Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Primary education

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

Original poster

3+ 4+ 5+ 7+ support thread 2014

659 replies

mumteacher · 08/11/2013 18:47

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.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
missravda · 12/02/2014 09:20

Do we know when is it that the schools start calling in regards to the 4+ waiting lists? Has anyone got moved to the yes list so far?

lovepretzels · 12/02/2014 17:28

i think the nlcs list has been finalised now so everyone should have a final decision.

Destiny06 · 12/02/2014 21:15

How is habs 5+ assessment different from habs 4+. Can anyone throw some light and tell what all came this year.

tellmeonasunday · 12/02/2014 21:22

Some reading and writing. More of the same as at 4+ but they need to be better at it!

doureine · 13/02/2014 07:13

5+
My daughter had the following questions
Memory game
A Puzzle
Story read to her
Drawing

gemsept · 13/02/2014 13:33

Anyone had a call back for 4+ from wait list?

Verymuddymummy · 13/02/2014 14:31

St Helen's deadline for 4+offers was yesterday at noon. We were waitlisted so I called them at about 2pm yesterday and was told over the phone that we are now on the yes list, big relief Smile

AmIIndecisive · 13/02/2014 21:50

Congrats verymuddymum! Any news from anyone else on wait lists???

missravda · 14/02/2014 20:14

We got offers from both Channing and St Christopher's - so happy!

gemsept · 15/02/2014 07:54

Congratulations missravda, just wondered did they call or send letter?

missravda · 15/02/2014 08:33

Gemsept, they sent a letter but we are away on hols so I asked them to call us as well so they did yesterday. Check your post today, cross my fingers for you!!!!

gemsept · 15/02/2014 08:38

Thank you. Congratulations again

AmIIndecisive · 15/02/2014 13:19

Congrats missravda!!

missravda · 15/02/2014 17:08

Thank you! Now lets hope all the other mums with girls on the waiting lists get some good news. All this waiting is excruciating...

Verymuddymummy · 15/02/2014 22:57

Does anyone have any experience of St Albans High School for Girls please? Looking for thoughts in particular on how the parent/teacher relationship is at the school. It's difficult to get a sense of this from the open day and assessment morning. Thank you!

zenmum · 16/02/2014 11:32

Verymuddymummy
My DD does not go to SAHS, but I have heard only good things about this school. Excellent academics, marvellous pastoral care and good teacher interaction with parents. I had gone for the 4+assessments there for my DD and I was very impressed with the way the teachers took the children in for the assessments, looked after them and spent a lot of time with one particular child who was crying a lot to make her feel comfortable. Again, even though I do not have first hand experience of this school, my little experience of it was very encouraging..& by reputation, I have heard & read, girls are very happy and well looked after there as well. I do however, understand that it is very academically inclined & focussed. If your DD does have an offer from this school, I would seriously consider it. Hope that helps !

surreytuition · 16/02/2014 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Verymuddymummy · 16/02/2014 21:41

Thanks Zenmum. Your comments were v helpful, much appreciated.

Flutterby11 · 19/02/2014 21:51

Qus for all the parents whose dd received an offer from habs/nlcs, did anyoneNOT tutor their dd? am just wondering if it's worth going through application process unless u do tutor

Bernie34 · 19/02/2014 23:15

Hi flutterby 11, my DD did amazing and got offers from both NLCS and Habs at 4+ and she did not have a tutor. Did lots of puzzles and drawing at home as part of normal play. Think that if you need to tutor now then worry if they will keep up. These schools are looking for girls who are keen to learn and have potential. Good luck with whatever you decide.

AmIIndecisive · 20/02/2014 00:47

Hi Flutterby, we didn't tutor either and got offers. Think 3 or 4 is a bit young personally and was worried about long term tutoring to keep up.

slowcomputer · 20/02/2014 08:10

The question you need to ask is not only did they tutor but did they go to a preschool with a record of sending kids to selective schools as that is essentially tutoring by another name.

AmIIndecisive · 20/02/2014 10:20

No, we didn't send our kids to a pre school - just the local nursery - which covered the EYFS (as most probably do).

AmIIndecisive · 20/02/2014 10:27

Anyway slowcomputer, surely, taking a child and putting them one on one, or in small groups with specialist teachers specifically to train for a 4+ assessment (cant imagine what they do!!) when they should be out playing and exploring the world is not the same. Surely a pre school is similar but I don't know, I would imagine it's about social skills and learning through play but not sure how or what you can teach a child if they are not willing or interested at that age?

Bernie34 · 20/02/2014 11:01

My dd goes to the local nursery

Swipe left for the next trending thread