11plus early

[user1484655514]

A tutor has recommended my friends child sits the 11plus a year early but she isn't sure how common this is ?

State or private? I don't think state would allow it but some private schools might , depending on assessment of maturity and social fit into the year "above". (I've known one join y6 mid year in a prep/senior set up to see how they fared). Alternatively there are some which offer 10+ entry.

I'd really advise against, no matter how bright the child. My sister and I were both out of year and it was a very bad move - we are both adamant that our children will always be with their age appropriate cohort. It's not generally a problem in the earlier years, but later on it's a nightmare - going to university when you're not old enough to go to the pub isn't much fun either!

Look at the admissions arrangements for the grammar / selective school the child is aiming to go to. Many have specific information about taking the test out of year group - for example requiring written permission from the grammar school of choice, or requiring proof that the child has been routinely taught out of age group before allowing them to take the test.

Also bear in mind that it will almost certainly not be possible to have 'two bites at the cherry' - a child given permission to take the test a year early who fails will almost certainly not be allowed to retake it the following year.

If the target is a private school, again must be discussed with them first. I missed Year 7 after taking the 11+ scholarship exams to a highly selective private school, but that was a decision taken AFTER I had taken the exam, not before.

I agree with elf that except is very exceptional circumstances, being a year young is miserable. I took a year out to 'reset' myself before university, and tbh would have got a lot more out of 6th form had i been in my correct year.

Exceptionally, it can be sensible to teach a child out of year - or wholly separately - for a single subject, often but not always Maths. This can be done physically - a Y8 child attending 6th form Maths lessons, for example - or virtually through university lectures being video linked to the school child. But those really are exceptions.

The aim is he sits the test this year as a practise not to go up a group year but they have been told he is exceptionally bright ( by school)

I don't think you can do that - check with whoever organises the 11+, but by doing it 1 year they may rule themselves out of doing it in the 'proper' year. As I say, arrangements vary but in the schools i have looked at the secondary has to agree in writing that an under-age candidate can take the test, and no candidate can take the test in more than 1 year.

You can do mock tests any year. Why doesn't he do that as practice?

Do they release the 11+ papers after the tests like SATs? If so, why not just take it for practise then?

TBH id he's bright enough to sail the 11+, in his parent's position I'd not be worrying about academic matters and instead looking to expand his repertoire. What else does he do? Music, drama, sport.. he needs other strings to his bow.

Council wouldn't accept the application in my area

Nearest grammars to us only allow 1 test - take it in year 5 and that's that, you can't resist in year 6.

(What is the point though?)

I think your tutor is a bit confused. I am pretty sure you can't do these exams (grammar or private) out of year group as just "practice". That would be an administrative nightmare for the schools.

My LA has a one exam per pupil rule. No child gets a go at 10 and 11. I would strongly advise against it.

Long time ago now but I was a year up in Primary. Was a May birthday so some children up to 20 months older. I was always seen as very "babyish". I sat 11+ at "correct" age. Grammar School offered me a place direct into Year 2. My parents made me fall back to my correct year. I was disappointed but now with little ones of my own get the decision. It is about fit and maturity. My parents took the right decision. Life is a marathon not a sprint!!!

Our grammar school will only let you take their entrance test once. You can be 10+ (i.e. a year younger than most) but only if you've already been moved up an academic year into yr6 when you sit the test.

Does the tutor actually know the rules for the selective school(s) in question, to make such a suggestion? It's not common to sit the 11+ out of your academic yeargroup, especially as "practise". And as other PP have suggested, there are plenty of mock exams you can take for practise.

I mis understood the tutor is suggesting the boy jumps a year group, school are also now agreeing. The tutor has been a tutor for many years and is very highly regarded in the area. Boy is still year 4 so will sit 11plus start of year 5 and miss year 6.

The parents should think this through very, very carefully - it's hard to not go with things when people are telling you that your child is exceptional at x, y, z but being out of year (unless they are perhaps an early September birthday) is a huge thing and I have very rarely known it be successful.

My younger brother and sister were both old in their year-group, I was one year ahead and my youngest sister nearly 2 years ahead. Both me and my sister ended up having complete breakdowns and having to take time out of university - I eventually graduated at 24 and my sister never went back which is a tragedy. Both of us struggled hugely with emotional stuff and peer group relationships. My other siblings sailed through school - didn't get quite such sparkly looking results, but were happy, progressed very solidly, had a great time at university and onwards into careers.

There is no reason with a good school and interested teachers for any child to 'need' to be away from their cohort - better to change school than year group.

Apologies if this comes across as a bit strongly worded, but I have met far too many children who were in my position and not one of us would have it that way for our own.

A good school can tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of very intelligent children if the school is good enough. I cannot see why he needs a tutor anyway. Seems an odd decision because if he was in the correct year he would sail through anyway. So why extra pushing? Is it about boasting?

I suspect this is a private school but it is against the social needs of the child to do this. I have seen children accelerated in private schools and sometimes it is bewildering to understand why. I actually think it is lazy teaching. They just cannot be bothered to extend the curriculum to allow for breadth and depth in the correct cohort. If he goes to grammar at the correct age, and he is vey bright, he will meet others who are similar to work with. There is no advantage to going early.

Child isn't being pushed they knew he was bright so went to a tutor to see if he was 11plus material ( as do many parents). Not private school normal state school with normal decent parents, I asked, they didn't so who is boasting. Usual nasty Mumsnet at its best

Some parents I have met love to boast their child is so bright they are trying for grammar school a year early. It is rarely anything to do with the needs of the child, it is all about them. It is not nasty to say this, it is the sad truth in some cases. If you and everyone else knows a child is very bright they do not need a tutor. They need competent teaching at school. This should be the first avenue. Tutors around here lie about 11 plus potential anyway. I know plenty of Oxbridge children who have never been near a tutor. They worked with their teachers at school. It is the best thing to do.

If he takes it with his peer group and passes chances are high he will find likeminded and equally "bright"pupils. If he takes it early he may still pass but be overshadowed by those a year older and fall within the cohort, perhaps losing motivation.