The benefits of a 7+ School

[Movement05]

Calling parents of all able children attending 7+ schools! Please give me the benefit of your experience. DS (going into Year 2) has always stood out as very able academically (although average on the creative/sports side) and currently attends a well thought of indy. Although in a general sense the school is 'lovely', each year so far we have thought he was being 'undertaught', and as far as I can tell maths lessons are only differentiated to two levels of ability. DH is very highly educated in the maths/sciences and I am a specialist dyslexia teacher, so DS has benefited from all our experience and support at home.

DH and I both come from the state sector and so have few contacts who could advise us here.

I am wondering whether a 7+ school would suit him better? I genuinely think he would have few problems passing the 7+ entrance exam and that most schools would be really glad of such a pupil (biased parent that I am). Please could anyone who may have been in a similar situation advise me? Thanks!

It sounds like you're just looking for any school that will challenge him more than where he currently is. If you think he'll pass any entrance exam they throw at him then so much the better - in that case, just look for a school you feel will fit, and challenge him more. The first question I guess is - where are you located, are there other schools around you that would be an option and do they have space available. If there aren't, and you'd have to move to facilitate this, then obviously the stakes are higher.

I'm assuming you've already talked to his current school about differentiation and stretching him and exhausted that option.

We were in this situation with DS1 - lovely and very nurturing school, but he was out of step with the rest of his class and also because he wasn't sporty he was pretty lonely. He spent a lot of the academic lessons being allowed to sit on the side and free-read whenever he'd finished the work given - which was lovely in some ways but he got bored a lot of the time, and a bit arrogant because he didn't have to work at anything and seldom being challenged. We couldn't praise effort because he never had to put any effort in. We moved him to a school where he is now more average academically because the standards are higher - he has to actually work now, which he doesn't always like but it's helpful to remind him that there's no such thing as a free lunch.

If we're talking about English prep schools, look for schools that prepare for election at Winchester, KS at Eton, etc. You may not want your son going to either of those schools as a senior destination but it does give an indication of the academic expectations and resources that those schools are willing and able to provide.

Hi @movement05

Its a tricky one .... I think its a really personal choice, you know your DS best and which environment would enable him to thrive.

For me I think the most important thing about education, is that the child feels happy and confident in their learning. What makes the children achieve their real full potential is not about the school facilities, or even the teachers, its about the child finding out who they are and having that sense of self efficacy and the confidence to be curious and love learning.

Personally my experience is that 7+ schools are often very pressurised and children who don't fit the mould or who aren't at the top of the class when they arrive, can feel anxious, stressed and demotivated... (often parents too LOL!)

If your DC is happy at their current school - I would start there - have a conversation, explain your concerns and co-create a plan to stretch and challenge your DS. If its a good school, they will be willing and support your DS.

Good Luck!

DD went to an infant school and we moved her to a selective Indie at the end of year 2. We had a quiet word with the Head towards the end of the first term and she fully supported our move. Yes, it was sad to leave her friends behind but DD kept in touch with quite a few. In fact we found it helpful to have a wider friendship group.

We did a bit of coaching for the entrance exam, but encouraged DD to "have a go". Yes she has benefitted from being academically challenged but it is all the extra-curricular activities too. The school has a real ethos of, "please try hard" and "try lots of things".

We have never regretted it, but I imagine it would be less fun for a disorganised child that wasn't a good all-rounder (sport and music feature heavily in the school year and continue to do so until year 9 at least).

I would say that the vast majority of kids at the school were there because they wanted to learn (and their parents expected them to as well). Schools do vary a lot, though, as do individual teachers so definitely participate in whatever open day they manage to hold (they tend to be in late September/early October) and try to speak to staff.

If you think your child would thrive in a more academic school then why not enter him for the exam - they aren't usually too expensive. Once you know the outcome you can make a decision in the Spring.