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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Anyone gearing up for 11+ this Autumn?

22 replies

miniwedge · 10/09/2010 13:21

I have one doing medway test, one doing Essex test.
I am stressed.

Have managed to avoid all the uber scary parents on 11+ forums so far, a couple of frighteners at the school gate but I am dealing with this by running away shouting " must dash, swimming!"

Anyone want to join me/take the piss out of me in the run up to the tests?

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weblette · 10/09/2010 14:36

I'll hold your hand if you hold mine... :)

Dd is doing Bucks VR. She's my first to go through so am trying to stay calm. We haven't done heaps of tutoring - one term and a short Summer course and I've been working with her too.

First test is Sept 30th - when are yours??

MrsDoofenshmirtz · 10/09/2010 14:51

Yes mine is doing it as well.

We have done a couple of papers and thats all [wibble]

weblette · 10/09/2010 14:56

We've used the full and short papers from here to practise. They have a bit which talks you through how to do the different questions types, it's really useful.

Avoid the forums like the plague!

mattellie · 10/09/2010 16:35

weblette where is your DD hoping to go?

Madsometimes · 10/09/2010 18:19

My dd1 sits her test for Kent on the 18th September. She is unlikely to pass it, but we do have other options. She is fairly bright, but probably not quite high enough (set 2 of 5).

I am feeling a little bit stressed by secondary school transfer, not just the 11 plus, but the whole thing. I have seven schools down on my open day long list. I'm not sure that I could cope with seven open days.

weblette · 11/09/2010 07:36

DCGS mattellie, it would suit her down to the ground, especially the languages specialism.

If not, well we'll think about that in November!

weblette · 11/09/2010 08:23

Doh! DCHS I meant.

MrsDoofenshmirtz · 11/09/2010 09:59

Its the uncertainty that I find hard - we won't find out the results until March.

Original poster

miniwedge · 12/09/2010 09:55

We fdon't get our results until March either.
Rubbish as dsd does the medway test end of this month and gets the results before we have to pick schools which obviously helps whereas in Essex dd1 will have to wait until march for results so we have to take pot luck with school choice based on whether or not we think she's passed........

Will need lots of handholding I think,

OP posts:

weblette · 13/09/2010 09:38

We hear in November which is much more bearable. School choices are quite easy as there are only two we're in catchment for so it's a choice of single sex or co-ed.

With Bucks as long as you get the right score and are in catchment you'll get your first choice.

Those parents sound like complete loons, mini, You did well to decline politely!

MrsDoofenshmirtz · 13/09/2010 12:06

mini sympathies over the mental parents.

I think I am going to not doing playing at peoples houses this term. My daughter was made to do a VR test at a friends house and then told she had not done as well as her friend by the parents. Very odd thing to do.

Hand holding all round, deep breath everyone !

mattellie · 13/09/2010 15:44

?DCGS. Doh! DCHS I meant.?

lol weblette, DS tells me your DD would be very welcome at the former, she might find herself very popular indeed?

Bucks system used to be the same as Kent, ie results next year, but they changed it a few years back, thank goodness. Apparently the local hairdressers complained about a drop in trade as no local mums had any hair left by March!

Good luck to your DD.

MrsDoofenshmirtz · 15/09/2010 09:34

Very quiet thread isn't it. I'm still here anyway. Are you going to watch the big school lottery program this week? I couldn't decide if it was a good or bad thing that i watched it last time. It made me feel less alone but more afraid. Some people I know made their kids watch it to scare them into working harder. A bit unfair i thought.

weblette · 15/09/2010 11:32

Thanks mattellie - will have ds1 going through the process in a couple of years so seeing how boys handle it will be interesting!

Haven't watched the programme MrsD, as for making a child watch it, shessh, people are so OTT sometimes.

Dd had a tutor session last night, she seems to be about as prepared as she'll ever be! They're a couple more practice papers to do in school then we'll do a full paper at the weekend.

Open evenings are next week, they're mayhem round here! Have your dcs decided where they would like to go??

newpup · 15/09/2010 12:50

Hello. Just wanted to say, I was you this time last year!

My DD took the 11 plus last January and has just completed her first week at her senior school.

It is a scary time but my advice would be -

Stay calm
do not get caught up in 'exam ' talk at school gates - it will stress you out!
Just relax into it.
A few practice papers and timed papers and some brushing up on spelling and times tables.
Can't comment on tutors as we did not have one
It will be fine.

Just wanted to pass that on as someone on the other side of it all.

Good luck.

JaxTellersOldLady · 15/09/2010 12:55

We are. DS taking 11+ and also in Bucks, same as Weblette.

I have avoided the mums with similar responses as weblette. Just want it to be over, poor kids.

Am not going near the forums, those people scare me!

thanks newpup - that is what we have done and are doing.

MrsDoofenshmirtz · 15/09/2010 13:08

thanks newpup

Original poster

miniwedge · 12/10/2010 10:35

Hi all.

We got the results for DSD at the weekend and she didn't pass. She missed out by twenty marks.

Her headteacher s now doing a review but did say it is a long shot. I have no idea what her chances are but we get the results next week I think so we'll ee.
DSD is very upset but lots of her peer didn't pass either so I guess it's not as bad as it could have been if they'd all passed and she hadn't.

DD is still gearing up for the Essex test, I'm getting very stressed about it all but keeping it very low key for the kids.

The mental parents are now moving to the same town as their grammar choice.... abit presumptious I think. Heigh ho, have managed to deflect their invitations for "study dates" but they are constantly on the phone wnting to discuss scores in mock papers now. Am screening calls.

Hope you're all well and haven't had to resort to biting your partners nails yet

OP posts:

Original poster

miniwedge · 12/10/2010 10:36

Sorry! My keyboard is really playing up, I can actually spell.

OP posts:

Madsometimes · 12/10/2010 13:45

We get our results on the 18th. The schools got them last week, but they are not allowed to pass on the results to parents because of head teacher's appeals.

lcj68 · 12/10/2010 13:53

My dd is sitting the Bournemouth test in Nov. We haven't gone down the tutor route, have just been doing some practice papers. She's the only one sitting it from her school so can't talk to anyone about it for fear of being a "pushy" mum, so we have no stress here

We looked around the local comp yesterday and it's lovely so am more than happy for her to get in there should she not pass the exam

stillconfused · 12/10/2010 15:57

Hello, we are doing Essex in November. We have one other option which I really like (and would be much easier as DS2 could also go) but mustn't think like that... super-selective anyway so the chances of getting in are slim although DS1 (I think) is bright enough.

Have been boring DH by constantly talking about it and obsessing with the other choices ... just hate the thought of the long wait until March!

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