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Original poster

Where are the grammar school areas?

62 replies

compo · 21/09/2008 11:07

I thought it was just Kent and Devon that still had the 11+.
Am i wrong?

OP posts:
ByTheSea · 21/09/2008 12:52

Colchester has two excellent grammar schools.

solo · 21/09/2008 12:53

No, I haven't decided which school I want my child to go to yet. Personally, I'm keeping options open and was using the tests as a learning curve for him more than anything. I want him to have as much choice as possible.

crescent · 21/09/2008 13:03

I'm in Warwickshire and we still have some grammar schools here. I would hate to see them go and I speak as someone who had one child in the grammar school and one in the comprehensive so have seen both sides. My son went to local grammar school and the only problem I had at the time was that he didn't have coaching as we had not long moved to the area and I wasn't aware that was what most people did. After he passed lots of parents asked me who I had used for coaching and on being told "Nobody" refused to believe me!

Original poster
compo · 21/09/2008 14:02

you see I think i'llmlove the system if mine get in
obviously if they dn't and go to the local dumping ground that is our comps I wont

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 21/09/2008 14:28

There are areas of the country with excellent comprehensives too - no problem then if your DCs don't make it through the 11+.

WendyWeber · 21/09/2008 14:41

Lancashire has several although it's the Lancaster ones that everybody knows.

WendyWeber · 21/09/2008 14:42

(But the county is not 11+, the schools have their own entrance exams)

evangelina · 21/09/2008 18:35

Kent has the most grammar schools I think.

LunarSea · 21/09/2008 19:37

The southern part of Warwickshire does - but not the central or Northern bits.

solo · 21/09/2008 22:31

Ooooh! double standards there compo!
I'd just like my Dc's to go to schools where there are half decent kids there that want to learn and have good standards...

Heated · 21/09/2008 22:39

Worth finding out also how selective they are. Some take the top 5%, 11% or 25% - although that doesn't always equate to exam success, just how difficult it is to get in!

solo · 21/09/2008 22:53

Well, time will tell. Tests are all done now, so will just have to see. I believe in fate and what will be will be. My Ds had no coaching either, just a few free online trials and a borrowed couple of paper ones. If he passes, it'll be on his own merit and I'll be so proud of him...hell! I'm proud of him regardless

Tinker · 21/09/2008 22:55

Trafford in Manchester. Avoided moving there for that reason

GobbledigookisThrifty · 21/09/2008 22:57

In Trafford the schools each have their own entrance exam now.

binkythebullet · 21/09/2008 22:58

Birmingham has excellent grammar schools.

NotAnOtter · 21/09/2008 23:05

skipton and ripon

Original poster
compo · 22/09/2008 07:44

sadly where I live the grammar schools are really good and the comps are hit. That's just fact sadly
Wish all the schools were the same and no blinkin tests

OP posts:
Original poster
compo · 22/09/2008 07:44

hit = shit

OP posts:
MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 22/09/2008 09:28

Good site for info is elevenplusexams.co.uk - info on what is which test for the local areas and a lively forum

bigcar · 22/09/2008 11:55

London Borough of Sutton still has grammar schools. The competition to get into them is huge from all the areas around Sutton. They all have their own entrance exams separate from the year 6 sats, quite a few parents get private tutors in to help their dcs get through the testing.

I was quite shocked a couple of years ago talking to a friend who had a ds at one of the grammar schools when she said that at the end of year 7 a couple of boys were told they either had to repeat the year or leave the school as they were not acheiving as the school expected.

The problem in Sutton is that they have never quite got enough non selective school places because of the large number of children that come in from outside the borough.

mumblechum · 22/09/2008 12:01

We have it in Bucks. Woohoo! DS is at a grammar with 99% A*toC passes, and it doesn't cost a bean.

Fennel · 22/09/2008 12:01

Most of Devon doesn't have the 11+, only two or 3 small pockets of it. I am so glad we aren't in those pockets. Before we had children I assumed that my children would of course be 11+ material - seeing as all their parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, great uncles and aunts etc would have been.

But now with children of varied (and nebulous) acacdemic abilities I am thoroughly relieved we aren't facing a situation where they are divided into successes and failures at 10. One of mine would almost certainly pass any competitive exam, the other two quite possibly wouldn't. I think I'd be moving at this point if we were in a selective area.

Instead we have underperforming comps in our area of Devon, but I would rather my children went to these than had to face the 11+ .

ChippyMinton · 22/09/2008 14:22

Slough

FioFio · 22/09/2008 14:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

dannyb · 22/09/2008 14:42

Barnet still has QE Boys which was The Times top state school last year and I'll be breaking my neck to get DS in there if he carries on like he is now but he'll need extensive tutoring to stand a decent chance against the prep school children even though he's at a superb state primary