3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2014

[mumteacher]

I started the below thread last year and have had so many people find it useful I thought it might be worth doing it again.

I have had a number of messages asking if I have any spaces in my classes. I'm really sorry but I have been at full capacity for some time now.

However, I do appreciate that this is a very stressful time of year for parents who have children sitting these private school assessments in January 2013. So, I'm hoping that by setting up this support group thread I can help by answering some questions you have about these assessments.

Hopefully this thread will also contain some useful insight from the experiences of parents who have already been through the process.

Pinkangels2 - thats good news. I havent heard of anyone who got rejected being called so think it will be positive. good luck :)

Thank u, was more hoping for a 2nd in NLCS!! Didn't make that one, just not sure about Habs? The first round I found the whole process so unwelcoming! It really put me off!! Didn't find any teachers around to talk to, just not sure???
Lets see how it goes, a friend of mine also got her daughter through and was called, so yes I'm sure it's a call for 2nd round, thanks will keep u posted x

Pinkangels2 - we didnt get a call back at habs. i dont think their admissions process reflects the school. i agree it hasnt been handled very well but i think the school is lovely. it is nurturing as well as academic. i loved the school. dont be put off by their admissions dept. best of luck x

Thank u coldatchristmas really kind of u to take the time to reply, will try to stay positive, don't mean to sound ungrateful, will see how round 2 goes, and if I feel differently

Thank u once again x

Good Luck PinkAngels2..... x

ok so in the spirit of moving forwards.. i want to start tutoring my daughter myself at home. can anyone recommend any workbooks i can do with her? thanks so much.

Has any one heard from habs whose dd did the 5+?

Coldatchristmas that's the spirit. Are you prepping for 5+? Your dd will need to be able to read oft level 2/3, add subtract within 10 confidentially, make sure once able your dd reads to you everyday and that you read to her books beyond her level so that it helps built vocab. Don't go rushing into buying lots of workbooks. Adding for example can be taught using everyday objects. Make sure your dd can recognise all numbers and knows what each one means. Then move on to 1 more : what's 1 more than 2? Use a number line so she can visualise it or a number square.

yes prepping for 5+ as we were not successful at nlcs habs and decided against st helens in the end. thank you for your advice. v helpful as always.

Good luck with prepping coldatchristmas. I am considering tutoring. Which schools do 5+ entry other than Habs? My dd has a very academic older sister and my concern is she will always feel like the less clever one and I don't want to push her unnecessarily making her feel inferior.

Pretty much only Habs that takes a full class at 5+ AFAIK. others you'd be relying on someone to leave but they all keep lists for chance vacancies so worth contacting the office for any schools you're interested in -there may be some movement.

Coldatchristmas, in the same boat as you, sigh. Curious to know why you decided against st helens in the end? Thx

Thanks mum teacher. We did get post yesterday but no letter. If I don't hear tomorrow should I call them or do they not look kindly upon that?

We went through the 4+ last year and I just wanted to reassure everyone that not getting in to one of these selective schools does not mean your child is doomed to a life of academic under-achievement. My DD did not get into our preferred school at 4+ last year (we are in Surrey, not N London) but she is loving her school and doing really well academically (reading ORT level 5, mastering times tables (they haven't taught them that yet at school; she has taught herself)) so my message is that it isn't the end of the world if they don't get in. I was upset last year as I thought I hadn't prepped her enough (we didn't tutor or anything like that) and we thought she would have fit in well at the school at which she was rejected, but she is doing just fine where she is.

I think you have to accept that generally these schools know what they are doing.

If people effectively "cheat" the system with over prepping and tutoring, may get their kids in but how will they actually find it at school. They may find the pressure too much or as a parent you may end up with a false economy as you'll need to keep up the tutoring and in some scenarios, they will be asked to leave at some stage which is not ideal.

Most teachers will tell you that the tutored ones or kumoned kids are the ones that struggle the most and are the least happy, who wants that for their LO??

What I am trying to say is that for those who were unsuccessful because their kids may not have been ready yet or their personality doesn't suit the school shouldn't lose heart or think they have done the wrong thing as they won't be the ones being asked to leave these selective schools in a few years.

Good luck to all the Round 2s, hope you all get the results you want!

We received the rejection from Habs as well. In the end we've decided to keep dd in her current school. Won't be proceeding with either Channing (just not convinced by the facilities / teachers which wouldn't justify us moving closer to the Highgate area) and Radlett ( agreed with 4plusmum - more of a boys prep). I will be personally tutoring my child without having the 5+ assessments in mind. I don't want this turning into an unhealthy obsession with a very small set of schools.i personally went to a small independent school before , as the name suggests, studying at Imperial and then a happy career at Goldman Sachs. An education at NLCS / Habs is not necessarily the only passport to success. Our dd's education is a long road and we can't get fixated on chasing our "dream school"

Mjizz - we decided against St Helens because of the distance and somehow my gut feel was that I don't want my dd going there till 18. I would rather send her to a good prep and then nlcs or habs at 11.
Thanks to everyone for their support and know you are right. If dd goes to a good prep she should be at the top end of her class which will build confidence and self esteem. Thanks.

why does it take so long for NLCS to get back to people with results of the second round? how many sleepless nights do they want us to have??

Lovepretzels they let most know earlier on this week by email. If you haven't already heard you should ring the school Tom. As far as I know r2 took place Thursday and Friday gone.

mumteacher, I think lovepretzels is asking why NLCS takes two weeks to communicate decisions after round 2 has concluded i.e. on February 3. I wonder too...

For 4+ that is.

Ah yes just re read! That makes more sense now ! X

Yes I meant after round 2. The letter which finally tells us if dd has a place or not.

I vaguely remember that NLCS mentioned that if they might even visit the nurseries of the girls they selected to double-check how they interact with other children in a familiar environment. Do you know if this ever happens?

DD got rejected from NLCS 4+. Still waiting for Habs.
Got my post today and nothing from Habs!
Should I call them?