend children for the 11plus or the kent test as it is known here in Kent. When I have children I am going to send them to St Mary's R.C. primary in Whitstable - I will be able to get them because I am a practicing Catholic and will bring them up in the faith of the church. This is my main reason for choosing the school, the 2nd being that the school has the towns highest sats results and recieved a very good Ofsted inspection - it had many oustanding features and parents locally describe the school as fantastic. It has the best reputation of Primary schools in the town and the behaviour of the children is exceptional (another plus point) and it is also a very caring school, the school has very high teaching standards. A lot leave and go to Grammars from there or if not they fed into St Anselm's Catholic school Canterbury. St Anselm's is a wide ability school and also very caring and they group children according to their ability which means they can learn at their own pace which is beneifical to their learning and is also fantastic for children with Special Educational Needs and caters for those with physical disabilities as well. I went there and was very happy so would be happy for my own children to attend. Different schools suit different children so speak to Dd teachers and look around wide ability schools can be very good - but look at SAT'S, GCSE and A-Level results as well as speaking to other parents and look at the Ofstead report should give you some guidelines on finding the best school for Dd. However, much of what children learn and achieve is down to what they learn at Primary so it could be the standard of teaching at Dd1 primary school was simply inadequate - if that's the case move Dd2 to another school before she has to sit 11plus.

To those children who have just failed the 11+, my DS1 failed (he is now 22) and will graduate next year with a Masters in Civil Engineering from a top Redbrick Uni.

He went to the local faith comp and was a star there, got the best GSCE results in the year (150 children) and then did A levels at a local independent school as the Comp could not provide Further Maths.

Why did he fail the 11+ inspite of a year's tuition? He is dyslexic but no allowance made at 11+ time.

He lost some friends at ll when he didn't go to the Grammar school. Hey, their loss.

Off OP, but many grammar schools will admit later if the child matures academically, and that is based on a wider assessment than just the 11+ tests.

Seems a curiously hidden fact-I only found out because my sister 'failed' and then developed so quickly that it was apparent how unfair it had been.

But, yeah, it's unfair, but so too is Child x getting loads of love and support and Child y getting told reading is for ponces. Nothing, apart from compulsory schooling 24/7 all year in vast state institutions with no parental input is ever going to change that...