Common Entrance focus

[Bungung]

DD's in Y3 at local prep that feeds to public school. Obvs it will vary between schools, but I wondered when prepping for Common Entrance tends to really kicks in. Year 4 or 5?
We're keeping minds/options open for secondary. Only certainty is we can't afford public school fees so it'll be transfer to a comp, grammar or private school. Paying for tonnes of CE prep would be pointless IYSWIM.
Sorry if this has been done to death and/or is a dumb-ass question. I know I should ask the school but I'm too shy and want to get some inside info from you first. Thank you!

In your situation I would transfer at 11, not 13. I would suggested moving at the 'standard' entry point for the school of your choice :)

You may want to do some practice for the 11+ at home, just in terms of test familiarisation. But this will depend as a few schools will be preparing children in year 5/6 for the common entrance pre tests. Though this is obviously different to the grammar tests, it is all good preparation. Have other children from the prep school left to go to local grammars before? Some schools loose a fair few children to them, others very few. I'm sure you understand though that a prep school won't 'prep' for the 11+ as it's just not in their interest.

And no, Year 4/5/6 should be a good balance of preparing for pre tests and common entrance combined with a good balance curriculum. I wouldn't see it as a waste.

I'd only see it as a waste if you kept him there for Y7 & Y8 only to transfer to a local state school/private school that usually takes from 11 for y9

A little in year 6 (for schools which pretest) but mainly year 7 & 8. If you plan to move at 11 check that the school prepares for any entrance exams and interviews. It may not if majority move at 13+.

Many thanks! I think about 25% leave at 11. Mostly to local private ones or state. Grammars unheard of even though they're only 30 mins' drive away. Prep isn't selective or regarded as 'academic'. Most pupils v wealthy with keen interest in sport. But, it does make DD super-happy despite living at home with two introverted geeks so we fill in any gaps (not many, mainly just IT) at the weekend and enjoy watching her have a fab childhood. Thanks again.

At my youngest son's prep, which runs to 13+, they only stream for the next school in year 8. So there ar a couple of London day school forms and a couple of common entrance forms plus the scholarship form who will be sitting extra papers. Works very well.

Surely If you let the school know your preferred exit route they will tell you how best to achieve it and how they can help.

Glad you child is happy as that makes the biggest difference to how they receive schooling.

I wonder if your DD goes to the same school as my DS, sounds v similar.

If DS wasn't going to the associated public school, I may well pull him out at 11 so he could start with the rest of the 'new' cohort at whichever senior school. Up to Y7/8 I don't think there's any CE focus. Likewise however, there is no 11+ focus. Mainly a focus on sport and putting on 'blazing' DS's word not mine plays.

Lowdoor, it certainly does! I just keep reminding myself that it's DD's world, not mine, and it suits HER.

Thanks, all. Really useful. I'm a clueless indie sector newbie.

At my DDs boarding girls’ prep, they streamed from Y4. Scholarship stream was the top set. They sent girls to the top boarding schools so saw the academics as important. They taught all children with specialist teachers from Y3/4. So all of this was prep for CE. Some girls left for the local grammars at 11.

Y8 is way too late if you have scholarship
Group who are doing Latin. It really depends on the prep and what it sees as it’s core business. Y7 and 8 can be highly focussed on CE practice and the curriculum in a senior school that starts from Y7 can be much better. However a school that focuses on CE may not focus much on 11 plus. That’s why you have to check what the school actually does before you sign up.