DS very bright - what should I do for secondary?

[kerloch]

Can I pick your brains? DS is v G&T and we moved him to an independent school because our local primary just couldn't offer him enough anymore. This is working really well but now we have to look at senior schools.

All his friends from previous school are going to the local comp which is considered v good but is obviously not selective. Further afield we have grammars but they involve big journeys and he would know no one. Most of his current classmates are scattering amongst other independent schools none of which are on our doorsteps either (and obviously there are the finances to consider).

Speaking to parents and teachers - some are recommending we go for a scholarship at at an independent, others say do the 11 plus and travel and the majority of parents (from former school) are saying how fab the comp is. But I don't think most realise just how bright he is. I really don't want to see him start slipping down as no streaming at comp until Year 9.

Has anyone got advice or experience of this?

Based on my own experience I would advise going for the local school. Dd 1 travels over an hour to journey out of the area to her super selective - I thought she would be teased at the comp. I really regret it - dd2 goes to the comp and she would have been fine.

Unless the school is poor a clever child will do well at most schools.

Dd2 is in the top set at the comp and the majority of the class were level 7 in maths at the end of the first term. By year 8 nearly all the class were level 8 in both maths and English. They are streamed though from the start. I have never heard of anyone being teased for being clever.

Of course it depends on the comp. But I would have a good look at it before rejecting it out of hand.

I think I am going to make an appointment in the New Year for the local comp. See what they have to say.

My problem is (and I'm sure you've all faced it) that when I tell teachers he is bright they pacify me with 'of course, and we have many bright children'. Only when he gets there do they seem to realise what I am saying. Even at the independent they gave us lots of platitudes but when he started they all began to come up to me and say 'he really is bright' as if they had never believed me or his school reports. As I said they still come over to me with tales as if they are astounded and I keep feeling - I told you this at the start! I feel teachers think all parents big up their kids and think they're amazing.

I definitely wouldn't rule out the comp. We have no school choice- only one secondary in our small town, not a grammar area and private not an option either financially or politically. However, the comp does differentiation very, very well. My bright (but not genius, just 3 years ahead) DD1 is in an elite set with similar children, all being pushed and extended into wider areas of the curriculum, so not just focusing on GCSE syllabus but going deeper and beyond. She loves it. Yes, there are some unpleasant kids who try it on bullying wise, but the school comes down like a ton of bricks.

Kerloch, have you considered asking for an assessment of some sort to quantify his "brightness". My elder DD was tested by an Ed Psych at age 5 and was found to have a very high iq despite being put on the "special needs" table in reception.

Similarly my younger daughter who has dyslexia was tested by the Senco at her school in year 7, to "prove" to her teachers that she was very able despite being disorganised.

I think you need to be armed with some sort of proof that your son really is exceptional. Though I am not sure what schools could necessarily be asked to provide. There are kids at both my childrens' schools who enter for early AS and A levels to stop them getting bored - not sure if you mean something along those lines?

Good idea about testing from reincarnatedpig. I think at secondary level it's easier for teachers to differentiate because they are subject specialists. My experience at primary was despite tests and school assessments like optional SATS outside the Key Stage ( so KS2 papers in KS 1 etc), every new teacher each year felt they had to prove somehow ds was as bright as he was! Got a bit depressing despite the school actually trying very hard to put additional teaching in place.

At secondary level teachers are less 'fazed' in my experience and have access to much more in the way of depth and breadth of material.

@Kerloch, Why did you tell the teachers that your son was bright? What would this achieve?

Dd goes to the local comp

Her targets for the end of yr 7 were 7a in maths & science and 7b in English so they can and do differentiate

It did take them about 7 weeks to get her levels right but they have -she can't take gcses early and there is a maximum she can do so I'm not really worried about those 7 weeks

She was accepted to a selective indie on full bursary but we rejected the place as she would have had to leave home at 6.30 to get the school bus and get home around 5.30
She also wouldn't have been able to take part in after school activities as there was no late school bus to our area and no direct public transport

As it is she is in the school play, plays netball and rugby and is in the pop choir

She is loving high school and I'm confident we made the right choice

most comps set for core subjects, ie, maths english and science.

My DS who is apparently 'gifted' is flourishing at his state comp, academically and socially.

Yes. There are several children in my ds' class who are level 8, most working on level 7, he's at the upper 6s.

Hi there Kerloch,
I have a 17 year old daughter who is reasonably bright & has done really well at the local comp. She will be going to Uni in September. My son who is now 12 was obviously much brighter & was one of only two boys who got in to a super-selective grammar in our neighbouring borough. The other boys parents are very wealthy & also had the option of two excellent private schools. Having looked at all of them, they sent their son to the grammar with mine.
They may not have the money & facilities that some of the private schools can offer, but the results are very similar. The super-selectives are full of other very bright kids, which challenges them but also means they remain interested. They are set-up for and have the resources to secifically deal with very intelligent children. If you have that option I would definitely give it serious consideration. Good luck!

lijkk we were trying to get an academic scholarship (which we got) which is why I was trying to 'prove' he was bright. Also, I wanted to make sure if we were going to cough up £12k per year that the school would actually challenge him (unlike his state primary). Because they have a girls senior school affiliated they can do this currently.

scorned good point about the other children. I do really like that about grammar schools. I could see all those bright children were very engaging for DS when we did our tour. I think they would all spark enthusiasm with each other. Also, DS worries endlessly about 'disruptive' children getting the class into trouble at the indie (and in a comp they wouldn't even count as vaguely disruptive). I am concerned how he would feel amongst a mix of children some of who from what I hear, can be somewhat difficult.

I feel teachers think all parents big up their kids and think they're amazing.

Well parents never tell teachers they think their kids are thick.

Talk to your son about all the options and do go look round.

I may well be biased but I think comp teachers are actually better at differentiation because they have to do it every day. An incredibly bright child is just another level of differentiation, in a grammar teachers are used to all students being a certain level and may not be used to someone who is a great deal better.

It depends what you want for him...do you want a highly academic hothouse or more of an all round education (where he might also achieve a lot academically but may get more sport or drama). If you want highly academic - where he may feel more pushed because of expectations and having many peers like him - then you are looking for schools that are highly selective and take only boys like him. So either a superselective grammar or indie.