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Original poster

Group hug to all year 6s and their parents waiting for the post.

73 replies

tigermoth · 01/03/2005 20:08

Hope everyone gets offered a school they and their children are happy with - comp, grammar, whatever.

I don't feel very confident, myself, but hope ds is ok with the news. Good luck and a hug to everyone else.

OP posts:
kid · 01/03/2005 20:10

We are waiting to hear about my nephew. I really hope he gets into his first choice, I can't stand the waiting.

MunchedTooManyMarsLady · 01/03/2005 20:11

We went through this last year. You have my {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I did hear that there have been problems with the software so don't give up if you don't hear for a couple of day. Wishing you all the best

Freckle · 01/03/2005 20:12

Was thinking of you today, Tigermoth. Do you get your letter tomorrow too? Fingers crossed for you and ds.

DS1 has been in a very erratic mood since coming home from school today. Really nasty to DS3 and snippy with me. When asked what the problem was (bearing in mind that he was like this when there were bullying problems) he said he didn't really know, so I suspect he is wound up about tomorrow.

wordgirl · 01/03/2005 20:18

We had our letter yesterday and ds didn't get into our first choice school. I didn't really expect him to though and second choice school is fine so I'm not too disappointed.
Hypothetically though, if I were to appeal, I wonder what reasons I would give? What sort of things do people say in appeals and do you have to have a real reason eg. special needs etc.

Original poster
tigermoth · 01/03/2005 20:19

I can't stand the waiting either, and my ds has been on edge too - he said lots of his class were talking about it and are afraid of the news. I just feel very pessimistic - up to a few days ago I was fine, but now I don't feel hopeful. Must make sure ds doesn't realise.

If he fails the 11+ the first of the comps that we put on our preference list is really nice - ds was enthusiastic about going there, but even so, it's heavily oversubscribed and a long distance away, so I am not hopeful about that either.

Interesting to hear that the software is not all it should be - now why does that not surprise me

OP posts:
kid · 01/03/2005 20:19

are the letters due tomorrow then?

Freckle · 01/03/2005 20:20

Sometimes the fact that you are appealing is enough to win. Shows that you really want that school. You really need to "sell" your child - and that includes selling yourself too, willingness to get involved, support the school etc.

I had to do an appeal for my niece last year and she got in.

wordgirl · 01/03/2005 20:21

Ooh, that's interesting Freckle. Maybe I will give it a go - looks like I have nothing to lose!

Original poster
tigermoth · 01/03/2005 20:21

don't know much about appeals, wordgirl, but can't you stay on the waiting list for the first choice school? some children will inevetably not take up their place offers, perhaps if the family has moved house or they decide to go for a private education (scholarship results come out in April I believe).

OP posts:
Original poster
tigermoth · 01/03/2005 20:23

I think you can ask the school to tell you how many appeals have been successful in previous years - and in proportion to the number of appeals made.

OP posts:
wordgirl · 01/03/2005 20:23

Yes, I think I might try that too tigermoth although first choice school is in a different LEA so it's a bit complicated but again I have nothing to lose.
Hope you have better luck tomorrow

Original poster
tigermoth · 01/03/2005 20:23

the letters are due from tomorrow - apparently they were posted first class today, but with our postal system, who knows!

OP posts:
roisin · 01/03/2005 20:41

TM - I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight, and that the postal service is efficient tomorrow ... for once!

Thinking of you. R

Original poster
tigermoth · 01/03/2005 20:56

thanks roisin - I will try, am runnning a hot bath as I type.

I am amazed you and all these year 6 people have appeared out of nowhere so quickly, exactly when I wanted to wish people good luck and find some empathy - I love mumsent!

OP posts:
Freckle · 02/03/2005 11:04

He did it!!! DS1 has passed his 11+ and has been offered a place at his first preference grammar school. I'm so chuffed for him. He was so excited this morning and I couldn't bear to have to break bad news to him, so I'm jolly glad that I don't have to. I called the school to ask them to tell him and they fetched him from his class so that I could tell him myself.

I can't believe how emotional I am. Can't stop shaking. Must have been tamping down the emotions and now they're all coming out.

Tigermoth, have you heard yet???

jampots · 02/03/2005 11:09

Congrats Freckle (and mini Freckle)

dd just missed the 11+ last year but she managed to get into one of the best schools in the Borough and against all the odds so I know how ecstatic you must be

I had considered sending her to a private school (just 'til her name came up on the waiting list) at a cost of £7k a year so we ended up going out for a meal and spending £150 instead - seemed a bargain at the time!!

Freckle · 02/03/2005 11:13

Thanks, Jampots. I think I've been deliberately expecting bad news so that I could cope with it. Even if it had been bad news, it wouldn't have been the end of the matter because I would have appealed to the nth degree, but at least I don't have to worry now.

Gobbledigook · 02/03/2005 11:16

Well done Freckle's ds! (BTW, I'm not waiting for a letter, mine haven't even started primary yet!! - just like good news )

JanH · 02/03/2005 11:17

Oh, Freckle, that's fantastic! How nice that school let you ring and tell him.

The letters come on a Saturday morning here (one year they didn't for some reason, that was a tense weekend!)

tigermoth, where are you?

Freckle · 02/03/2005 11:42

I only called to ask them to let him know and they've obviously been anticipating a few calls because the secretary immediately asked if I'd like her to fetch him to the phone.

Apart from a suppressed "Yes!" from him, his response was very muted. I think it might be difficult for him to be too happy at school, because that might be seen as boasting.

firestorm · 02/03/2005 11:43

congratulations freckle & well done to your ds
im already paraniod about secondary schools, were moving area later this year to be in catchment for a good school, & mine are only 5 & 4.
tigermoth, any news yet? im keeping everything crossed for you.

piffle · 02/03/2005 12:37

hugs and congrats lil freckle!
IF it helps anyone the marks seemed to be lower this year in our area and children with 70% have got a good pass mark.
So there is always hope, this was after we were told they never adjusted the threshold too...
Nerve racking I know I hope everyone gets what they want too, although obviously there is always something new to worry about afterwards!

Marina · 02/03/2005 12:39

Posted to you guys on a different education thread, have been thinking of you all. Ds' school is tiny so even though he is Y1 we are all on edge for the Year sixers!

hopefulmover · 02/03/2005 12:40

one of my friends said that in her area all parents were given a password so they could find out the results (only for their child) online. Unfortunately all the parents tried to log in at midnight and crashed the system.

Still seems like a much better sytem, especially as our postman was 2 hours later than usual.

Freckle · 02/03/2005 12:42

The radio reported that only 80% of entrants passed the 11+ in Kent. Bearing in mind that, due to criteria imposed by the good high schools - and the risk of being sent to a sink school if you fail the 11+ - most of the entrants had been classed as "dead certs" by their schools, this will leave a lot of devastated children and parents out there.

They also reported that 20% of children in Kent were not offered their first preference school and 11% were not offered any of the schools on their list.