11+ brought forward to September

[harman]

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As you know, harman, DS2 will be taking the 11+ next school year. I don't have a huge problem with them bringing forward the exam. Just that perhaps they should have left it until the following year, as it is really too short notice for those taking it next time. DS2 will only be 10y and 3m when he takes it and I'm not sure that he will be emotionally ready for it.

His school is doing nothing to prepare the children for the exam other than one practice paper next month.

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My DD1 (currently year 7) took her 11+ two years ago after only being back from summer hols for two weeks and the school have done the same again this year. Hers was the first year to do it like that.

We just did practice papers at home.

We got the results at the end of October before we had to apply for a school place but did not know if she got the school place until March 1st.

Forgot to say we are in Lincolnshire.

It made applying for a school place much easier as we knew she had passed and didn't have to apply for a place at the hugely oversubscribed local comprehensive.

It will be the same in Kent. Exam in September, results in October, apply for schools November. Offer of school places in March.

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This is why it can be such a mockery. The education authority insists that all children are in the same boat and enter the exam on a level playing field, but it is blatently obvious that this is not the case when some schools have extra coaching and offer other opportunities to their pupils whilst others do absolutely bugger all.

we moved into 11+ area in September 04 ds1 sat the test 2-3 weeks later. He had no coaching but we did buy him mocks for home and he sat one or two practice papers at school.
and fwiw at the grammar school now the kids that were coached... Seriously struggling.
if your child is not naturally able to pass then one needs to question why you would want them to go.
but preparing them is different to coaching imo

sky you are near me is she enjoying the girls school?

If my child was not grammar school material, I absolutely would not want him to go. I went to a grammar school and remember all too well the girls that really struggled and should, in all honesty, have been at a different school. I also have two sons at grammar and know the workload and the expectations.

The problem is that there is a limited number of places at local grammars and obviously they will offer places to those children who achieve the best scores in the test. If your child is competing with children who have been coached and prepared by their school, it is not a level playing field. The LEA tell the schools not to coach and some schools adhere to this (DS3's school included) whereas others ignore the instruction.

Schools are specifically banned from offering special coaching for the 11&divid; - any school that does is breaking the rules. I know a lot do!

Technically, no one should be coached for the exam - that way it's a level playing field and the children for whom the test was designed (bright children form disadvantaged backgrounds) have an equal chance of a grammar school place. In reality, this is not the case, and most grammar school places are taken by the children of middle class families who have the interest, the resources, the information and the ability to get thier children through the exam. (If you don't believe me, check out the level of free school meals at grammar schools compared to primary and high schools!)

Moving the exam to September will make this situation worse - some children will be coached throgh the summer, and the children who don't have that sort of family support will have to take the exam without even the extra term of teaching in Year 6 that they've had up to now.

There were children in my dd's class who were streets brighter than her, but she had the practice papers at home so knew what to do (no tutor, I am proud to say) and they didn't. She passed, they failed.
It is an iniquitous system.

Rant over.

yup, Kent here, dd is end of year 4 now so we do have that years notice.
However, our school burnt down so her yr 3 schooling was horrendous. No allowance has been or was made for the then yr 6's and the last lot of 5's.
However, out of 34 kids, there are 12 or so going to grammar, with another 6 appeals.

Yes thanks Piffle, despite early worrying about most of her friends going to the comp and the new "yukky" uniform she has settled in very well. She has found it a bit hard going from being one of the top of the class to nearer the bottom but is still managing quite well. Just had a week of exams so only time will tell!

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i think ds did test in first week oct this year

we dont do the tutor bit - i have heard mixed reports
its hard but just buy the tests and do them - keeping a sharp eye on the clock

aim high - we aimed high and were getting pretty solid results by the time of the tests

ours have found non verbal much harder than verbal

our results were march

its such an arse applying without knowing but it is a risk worth taking imo

does cause a wee stress at end of summer

depends on child though - some are soo chilled

one of mine LOVED the tests

Harman - you must practise past papers - either with a tutor or do it yourself at home. There are plenty of bright children around here who didn't get through the 11+ because they had not been prepared for it, and plenty who did even though they aren't really good enough but have had plenty of coaching. If your child hasn't had relevant practice, they don't have as much chance as the kids who have.

yes agree foofi

a lot of prep schools send kids who are not well suited imo but pass because they are so coached

buy the tests and home tutor to get dd used to them

they are a learned art