Anyone else on the move to more selective school?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

DD is in mildly selective school. There are social issues (not of her making ) that mean a move is needed and the staff suggested a super selective (think top 20) which I loved when I visited.

I took DD to the open day yesterday and she fell in love. What really caught her imagination was the head teacher saying 'this is a school where it is cool to be clever'.
So we move on to the next stage of trial days, exams and interviews.
As a single parent it is really difficult to share this with anyone, so is anyone else going through the process.
It was just amazing to see her so excited and wonderful to see the fact that a sixth former enjoyed having a conversation with a 9 year old electronics.

Well, unfortunately, we are rapidly coming to the conclusion that a selective is what DS needs. DH and I were discussing last night but for us there are logistical issues. Cannot decide whether to move now or wait until 11, when we would be talking superselective/a more competitive process.

Also not sure that we want DS to go through a selection process just now, but his eyes would be 'lighting up' in a school such as you describe.

We are lucky entry in to year 6 guarantees senior school space and only needs Maths and English papers. There is also interview with head too, but as I have forthright independent girl I'm not really worried about that.

DS2 was at a mixed ability primary. They were helpful with giving him appropriate work (even to the point of bringing in secondary teachers for some subjects) but he didn't have any peers on his wavelength.

He has been at a partially selective secondary school for three weeks now and is really happy. Like-minded children, challenging and interesting work. He loves it!

Lonecat, I think I was at the same open day as you . Am going through the application process for ds.

Nice thought RnB, but unlikely as all girl's school.

Hehe, yes would be unlikely! Funny the head said the same thing, and on the same day

I think this must be a new catch phrase - I have been to 3 open days and have heard all heads say the same, one was a state school...

Well in a state school it is only cool to be clever in KS2. Being clever in KS1 is totally ignored/frowned upon as it is an inconvenience to 'value add' figures.

Hopefully this will filter down. Because currently DD feels it is seriously uncool to be clever and if I had a pound for every time she had been made fun of for coming out with something beyond the norm I would be a millionaire. I remember it being the same at school it wasn't till I was in a specialist sixth form college that it became cool to be clever.