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Original poster

11plus - grrr!

153 replies

stroppyknickers · 30/08/2008 08:41

Ok, I know I have to buy into it to ger dd into a good school, but really. She is v bright, SATS last academic year (4) showed above average etc. Then, she sat the Bond assessment papers yesterday and scored about 50%! So, it seems that the 11 plus is completely different to school work, and you just train them to pass it (hence dd's friends being tutored since Xmas/ studying weekly etc) How is this fair? If I was a single parent, skint, (as I was b4 meeting dh) there's no way I could afford the test papers etc, so dd would fail thro not understanding the questions. Any opinions?

OP posts:
Milliways · 31/08/2008 21:55

I am identical to Rusty (and our boys went to same school, and daughters failed same school)!

I too did not tutor DD enough & learned for DS, but my DD too got 11 A* GCSE's & 5 AS levels grade A this year at the local comp. DS is also doing very well at the grammar.

I too have mixed feelings

Original poster
stroppyknickers · 01/09/2008 07:59

Avena and bags - thank you. Might take you up on the offer Avena, that's really kind. Will have a go again with the help booklet first. The £60 was for 4 sets of practice papers, one in each subject,4 booklets about how to do 11 plus..., and a guide. All at 10, 3 for 2 inm Waterstones. That's before I start the levels! Soooo glad i am not alone in my dislike of the 11 plus - thought I was going to get flamed

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mamadiva · 01/09/2008 08:16

I'm confused what is all this ab out 11+ stuff? My DS is only 2 so obviously something I don't worry about could someone explain please? God I only left school a few years ago LOL

Original poster
stroppyknickers · 01/09/2008 08:23

Some areas have an optional exam in year 6 to determine where the children go at year 7. Grammar or secondary. When I did it it was at 13, and I don't remember being stressed or aware of this at all!

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maidamess · 01/09/2008 08:32

amidaiwish, my dd goes to Tiffin,and I put her name down for a tutor at aged 6!!

Shocking I know, and I am not a pushy parent, another Mum was 'in the know' and advised me too. I wouldn't have known otherwise.

But the tutors are over subscribed and I figured i could always take her name off the list when the time came.

She is a clever girl, and had tutoring in 11+ technique. She got in...but with my ds my dh reckons he can do the tutoring this time around. We'll see.

All I wanted to say was, don't be too principled about tutors and your daughters future education...if she's clever get her name down ,plenty of other people will have done, and I rate Tiffin, and do not find it a 'nerdy exam factory' (Tiffin envy )

amidaiwish · 01/09/2008 09:42

thanks maidamess! might need to get some tutor names from you in the next few years...

bagsforlife · 01/09/2008 10:24

Sorry, my computer was playing up when I typed my first reply, and wanted to add: try and do a combination of doing the papers unseen and see what she gets, which ones she doesn't understand etc, and then doing them again a few days later, you will soon begin to see which ones are holding her up. Once she's got the hang of the questions, you need to start timing them. It is really down to speed and accuracy in the end, and that is where the unfairness comes in with those children who have not practised, because it is not about the child's innate ability, it is about who can finish the paper correctly and in the correct time. I feel so sorry for those children who have not practised at all, they really don't stand a chance round here (although there is always the one absolutely brilliant child who does get in,who really has no idea about the format, but they are few and far between). I am positive there are 'tutored' children who are less bright than others who are getting the places (mine included!).

Original poster
stroppyknickers · 02/09/2008 07:59

bagsforlife, that's my problem with it. dd is really bright, but had she not seen a paper, she would panic and fail. I just wish it was a level playing field (or ideally no grammars...)Good idea to repractise- her english was v bad on 11 plus, but top possible of sats!

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Berries · 02/09/2008 10:11

lilo, dd1 did AGG last yr, think it's the same one you are talking about (well, girls version). We are out of area but I know a number who took both and were offered places. All of them did the full range of NFER papers and most of them had tutors, but the tutoring was more the type of questions to expect, and technique (multi choice with answers on a different paper to plenty of chances to mess up). There were only 3 kids in the last 2 years who have sat it that I would say weren't GS material. 2 failed, 1 passed but parents decided it wasn't the right school for him & he's going to our local high school.
BTW girls school does ask them to write an essay (20 mins I think) to be used inborderline cases. Check this out as it may come as a bit of a shock if not expected.

FluffyMummy123 · 02/09/2008 10:11

Message withdrawn

Freckle · 02/09/2008 10:29

It's odd how the 11+ is different in different areas. Here they don't do an English paper, just VR, NVR and Maths. They do a piece of written prose, but it is only looked at if the results in the other papers are all borderline. And English prose is the one thing you can't really practise or tutor.

WendyWeber · 02/09/2008 10:53

Ours just does Maths, English & VR; they used to do Science too, I don't know when that was dropped. This has sample questions on pp 16-24 - they are pretty much the same as when DS1 took it 10 years ago (& many of the maths questions were the same when DD1 took it 15 years ago!)

I also discovered from the admissions section that proof of qualifying address now requires it to be where Child Benefit & "occupied community charge" is paid - that's a new one on me. Still wouldn't exclude those who can afford to rent in catchment but not live there though? Or do CB addresses have to match tax addresses/electoral roll addresses etc too?

FluffyMummy123 · 02/09/2008 13:42

Message withdrawn

Original poster
stroppyknickers · 02/09/2008 15:54

I now have sticky labels on the bookshelves with examples of nouns/ adverbs etc. We have been chanting timestables in the car. God help us. Good news - the three year old knows that apostrophes show you own something. 'Like when boys have presents mummy?' sp he'll walk it in 8 years' time...

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controlfreakyagain · 02/09/2008 21:35

coddy, have a look at this website re the essay writing..... 'tis brilliant!

www.baldworm.co.uk

undercovercat · 04/09/2008 18:38

11 thousand kids have been registered for the 11 plus in Kent

controlfreakyagain · 04/09/2008 21:07

for about how many places?

undercovercat · 04/09/2008 21:16

there 450ish I think for girls in tunbridge wells/tonbridge

controlfreakyagain · 04/09/2008 21:25

blimey!

undercovercat · 04/09/2008 21:31

and dd1 who has raged at me anytime i suggested doing practice has suddenly, 2 weeks before the 11plus decided shes going to get enthusiastic about it. OH MY GOD.

controlfreakyagain · 04/09/2008 21:35

better late than never.... ds did 11+ transfer exams a year ago... i'm still getting over it.

Freckle · 04/09/2008 21:35

Where did you get that figure from? the 11,000.

undercovercat · 04/09/2008 21:37

the big fat booklet for picking the school given out by the school Will double check in morn.

FluffyMummy123 · 04/09/2008 21:38

Message withdrawn

undercovercat · 04/09/2008 21:39

or now....more than 11,000 children had registered by the closing date... page 14 of admissions to secondary school 2009