Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

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

Flip

Original poster

Does anyone else wish they could wave a wand and have the london boys' 8+ process magically over

17 replies

Michaelahpurple · 19/12/2013 17:07

I know I should be seizing these last few weeks to get that final polish, speed and Ã©lan into DS2's work , but oh I am so fed up of setting comprehensions , reading stories that don't get going until the bottom of the page or explaining EVERY TIME we sit down to work exactly why it has to be done. He has to be as bored of that speech as I am!
I do hope that I am not the only one feeling like this

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Iamnotminterested · 19/12/2013 22:31

Poor child.

rootypig · 19/12/2013 22:34

Hot housing is counter productive. Anyway, you want him to be judged on his natural abilities and still want to be in the same room as you. And you need to get a grip so you can get through the next ten years without blood pressure medication.

TheNightIsDark · 19/12/2013 22:38

Surely if he needs you motivating him then he's not capable of sitting the exams. You can push and push but if he isn't that way inclined you won't get anywhere.

Not to mention he's a child, not a show pony.

Camargue · 20/12/2013 13:01

Nope. I don't know anyone doing it and my 8 year old can't write a story to save his life. Luckily, or not, we are stuck with state.

goinggetstough · 20/12/2013 16:19

michael as there don't seem to be many constructive posts I thought I would add my thoughts. My DCs have now left school but previously we were in a similiar position to you. So keep going it is nearly January! We did lots of little chunks of revision interspersed with things the DC found fun. I am sure your DS does appreciate your support, but possibly doesn't realise it at this exact minute!!!
Good luck to you both.

mumteacher · 21/12/2013 17:24

OP - oh so very nearly there. X I'm sure your son is feeling a little fed too but you know you can't risk losing sight of the goal now. Few more weeks and it'll all be over.

Ps if you can a day or two out of the holidays it will really help x

Original poster

Michaelahpurple · 22/12/2013 22:10

Oh, he is certainly going to have this week off for Christmas. The timing of the exams is tricky - they are 4 days after term starts, so one can't just let everything hang out over the hols and rely on the return to school routine to kick in as there isn't time.

It is pretty ridiculous to try to get most boys of this age to focus on such an old fashioned exam (many girls would I think be quite up for it) but sadly it is just how the system works here.

Anyway, the end is in sight.

OP posts:

Blueberrypots · 22/12/2013 22:58

We went through this with a boy and a girl, although to be fair most of the prep went on maths, as we felt this was a bigger gap. Children at that age are not hugely motivated by an entrance exam. I found the boy/girl comment quite sexist and unfounded, my son is an amazing story writer and loves tests, my daughter on the other hand would have rather been up a tree and had zero imagination for stories. Not all boys/girls are the same!!!

rootypig · 23/12/2013 12:32

Ah yes, eight year old girls and eight year old boys. So inherently dfferent

motherinferior · 23/12/2013 12:34

Look, if it's such a hassle, just send him to a normal school. He'll be perfectly well taught and happy.

Mintyy · 23/12/2013 12:37

Oooh, I've never heard of the london boys 8 process.

I guess it some kind of private school exam?

I love the way you learn about new and amazing things almost every day on Mumsnet.

TheNightIsDark · 23/12/2013 14:58

They do exams for 3 year olds as well

DingDongUriGelleryOnHigh · 23/12/2013 15:08

I worry about it every day. I worry that people posting local stuff on here is why mumsnet local is so shit.

Original poster

Michaelahpurple · 23/12/2013 15:43

I don't know why people are being so edgy. There are lots of posts on here that could be argued to be "local" such as Kent grammar schools' 11+, or Tiffin entrance. And indeed historic 8+ posts. If the topic isn't of interest to you, why bother reading and posting?

Still, I seem to have annoyed a number of people , so will make like a hoop and roll away.

OP posts:

triplespin · 23/12/2013 18:01

michaelah don't be bothered by the responses. I find posting about 7+/8+ or prep school admissions, always seem to invite a few unconstructive responses. Not quite sure why that is the case.

Whilst we are not going through the exams - I hope you come across some parents in the same boat as you. It must be hard to stay motivated everyday. Especially as you say the boys don't even realise at this stage what it means to be taking this exam.

Only a short while to go though - all the best !!

OddSins · 25/12/2013 14:48

Don't be too worried - kids seems to go on to the right school at 11 or 13 when their potential and performance is easier to assess, pretty much regardless of their prep school (despite the spin you will have been given). At 7 and 8 its a bit of a lottery - its easy for the schools to identify a child who is not bright but not identify one who is.

Tableforfour · 27/12/2013 21:45

Sympathies, I've only been through the 4 and 5 plus but it's grim. I think it's a really daft time of year to have the assessments, some of the London 7 plus have moved to October which makes much more sense.

Flip