End of year reports, and the 11+

[mumof32015]

My year 5 son will be sitting the 11+ in September. This was a decision he made in year 4.

I was feeling really confident about this as he has always been exceeding the national average, and he has been doing really well in his preparation for the test. But we have had a real confidence knock after reading his report, because he has dropped in some areas in particular English.

The headteacher made a comment by saying that he will bridge the gaps again in year 6 and be back to where he was. I am trying not to dwell on it too much, because my daughter didn't have a very good year 5 report and she went on to pass the 11+ and is now really excelling at grammar school and is very happy there.

So logically I feel it doesn't really matter, but I've been having a stressful few months so my logical thinking has just gone out the window. So my question is, has covid affected anyone else's child's achievements this year?

Everyone’s I should think

Pretty sure the only children who won’t have had their learning affected over the past 18 months are those who were home educated. Even pupils at the top fee paying schools have had their education disrupted.

All have been disrupted in some way. No one knows how his year group will shake down once the 11 tests are done and dusted. If English has taken a knock, work on those key elements over the summer but tailor it to te specific test he will take. How is he doing with practice papers?

@CagneyNYPD he's been doing really well in practice papers, and my husband says that's what really matters. I have bought him some CEM 10 minute tests in English, so we are going to do some work over the holidays. So I am hope we can fill any gaps over the summer. I feel we have enough time.
Everything with covid has affected me mentally, and so this feels a lot more stressful this time around than when I went through it with my daughter.

I think your husband is right. My DD is also in Y5 and due to take the 11+ in September, and we consider it as being quite separate from school work. It might be different in your area, but where we are (West Midlands) the grammars are super-selective and there is no link with schools - DD's teachers don't necessarily know which children are being entered.

DD does a couple of 10-minute tests most mornings before school (from a range of publishers), and has done a couple of mock tests run by local companies, to experience the feeling of being in a strange room with other candidates. We mark her workbooks and go over any mistakes.

I don't think DD's report will make any difference whatsoever to her 11+ prep over the summer. (Caveat - I may change my mind when I see it!)