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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:
Original poster
stroppyknickers · 06/09/2008 16:20

3 little frogs - thank you. I need top get an email that doesn't have my surname in it! Will do it soon. AbbeyA - I might just tell you what I want to put and let you articulate it for me!

OP posts:
Cammelia · 06/09/2008 18:15

bagsforlife, I bet you did practice, like we did, without knowing it

It was just our usual work and usual weekly tests etc etc, but in retrospect, we couldn't have "just done it "

Cammelia · 06/09/2008 18:16

I wonder if they weight the results re boys nowadays like they used to, otherwise the majority of places would go to girls at 11.

ChacunaSonGout · 06/09/2008 21:45

my boys fared far better on test papers than dd

ds1 was end august birthday as well

nvr is good for a male brain imo

Crystaltipsandalaistar · 06/09/2008 21:55

My son is now y9 at boys grammar. He didn't pass, he missed by a few marks, but I appealed and they took him. I bought some books from whsmiths that we did, I think, from Easter until July. Good intentions were made for the school hol, but we hardly did anything!
Anyway, he has done fantastically well, and in the top end of the year group, which begs the question 'how the hell did the rest get in?'

AbbeyA · 06/09/2008 22:12

It is perfectly possible to get in if you cram them enough! I know at least 3 children who got in when they shouldn't-one even had to have remedial English lessons once he was there to get him up to standard! A private school used to be well known for getting them in, and equally well known for a lot of them struggling once they were there.
If they are going to sort by exam it ought to be an exam that is fair for all.

bagsforlife · 07/09/2008 09:55

Absolutely AbbeyA! In fact it would be fairer to have no practice tests in the shops or anything and for the test to be completely secret and unknown, then no-one could practice and it would be a fair playing field, but then I bet there would be just 'someone' who has had a sneak preview (works at the school or something) and then it all starts again. The test format was relatively unknown when my older DCs (now at university) did it, especially at their primary school, but I was told the format and details from parents at other schools who DID know. That was really unfair, at least nowadays MOST people do know to familiarise themselves with the tests and our grammar schools actually send out a practice test paper when you register with them so even the most naive of parents/children do know what to expect, even though its too late to do the 'two years tutoring' that goes on!!!

Freckle · 07/09/2008 10:01

I remember doing annual tests at school - they were called the June tests or Kent tests then. Every child in every year did them. The 11+ when we sat it was just treated the same way and I don't think anyone was at all fazed or bothered by it because it was more of the same.

There should be no exam at all. It should be done by teacher assessment and work that the child produces over the course of Year 5.

lilolilmanchester · 07/09/2008 10:06

I'll be glad when it's all over. It's looking increasingly likely that DD is not going to pass, which wouldn't bother me if we had a decent secondary school as our alternative.

Original poster
stroppyknickers · 08/09/2008 09:54

That's how I feel Lilo. DD is v bright but rubbish at reading questions properly, and at learning new things. Or should I say, wanting to learn new things...

OP posts:
undercovercat · 08/09/2008 17:34

Can I add my dd to the potential not going to passers. She is doing all the maths work..then GUESSING the final answer? What is THAT about?

lilolilmanchester · 08/09/2008 22:56

there'll be a lot of handholding going on when the results come out then!

cornsilk · 08/09/2008 22:58

lilolil are you near me? I think you are. Is your secondary one that's not that near to you?

undercovercat · 08/09/2008 23:00

If my dd passes I think I will faint on the spot. I will certainly question the quality of the other candidates. Ive just read about another MNetters ds having a tutor, and been at it for last year.....hmmm no chance really with competition like that.

lilolilmanchester · 08/09/2008 23:01

Cornsilk, I'm in Trafford. The grammar school we want DD to go to is just round the corner. As is the high school we don't want her to go to.

cornsilk · 08/09/2008 23:03

hmmmm - I likes a mystery.

lilolilmanchester · 08/09/2008 23:12

Not that much of a mystery, I just don't want to say which school I don't want DD to go to incase there are MNetters whose children go there.

cornsilk · 08/09/2008 23:13

Yes me too!

slapheadsrock · 08/09/2008 23:23

DD1 was tutored using the Susan Daughtry books from Amazon. Decided that for ds1 we couldn't afford it, so we are doing them with him at home. (Calling on dd1 when stumped!)
It is just a matter of going through the techniques so they understand what is being asked. DD1 had 16 sessions, not a whole year, worked through last years summer hols and was offered the two best schools in area.

Original poster
stroppyknickers · 09/09/2008 09:46

Why did you tutor her? Was it to guarantee a pass? I have just got all the level 3 Bond stuff. Really resent doing this on top of school work.

OP posts:
saffrone · 08/11/2008 16:09

Bumping this back into life....I have a question , as I am now officially worried with DS1 in y1 and no tutor for Tiffins entrance , can you give me any tutor's phone numbers? I have no idea what CAT means (as this is my second post ever on mumsnet)...but I can post my email...
Thanks

UnfortunatelyMurderedMe · 08/11/2008 16:17

is this any help
How did everyone on this thread get on?
My dd passed

lilolilmanchester · 08/11/2008 18:26

DD didn't pass, but we knew she'd be borderline so not a big shock. Congrats to DD UMM, you must be very relieved!

roisin · 08/11/2008 18:46

Congrats UMM - what a relief.
Lilolil - my commiserations. What a disappointment having been through all the stress. How's dd feeling about it all? What are your options now?

UnfortunatelyMurderedMe · 08/11/2008 23:30

awww lil Was she close, are you going to appeal?