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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

Withdrawing from 11 plus

13 replies

peeriebear · 27/08/2012 17:21

DD1 is having second thoughts about taking the 11 plus (I honestly don't know why she wanted to take it in the first place). I put her in for it because she wanted to give it a try; now she is reconsidering. Who do I tell if she doesn't want to? Her school, the secondary where the tests take place, the LEA? Google is not my friend- I can't find any information!

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somethingscary · 27/08/2012 18:36

It will depend on the system where you live.

kilmuir · 27/08/2012 19:36

hmm, is it nerves? my daughter is having doubts and i have said have a go, then we will decide from there. if she passes and still does not want to go then thats ok.
We would have to tell the school where its taking place

Original poster

peeriebear · 27/08/2012 19:50

I was surprised she wanted to take it; none of her close friends are taking it, she doesn't particularly want to go to the grammar school and she is not very academic at all. I think the desire may be purely based on the fact that I passed my 11 plus to go to this grammar and she wants to see if she 'measures up'.
I would be a lot happier if she didn't take it but have not said this to her- just explained the pros and cons. In my heart of hearts I don't think she'd pass and she doesn't take failure terribly well. Plus the verbal reasoning test is the day before her birthday

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kilmuir · 27/08/2012 20:08

my DD's best friend is doing 4 hours a day of 11 plus prep. Makes me sad, as I know she will struggle when she gets to the school!!!

Original poster

peeriebear · 30/08/2012 11:09

That's nuts! If the ability is there it's there. If it's having to be shoehorned in then the poor kid will hate the school and be unable to do the work.

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tiggytape · 30/08/2012 12:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Poodlepower · 30/08/2012 12:48

I think the "have a go if you don't pass it doesn't matter" idea is a little naive. Many teachers and schools will tell you it is a hard test and the repercussions of entering a child who is unlikely to pass it can be huge for them. I am sure there will be some who will disagree with me but I am just going on what I have witnessed and experienced (which is quite a long time ago!)

Having said that I also think that it is untrue that children that need lots of prep for it will struggle at grammar. Many state schools do not prepare for the 11+ by giving children example questions and so it can be confusing and intimidating for them.The child taking the test has to decipher what the question is asking them as it is mostly reasoning. This is why children from independent schools usually do better as they are often used to those type of test questions.

bowerbird · 30/08/2012 14:19

I agree with Poodle on both counts.

I think you should either withdraw your DC from the test, or really really go for it. Just going through the motions and sitting the exam without commitment or proper preparation is setting her up to fail. And while she might still fail even if she worked very hard with your support, she will have learned a great deal about effort and concentration, which will stand her in good stead for the future.

Suffolkgirl1 · 31/08/2012 14:39

Not knowing what area you are, its hard to advise but I would say contact whoever it was you applied to to sit the exam in the first place. In most areas you have to fill in a SIF form or apply online to sit the 11 plus. Where that form was sent is who you need to speak to to withdraw her.

However there will be some children who just don't turn up on the day!

eatyourveg · 31/08/2012 14:45

ds1 pulled out 2 weeks before he was due to sit it. We just told the headteacher and he didn't go into school on the day his friends sat it (it was his birthday so we took him to London) so he was marked down as being absent.

Original poster

peeriebear · 01/09/2012 22:39

If she'd wanted to do it we would have gone through the practice papers the school gave us so she could see and get used to the type of questions that would be in it. I wasn't talking about sending her in with no planning at all, I mean I don't agree with extensive coaching just to pass.
Anyway, she has decided off her own bat that she doesn't want to do it any more, so I feel rather relieved. Having gone to the grammar myself, I honestly think that if she had passed and gone there (which is very unlikely) she would have withered. She has better options and prospects elsewhere. I will speak to her school on wednesday when they go back :)

OP posts:

catwoo · 03/09/2012 09:00

In our LEA you had to withdraw by mid August.
I would tell her it's too late to be allowed to withdraw .To give it a go but not worry it as you know she doesn't want to go.That will take most of the pressure off her.

catwoo · 03/09/2012 09:02

Just to say unless you officially instruct them to withdraw her in writing ,it is not as simple as keeping her off. they will put her in for it at a later date.

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