10 + dilemmas - do two or to not do two?!

[TWmum28]

I have put my DS down for the 10 plus at Hampton in November. I am also considering the 10 plus at KGS as we live between the schools. Is it too much to do both? Or better practice? Anyone with any experience of both think it's a good idea? Anyone pass one but not the other? I have seen some comments on other threads about doing the 10 plus but mainly people seemed to DM so asking afresh). Any thoughts or views appreciated.

Not sure if it's the same timing this year but a couple of years ago you didn't need to register for the KGS 10+ until you had the results for Hampton so you could wait and see? If he gets Hampton you may not want to sit KGS anyway and if he doesn't but came through it all unscathed you could try another? If you're doing them purely for practice and don't expect him to get him I'm not sure I'd bother with both, but they are quite far apart time wise.

@TWmum28 , I would strongly advise against doing both. It means both Oct 1/2 term & Christmas hols being overshadowed by revision esp VR for KGS.
If you think your dc has a chance of passing it's a large deposit payment to both schools.

Year 6 is tough from Oct onwards all the way through to March so you don't want the added pressure in Year 5 too.

My ds did KGS 10 plus only (I knew he wouldnt pass Hampton & it would dent his confidence ) & whilst he didn't get a KGS offer (hardly anyone does) the experience & feedback were really useful. The KGS 11plus exam is very similar to 10 plus.

In year 6 my ds flew through the exams & came out with lots of offers including Hampton & KGS.

You could register & pay for both but withdraw from KGS nearer the time.

Thanks so much @Gingercat1223 - appreciate it ... and wondering if we should have done the other way around (ie not Hampton 10 plus) and instead KGS ... but too late now. Mainly because we also have the 11 plus / 13 plus dilemma ... but once we are in for 10 plus we can only do 11 plus at Hampton.

DS has a tutor for an hour a week who thinks he has a "decent" chance of getting a 10 plus place at Hampton so we'll see.

It is comforting to know that you can have a miss on the 10 plus and still get places at 11 plus.

We are going to do a bit extra over half term and see how we go.

Dreading next year already and wondering why I didn't go with an "all the way through school". Hopefully will get through and get a place at a school he loves!

I knew this would be about those two schools. We're doing both, I suspect lots of people will. No expectation of success in either, but both will be good practice for next year.

DS is doing a couple of practice tests each week, so we'll just keep that going. It doesn't need to be too stressful over the holidays - we're taking the view that he'll either pass or he won't, and spending all half term and/or Christmas cramming won't make any difference.

Good luck whatever you decide - but if your DS can cope with it, I really can't see the downside in trying both. They'll almost certainly be doing it next year anyway...

Being anti-tuition, and rightly so; if you feel your child is capable then I don't see why not. Provided he is not being bombarded with tests at every waking moment. Our child is very able, and sat two tests, without any specific preparation..and did well. If she needed a lot of preparation, we wouldn't have bothered. She will also be doing CE in January, and we won't be letting that invade our Christmas either. I'd say if you would really like a chance at both, then it comes down to how you approach it, and how much pressure you feel he would need to get a decent score. Good luck.

Can't believe it's tomorrow - DS is very calm ... I on the other hand am less calm and have the stress of trying to hide it. Another glass of wine for me I think! Anyone else got nerves? Or has the process already driven me potty!

@TWmum28 , I believe there are @ 200 boys sitting tomorrow, just view it as practice for next year and nothing more.

Thanks @Gingercat1223 ... those statistics seem bad and the 11 plus ones even worse ... but eventually they all find a school ... this time tomorrow it will be all done (bar any interview) so just keeping everything crossed he finds it a positive experience regardless of result.

Also heartened to hear about your DS so thanks for sharing ... 14 more months to mature will certainly help!

Best of luck @TWmum28. I'm not too nervous as I'm not expecting DS to get anything but practice from it, although the drop off instructions sound quite brutal - essentially "please abandon your child as quickly as possible"!

DS is nervous, but I think that's just fear of the unknown - which is precisely why we're doing it now. We've had a fairly chilled evening and he went up to bed reasonably happy, so fingers crossed all goes well tomorrow.

Did you decide to do KGS as well, or not in the end?

I can't sleep but he seemed fine ... went to bed no problem, yes the drop off did sound a bit brutal and my pretty confident child also said sound likes you just abandon me and go!

I have decided no to doing both - thinking one "trial go" is enough but I'll see how he takes the whole thing tomorrow. Good luck to your little DS too, 9 does seem a bit brutal for all this ... our education system does feel a bit mad!!

@diamantegal how did you DS find it?

Mine was happy coming out (no idea if that is a good sign) ... said the comprehension was v hard but the rest ok .. and the hot dog in the break was the best part! Now we wait .....

DS was also happy coming out - said it wasn't as hard as he'd expected, but didn't want to talk about it much, so I don't really know! But he coped really well and wasn't too nervous going in, so we'll do KGS as well, just for the experience if nothing else.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but there's going to be some nervous anticipation every time my phone pings with a new email.... I'm assuming we'll hear some time around Wednesday/Thursday if the interviews are early next week.

@diamantegal same here ... he was fine and made me think the extra practice of KGS might be good ... going to give it a week and see as don't need to register there until the 2 December.

And lovely to hear from someone else - even if just to share the waiting game. Fingers crossed for some good news or at least some positive feedback!

Just to keep this updated, we got a nice no from Hampton today - apparently showed lots of potential and would encourage reapplying at 11+ (although as my overly cynical DS said - they probably say that to everyone).

No regrets though as he's gained so much confidence from doing it, and we'll do KGS for the same reason. It's a horrible process, but I genuinely see the 10+ as a learning experience rather than a real opportunity - DS hasn't been tutored or anything so it was probably always a long shot.

Best of luck if you're still waiting on results!

Oh no. Sorry to hear that @diamantegal

We got an interview email last night ... for next week ... fingers crossed he isn't turned down on personality....

Any one any ideas what they might ask? Again they say don't prep ....??!

But agree ... all good experience and your DS will be a pro next time!

@TWmum28 congrats and well done @diamantegal ds too.
I don't know about the 10 plus interview, this is only 2nd year they are doing it but if it's like the 11 plus it's a chat with the classic questions - they really just want to get to know your dc. It may be along the lines of:
Favourite subjects
Least favourite subject & why
Current reading book, what do you like about it
News - what do you know & how do you find out ie read The Week Junior
What do you enjoy doing at home - music, sport etc
Why would you like to come to this school

Make sure they have a question, ie can i go on school trips or is there a chess club? (Perhaps remind your ds there is no swimming pool or hockey at Hampton).

All schools want bright down to earth all rounders with an interest in life!