To go or not to go ?

[razzledazzle]

Ladies, I would really appreciate advice on the following dilemma facing me atm. My dd (6)is in y1 at a non selective co-ed prep. She is extremely bright. Without boring you with the details, she is miles ahead of the rest of the class in all areas, especially literacy. For example some of the children (about 1/3 of them) are at the same reading stage she was at 2 years ago. She has no near academic rivals. In many ways I like the school; it has a warm friendly atmosphere, and my older ds is still there, albeit in a different building, so I appreciate the family continuity too. However I now think my dd could be getting more of a challenge from her education. I don't underestimate the self esteem she is accruing from being openly "top of the class" all the time. However my worries are:
she is too conspicuously "cleverer". All the other kids and parents talk about this quite openly, and for the most part it is generous and friendly in expression, but maybe not the healthiest situation to be in ?
she is coming home hyper and asking to do some "work". By this I mean she wants to learn times tables, do word puzzles, learn to spell everything, etc. She is so hungry for more it's just not normal. Don't get me wrong, she's not a freak! She also enjoys riding her bike, fighting with her brother and sister, etc., but I don't think she should come home actually asking to do more work at age 6!
My dilemma: do I try to get her into a highly selective all girls school which I have my eye on ? she would sit an exam next winter, in y2, to join the school in y3. Or do I let sleeping dogs lie until 11+ in y6? We went to an open day at the girls' school recently and liked what we saw. The teaching would be from a higher baseline of ability, thus actually freeing the girls to work at a higher level all round,while at the same time allowing more time for art, sport, music,etc. My daughter doesn't need to practise quite as much basic material as is currently the case, but would love to do more art,etc. Also I think it might be healthier for her to be seen as more "normal" within a cohort of brighter children. Any advice anyone?

If you think she would be happier in the new school then go for it.

I agree. If you like the school and think it can give her what she wants, then give it a try. What does your DD feel about moving schools?

Razzle - I was brighter than average at my primary and was made to feel miserable about it, both by the teacher and the kids. I was bored rigid as they refused to put me on to the next books for maths / reading etc. My parents were great and bought books from Smiths that were designed to help prepare kids for the 11+. Idid these in my spare time and loved doing them. I went to a selective girls school and, although I hated the other pupils as they were all lah-di-dah, really enjoyed being pushed, and also the nicer facilities. I say give your DS what she wants. ANd like you said, it wold probably eb nice for her to feel normal. HTH

How would your dd feel about not being "top dog" as it where if she were to move to the more "higher achieving" school where as you say she would seen as "normal"? What else does your current school offer? For instance, a very bright 6 year old may or may not turn out to be a very bright 11 year old. My dd was very similar to yours apart from the fact that there was one other girl who came from a prep nursery and was absolutely brilliant, could read fluently when she entered school etc. My dd overtook her during their first term in year 1 (what a proud day that was) and consistently had a reading age of 4.5 years above her real age. I think they all pretty much pan out by the time they leave primary. Are there other activities you could encourage her to do to absorb some of her extra energy, a competitive sport for instance?

it sounds as though she would be ideally suited to a more academically stimulating environment - she may relax more at home then if she is sufficiently stretched at school.

Thank you all for your perspectives. Hulababy, she would be keen to move. She was fairly quiet during the Open Day, but did avidly inspect the work/art etc. on display. Back home, she said she really liked the school and wanted to go there. She even sneaked upstairs with the sample exam paper we'd been given, and which I was planning to try on her in about 6 months time! She could do most of the maths problems straight away, even though she has never done anything similar before. On that basis, jampot, I think she might even be towards the top in the more academic school too, bearing in mind she could cope with an exam which isn't even on the horizon for another 15 months. However she would certainly be surrounded by many more academic peers there iyswim. I have an 11 yo too, so I have had some (little) experience of how they develop. If anything the gap between her and the other pupils seems to be widening. Most of the class started with dd in the nursery/playgroup of the school so they have been a group for 2-3 years. Jampot she already does drama once a week, swimming club on Saturdays, and I am going to organise piano lessons for her at home too. We also walk the 20mins. (1.3miles) to school every morning, so she does get plenty of physical activity. I don't really like the stereotypical overly organised type of kiddie lifestyle, I want all 3 kids to have the time to "chill out" too! Poo2 maybe I should give in and get some of those books from Smiths. I had been resisting in favour of giving her a break after school, but if she wants to "work" maybe I should let her...
Anyway thanks again everyone; her name doesn't need to go in until next year, but atm I think we should probably move her. Any teachers out there to offer a view ?

this thread may be of interest

Razzle - it sounds like if she wants to move you should do it then. What a bright little child - please let us know how you get on..