Selective schools at 4,7 and 11

[Sully957]

Hi,

I'm looking at schools for my daughter and a few of them are all through schools that have different intakes.

At 4+ the competition ratio is very high! I think around 40 applicants per place and it seems like it would be a complete lottery as to whether you get a place or not. So, if you didn't get in at this early stage, would your chances of admission at the next point (7) be harmed? Would the school essentially put a black mark against your child's name for later entry? (It would seem odd to me as obviously children develop at different rates and a child at 7 could be completely different from the one they were at 4). Just wondered if there was an unwritten rule as such?

This school thing is so hard. I can't decide if it would be better to get my daughter into an all through school at an early age to spare the hand wringing at 11 (assuming she meets the academic criteria!) or go with the great non selective prep and run the gauntlet of entrance exams at 11!

Any thoughts?

I think that the problem with independent selective schools, especially in the southeast, is that whilst the population of school age children may be increasing, the number of senior school places in particular isn't. Competition seems to be greater than in the last decade or so as a result, but schools also come in and out of fashion.

IME not getting a place at 4 will have no impact on your chances later on. I know a child who was outright rejected at year 3 (and not even against competition - just didn't meet the standard) who got a scholarship to the attached senior school at 11+. Schools are very aware that they are just looking at a snaphot. Also in terms of statistics, there may be 40 children per space, but the chances are that they have applied for more than one school, often at least 3.

Children change, as do schools. The ability to pay gives you more choice of schools in theory at least. I would look for the best fit for your child over the next 6 to 7 years, and take it a step at a time, rather than trying to anticipate what the best school for them will be in 10 years time!

Thanks Lady Muck, that's reassuring!

I was of the view that it would be best to pick a junior school then reasses at 11 once it's clearer what interests my daughter has - if nothing else spending the best part of 14 years of education in one place is a long time! Just speaking to a couple of friends has made me second guess myself :-)

I have two DDs who would have to go through 11+ process in due time. DD1 also did a 7+ and moved preps.

If there was a choice of out current great prep, where both of them are now, and a good all through school - I'd seriously think about it.

Every year I watch parents of Y6 girls going through 11+ and it scares me. The process is stressful for all involved. I wish DDs didn't have to go through it.

The problem with this sort of early planning is twofold: 1) that state schools aren't good enough (especially primary schools) and 2) that your child at 3 has anything to do with what they will be like at 11 or 16.

This is the starting point that generates all that stress at 11+. It's not good for you or your child.

Maybe you should have a list of 4 or 5 secondary schools (state and private) that you like and then post here asking where people got in from?

My two DD are at a state primary but are due to start at an all-through in September. There were 16 places at 4+ and 6 places available at 7+ (plus the same number of places for boys), but from hearsay it seems the ratio of children applying/places offered was more advantageous than at 11+ and the tests are obviously that much less stressful for parents to go through.

I agree with Ladymuck that it is probably better to look for a good fit in the shorter term. Fourteen years at the same school does seem a long time. Avoiding the 11+ fandango was one reason to make the move now, but so was our older DD's lack of stimulation at school, and the necessity to move to somewhere we could afford more space.

Good luck with your decision making!

I think your immediate priority is to find a school that isn't too stressful to get to and that you think your child will love for 2 or 3 years. If you mess the first bit up, you'll need to work hard to repair that dislike of school.

For me, we had a lovely local school, so many playdates were within about 200m-300m of where we live. This was great for making good family friendships/babysitting etc. We moved at 7+ into a 3 -18 indie selective.

We still have our local friends (so we are forever bumping into them/doing playdates), but we have a wider circle of friends.

Any decent £ selective school ought to be giving you a pretty good idea about how your child is coping with school and making Plan B suggestions.