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

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

Primary education

Have you got a child in Y5?

33 replies

MimiSam · 09/10/2012 11:56

I have - would you consider going to secondary school open days this year, rather just wait until Y6? I feel like I would like to (but not with DS as I don't want him thinking too much about it all yet...)- some people say it's a good idea, others say it isn't....For what it's worth, we are in a county with the 11+ and grammar schools, so I'd like to see different kinds of schools.

OP posts:

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Takver · 10/10/2012 09:41

Here it is definitely the norm to go in yr 5, and the children start having 'taster days' at the two local secondaries from the spring term of yr 5 too.

TBH we're now at the start of yr 6, and I would say most families have pretty much made up their mind about which school to opt for.

BackforGood · 09/10/2012 20:28

I went round on my own when my eldest was in Yr5.
Depends on how many you are looking at, and if you are making decisions about if you want to 'prepare' your child for grammar school tests.
You can get round a lot quicker if you don't take the dc !
What I'd hoped to do, was narrow it down from the 5 I looked at to perhaps 2 for him to look at.

insanityscratching · 09/10/2012 20:17

Parental preference is priority for naming the school on the statement. In our LA schools welcome statemented children as statements bring funding. Dd is a high achiever with no real difficulties bringing a 20 hour funded statement. Any school will be more than happy to have her tbh. Even if she was a difficult to support pupil, in our LA schools are pretty much coerced into accepting a pupil when that is what a parent wants.

Frikadellen · 09/10/2012 20:06

we went to the first open day when ds was in Y4 went to 1 in Y 5 and have done 7 so far in Y6... Sighs roll on 17th when we get 11+ results so we can decide what actually will work for him

maillotjaune · 09/10/2012 19:53

I've been to 3 although had to take the DCs to one as childcare failed! I wanted to get a feel for the schools so I could think about what I want to find out next year.

I've also been reassured - we are on the edge of London and quite a few kids do 11+ for Herts, but my instinct was to avoid this. I'm now happy that the 3 possible schools within easy reach are all good in their own way.

People who are interested in the Grammars are generally going this year as the earlier tests have got them worried

Toughasoldboots · 09/10/2012 19:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AngelEyes46 · 09/10/2012 19:44

From what I know re: statement, I thought that the 'professional' had to state that 'x is the only school for child due to yyyy'

I could be wrong though - bridge or tiggy would be able to clarify.

Re: going to visit schools - I went in year 5 as it comes round very quickly in year 6

insanityscratching · 09/10/2012 19:28

Yes any maintained school so long as it isn't an inefficient use of resources, her admission isn't to the detriment of other pupils there and the school can meet her needs. Statemented children get priority, dd has ASD no learning or behaviour difficulties, no need for adaptations so it will be the school I choose.

RaisinBoys · 09/10/2012 19:18

Yes. School advised us to go open days this year and seeing some of the stressed out Y6 parents there, I would certainly advise it. Many schools have already had them by now though.

Good luck with it.

Toughasoldboots · 09/10/2012 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

insanityscratching · 09/10/2012 19:15

I will be, dd has a statement so will get the school I choose anyway but I need to see what is available and we will be discussing my choice at her review in March.

voddiekeepsmesane · 09/10/2012 19:05

Most year 5 parents go in our area (also a grammar area) Though it would be a bit late by now most schools have already had their open evening/day 11+ exam was 3 weeks ago here.

Ds is in year 4 and I will definitely be going next year.

LynetteScavo · 09/10/2012 18:57

Well, I went to see one school when DS1 was at the end of Y4...just to rule it out. (Was bowled over by heads speech, and after looking many more times, DS1 now goes there)

We have just been to see the same school, with DS2, but won't go to see other schools until end of Y5.

We are also in a grammar area, and only went to look at the grammar school at the end of Y5, like most other parents. DH decided he hated the school and no child of his would ever go there (I sat there thinking "I would pay for this") but I wish we had gone earlier, so we could have ruled it, and ttherefore ruleed out taking the 11+. Much as I liked it, it wouldn't have been the best school for DS1. We could have ruled out a lot of wondering whether DS was in the top 2 or 3%, and whether he would get in.

PastSellByDate · 09/10/2012 18:42

Hi MimiSam:

We've opted against seeing schools this September's Open Days - but have decided that in July (when there is a new batch of Open Days (well evenings really) we will.

In part, this is because the 11+ is sat in October - and really it's about inspiring hard work over the summer. Two friends took their children around last July and both said that it helped get them to realise what all the hard work is for.

HTH

ChasingSquirrels · 09/10/2012 18:42

no, the local one was last Thu - just been talking to a friend (mum of ds1's friend who also has a yr6 child) about it as she went.

But tbh that's where I'm applying for ds1, it is the catchment school, I have only heard good reports of it, it's last OFSTED was outstanding.

If my catchment school had issues I would be looking around, but will probably only attend the open day next year for ds to start getting a feel for the place (although he has been there for various things and they do quite a lot in yr6 to start integrating them anyway).

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 09/10/2012 18:41

we did look around for DS who is now in yr8, DD in year 5 and we will go next year. I know the schools, grammar and non so its not such a big deal now.

pointythings · 09/10/2012 18:38

We didn't but realistically there is only one secondary option where we live, which is the local secondary. Anything else would have been a logistical nightmare travel-wise, no grammars in our area and private not an option either financially or ideologically.

The school is literally a stone's throw from our house and since we had DD1, it has gone from being borderline special measures to good verging on outstanding. DD1 is there now and as things stand, DD2 will be going there after Yr6 - we will be attending open days next year.

mimbleandlittlemy · 09/10/2012 15:53

We did and it meant that we only went back to the schools we really liked this year now ds is in Y6, thus cutting down the trudge/saturation. It also meant that we really noticed the enormous improvment one school had made in the last year which was a great help when it came to listing the top choices.

CovMum · 09/10/2012 14:46

Yes we just have but they are all finished here now. I wanted to take my time and make the right decision.

mummytime · 09/10/2012 14:38

It is perfectly normal around here. But even better in year 5, after the end of October you can phone and request a tour while the school is "working normally" which is very enlightening.
Just doing it in year 6 is too rushed IMHO.

SandStorm · 09/10/2012 14:33

You won't be the only one going in year 5. We did it. Round here you get very little time between going to an open day and having to put your choices in. Plus, it gives you the chance to go back in year 6 and see what, if anything, has changed (for better or worse).

Jenny70 · 09/10/2012 14:16

I have been surprised how many have been going to the open days etc here (also Yr5 parent). During a mums chat thing the other day, it seemed like they were all comparing notes etc... felt bad that I haven't been on the ball with it - but we aren't actually planning on being here for secondary (in the UK), but then plans change and I feel like I should be prepared.

So yes, definitely follow up on it and consider going, if possible.

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MimiSam · 09/10/2012 13:47

I was thinking of going on my own...I am just worried it might seem odd to be there without a child, especially if I see any Y6 parents there who I know...I get the impression that in our area it is not common for Y5 parents to do this (not talking about private schools, only state schools). I don't even know if the schools welcome/would tolerate it - they all seem to emphasise that the open day sessions are very busy, you need to book, etc. Maybe I will phone a few and ask them...

OP posts:

Startailoforangeandgold · 09/10/2012 13:29

Round here you have to. They have been known to be in the same day.

Going without DCs in Y5 I found very useful.

BadRoly · 09/10/2012 12:44

My ds1 is in yr5 and was invited to the open evening at our local secondary school last week. He didn't want to go but wants to wait until next year - but then dd1 started there in September, I don't know if that is why?

But it is normal round here to visit (if you want) in yr5

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