Is anyone else waiting for 11+ results?

[rollonthesummer]

6 days to go and starting to get anxious...!

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria 2 of whom have taken and passed the 11+ without any need for the sort of tutoring being described here I think it's not me who is ignorant about the state system. Can I just ask, how many "over tutored" children were at your DCs selective school?

"said the brightest children - the ones the 11+ is trying to reach (as opposed to the wealthy hot housed ones) will be working at L6 by the end of Y5. Some of the very brightest ones will be working at L6 by the beginning of Y5. Certainly in maths."

It's just not true that potential grammar school kids will be working at level 6 at the end of year 5. And saying it is is likely to put people off the idea of their kids even trying.

Mrsmcruff - VR, Maths and English (comprehension, essay/story (I don't think it had to be creative as such), and SPAG - Dd1 didn't have to do SPAG). The papers were apparently set at a sort of L5 level.

I'm amazed that so many people think the tutoring arms race is a good thing. :(

Hak - it might not be true that ALL grammar school kids are working at L5 or higher by the end of Y5. More so in a 25% area. But it's not true that no grammar school kids will be. And the emphasis in information for parents considering grammar school should be 'what level is your child at' NOT 'can you afford tutoring'. When I see posts about kids doing several hours of tutoring a week from Y4 or earlier I feel very sad. This isn't what the 11+ is supposed to be about. It's not supposed to be about who has deep pockets.

Another one waiting here. We get results next Friday in an envelope after school (why can this be emailed? Bizarre!).

I am really nervous about it, DS in theory should be fine, he's 5Bs across the board at end of year 5 but I am not that confident as he just doesn't take exams very seriously and I am a natural born pessimist! I have also done myself no favours by looking at the stats for my county which show that last years entry had an increase in the number of private school children getting into grammar over state school - 70% private school children vs 19% state school. That made me slump quite far down into my seat to be honest.

LaQueenOnHerHolibobs rabbit also I think it incorrect to believe that lots of average ability children are only at a grammar because they have been heavily tutored, by professionals and anxious parents. Hard work and academic achievement are not mutually exclusive.

I have yet to see any evidence that a child of average/slightly above average academic ability but with a willingness to work hard will do any worse in a grammar school that an academically bright child that puts in little effort. If there was, I am pretty sure all grammar schools would be looking to put something in place to identify the latter.

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria I'm amazed that so many people think the tutoring arms race is a good thing. I think the people who are most likely to agree with you are the ones who live in an area where there is still such a thing as choice.

mum very few, I'd say. I don't know everyone. Obviously. None of the DDs' friends were tutored. Some of them went to practice sessions in the weeks running up to the exam but those sessions were for accoimatision and speed work there was no teaching element (AFAIA). There is no tutoring culture here, luckily. None of the kids from the primary school who went in either of the DDs' year were tutored. I'm really glad that the tutoring madness hasn't reached here, to be honest. But then I susoect few people could afford it so that's probably why.

"Hak - it might not be true that ALL grammar school kids are working at L5 or higher by the end of Y5. More so in a 25% area. But it's not true that no grammar school kids will be."

Of course it isn't. But you said they will be. Not some will be.

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria There is no tutoring culture here, luckily. Interesting. I assume that your areas is not listed here then:

www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/viewforum.php?f=64

SlightlyJadedJack, from your post, I reckon we are in the same county. I don't understand why the results can't be emailed - seems quite archaic for them all to be marching out of school with their brown envelopes, under oath not to open them until they get home.

LaQueenOnHerHolibobs mum that is too black and white. There are plenty of academically very clever children at grammars also working very hard my post didn't say there wasn't.

LaQueen I do t think I said that loads of average ability kids are getting in to grammar school, did I? What I think is that maybe some/a few are, but mainly that the tutoring people are splashing their cash on is irrelevant. And that a few very bright kids whose parents can't afford tutoring may be missing out in some areas (probably not Kent actually since everyone practically takes the test there, from what we are told). I'm not overly concerned that the wrong kids get in, more that some kids who would get in and should get in are disincentivised by the tutoring culture which makes money for some and thins out the competition for others. We all know that there are not enough grammar school places as it is, there are already kids who take the test and should get in who don't, so I'm not overly concerned that anyone there isn't good enough on an absolute scale. I am concerned that some who should be there didn't even get the chance to try because they were out off by lack of financial resources.

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria mum very few, I'd say. Can you not tell by the number of children leaving or from the academic results?

We're waiting for results - Bucks. Next Friday. Not stressed, though. Nor is DD! (though she may be as the day draws nearer).

Hak - I said the brightest kids will be. And they will be. There are other bright kids who won't be. Not everyone can be 'the brightest'. In the natural way of things, there will be schools who don't have any kids like that. And some schools that have a few. None will have loads. Not at primary level.

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria I fully agree with everything you have put in your last post. The problem is children get just one chance at the 11 plus, few parents put their child forward thinking they will fail. I think very few will want to risk their DC making a mistake that will affect their future. If they just sit there, do nothing and wait for the best, they really are taking a huge gamble. For a very small minority the gamble might just pay off.

As far as I'm concerned, if a child has gained a place, it is not fair to assume they don't deserve it because they worked harder for it.

mum Very few people leave. Very very few. One person left for reasons unconnected to academic performance, one got very sick, that's it so far for DD1s year. Nobody has left Dd2's year yet (but it's early days I suppose). The results are alright. No indicators that people who are there shouldn't be there.

AvonCallingBarksdal I'm Bucks same as Cocktail Queen. Cocktail Queen how are you staying calm?

Mum - it's one of the ones with very few posts. As I said - no tutoring culture.

RabbitOfNegativeEuphoria mum Very few people leave... The results are alright. No indicators that people who are there shouldn't be there. That appears to be the case with my local selective. However, the amount of preparation undertaken varies a great deal (as demonstrated on another thread 1 hour, 2 hours, 2-3 hours per week)

Yep, Bucks here, too.

I thought this was meant as a bit of a hand holding thread?