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Original poster

why do so few children pass the 11+ in our local primaries?

48 replies

mummyloveslucy · 13/02/2008 19:58

We went to look at our local primary school recently. It seemed quite nice and relaxed. There is no head teacher at the moment, but probbubly will be by the time dd is 5.
The problem is when I asked how many pass their 11+ she said, the top 5%. This seems very low. We went to see another school and they have top marks with ofsted but they also say that 5% pass the 11+.
I just wondered if this is normal and why do so few pass? I would love my dd to pass her 11+ as our local state senior schools are terrible. We have some really lovely grammer schools though. Also private seniour schools cost loads, much more than juniors.

OP posts:
FioFio · 15/02/2008 12:27

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FioFio · 15/02/2008 12:28

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Remotew · 15/02/2008 12:32

South Cumbria. In fact our local comp was the very first comprehensive to open and purpose built. Harold Wilson made a speech that it was a flagship to close every bloody grammer school in the country. (Or something like that) Guess that didnt happen down south. You are lucky.

mumblechum · 15/02/2008 12:52

Whereabouts in South Cumbria, Eve? I went to Ulverston comp back in 197mumble.

We're in Bucks now where we have grammars.

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 15/02/2008 12:58

Thanks everyone for putting me in the picture. I can't realy comment on Grammer or Private schools as I didn't go to either. All I know is what I've heard. I only want my daughter to enjoy her childhood without peer pressure, bulleing etc. I'm not a pushy parent that has to have a child at university etc. I just want her to have a happy school life, unlike the one I had. Are there any ways of doing this?

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FioFio · 15/02/2008 13:00

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cat64 · 15/02/2008 13:08

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Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 15/02/2008 13:13

She does enjoy being a pre-schooler. She loves her pre-school and is a very happy child. I know from first hand experience that this can change. I always want her to feel free to be herself rather than having to change to fit in.

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seeker · 15/02/2008 13:17

And remember that schools can change very much in a few years. Choose the school that's best for her now - don't try to second guess what will happen when she's in year 6. The head might change, other schools might close, she may not be suited to grammar school, the local high schools might improve, they might abolish the 11+.............who knows?!

Original poster
mummyloveslucy · 15/02/2008 13:20

That's true. I think that if I was O.K at school then I wouldn't really worry about it. I'll just do what's right for her when the time comes.

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OrmIrian · 15/02/2008 13:22

No grammars round here either abouteve. I'm in Somerset.

Making do with the the state secondary school which seems the best for our son, and keeping our fingers crossed.

bb99 · 15/02/2008 19:27

abouteve - all depends on the area and how successful local government was at the time (60/70's) in abolishing the state funded grammar schools. Hence in Kent there are loads and IMO it still enables academically gifted children (by and large) to access a selective education system - but that's a whole other argument. Essex was more successful IYSWIM in losing the grammar schools and so only about 3% of children have places available instead of about 10-15% in Kent.

So it all depends on the local area and which schools survived the cull. It is a matter of opinion whether selective education is OK or not, but as soon as comprehensive schools were introduced all the chn in them were streamed, so surely that's selective. But again, that's a whole different argument...

I went to a comp and it was excellent, my daughter's in a Grammar and she's really happy, my Auntie went grammar, my parents both went 'secondary modern'. A good school's a good school, no matter the name on the outside.

seeker - very sound advice!

swedishmum · 15/02/2008 21:39

We're in Kent and dds 1 and 2 are both at grammar - 2/3 of dd's Y6 class (ordinary primary) passed 11 plus last year. It was a lovely year group though. 10 - 15 seems more normal round here.

Remotew · 16/02/2008 03:03

Thanks for putting me in the picture. I'm in the lake district. No grammer schools at all. I know its not PC to say this but I'm really grateful for the G&T policy in the comps. Without it I'd never have known that DD had the potential that she has IYSWIM. Its really spurred her on. I think she may have made a selective grammer but no such thing here. Its the comp or a really famous posh private. Mainly consumed by successful italian restaurant owners and electricians. I'm having a real rant. Its late after all.

idlingabout · 16/02/2008 13:23

Sorry to disagree 'bb' but I was unfortunate enough to be in the 'guinea-pig' year for the introduction of comprehensive education (in Suffolk) and they most certainly did not stream. My life at the school was consequently hell as I was the only bright child in my tutor group and was both ostracised and bullied at the same time. The school managed to epitomise all the negative aspects of comprehensive education but none of the positive ones.

Judy1234 · 16/02/2008 16:22

I think it depends onther egion. The north got rid of state grammars very early on because it is a left wing sort of place. I remember them being abolished in Newcastle when I was about 8 years old.

moopymoo · 16/02/2008 16:27

not true xenia there are 3 state grammers within striking distance of us here in lancashire.

moopymoo · 16/02/2008 16:28

grammar

LunarSea · 21/02/2008 14:16

idlingabout - I could have written your post as another survivor of the Suffolk "comprehensive means totally mixed ability for everything" policy in that first year. Pretty much my experience too.....

MissOrganised · 21/02/2008 16:08

I wouldnt worry too much about it yet!
Most state primary schools do not teach children to pass the entrance tests (in our area it is verbal and non verbal reasoning) My daughter had a year of tutoring to enable her to pass test. She passed, is doing well but has found it hard not being top of the class. You need to wait and see what is best for your child when they are old enough - my son would not pass grammar school test and would prob have difficulties in a single sex school, so is going to the local comp - its reputation was shot to pieces until about 3
years ago but it is improving every year. (the primary daughter attended is Outstanding according to OFSTED but the 5% figure fits her school too)

idlingabout · 21/02/2008 18:06

LunarSea - sorry you had same experience but not exactly surprised. Were you on the Suffolk/Essex border by any chance?. What really galls me is that my parents deliberately moved from where they would still have had selection (in the knowledge that I would have passed the 11+)into Suffolk on the recommendation of a teacher friend.
Sorry all for slight hi-jack.

LunarSea · 22/02/2008 12:55

idlingabout - no I was in Ipswich. And my school wanted to put me in for 11+ a year early, but my parents said no. It still rankles now.

idlingabout · 22/02/2008 13:27

I understand that - same here. I have always had the suspicion that had there been only me (I have younger siblings) they might not have moved; they were concerned about what would happen if we didn't all pass iyswim.

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