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Original poster

Transfer to Highgate at 7+ or 11+?

38 replies

munchymoo · 30/03/2022 12:01

DS1 is 6 and at an excellent state primary where he is happy and settled with a good friendship base. He is a bright, academic boy who loves learning. We have 2 other children, a 2 year old DS and 1 year old DD.

Owing to finances and having 3 children, our plan was always to do state primary then move to independent secondary at 11+, expecting to do quite a lot of tutoring etc to get him in. We live locally to and love the idea of Highgate, but also could consider UCS, not looked further at other options YET.

Recently a friend suggested it may be better to try to get DS into Highgate at 7+ rather than 11+ as slightly less competitive, she suggested that then it will be easier for siblings to get it so it may safeguard their entry. On speaking to Highgate the other day they said they don't have a sibling policy though!

I've looked at the 7+ exam and DS isn't doing anything near this level at school yet (in year 1). He's a bright boy and I think he may not be being stretched to his full potential. He's also started coming home speaking fairly badly with slang and swearing which I know is probably the norm but as snobby as this sounds (and I know it does), I just don't like this side of things from the state school he's at.

We are really torn as to what to do. Do we stick to plan A and keep him where he is and get him to sit 11+, but if he doesn't get in that will be a bit rubbish! Or do we get him to do 7+ but then IF he gets in we need to move him from a school where he is genuinely happy and settled ,albeit perhaps not achieving his potential. Do we "further" the education he is getting by adding in tutors? I'm not really sure I'm happy to do that as I think a 6 year old boy should be spending a lot of time learning through play still!

Any thoughts as to situation, especially if anyone has experience of Highgate particularly, much appreciated. Thank you x

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DrPrepper · 30/03/2022 16:04

the 11+ is pretty competitive especially for boys.

Highgate is also hard to get into so going for a less popular entry point 7+ would be great.

The question is: is your son outstanding academically and will your he sit down and do the necessary prep?

MrPickles73 · 30/03/2022 21:02

Why not put him in for the 7+ exam and see how he gets on? I suspect 11+ will be even more competitive as many people will want to hold off paying fees.
A friend of mine's son failed the 4+ Confused at Highgate!

TodayWeShark · 31/03/2022 13:17

Your friend hasn't given you correct advice - there is no sibling policy at Highgate so having one child at the school will not make it easier for siblings to attend - there's a very small disclaimer on this that it may be used if there's a competitive selection between two children who have scored identically in the assessment. We have friends who have one child at Highgate but siblings were not offered places.

If you don't like his state school then get him registered for seven plus exams, but perhaps look at schools other than Highgate.

MadeInChorley · 31/03/2022 13:26

Highgate is definitely easier to get into at 7+. Esp for boys. My DS2’s best friend went there at 7+.

The 11+ is harder, especially for boys. A friend’s very bright son didn’t get in (their first choice, v local) at 11+ despite being top of his year and getting offers from Westminster, UCS, City Boys and Habs, which threw the cat amongst the pigeons because their DD did get a place at 7+ and they planned for them both to go together.

StrugglingPa · 31/03/2022 17:02

I would suggest moving now. 7+ is much easier compared to 11+. I am generalising things but consider this, one child gets in at 7+ and continues to work hard. The other child will come in at 11+ and is working extremely hard to break in. In all probability, the 11+ child will need more work, will be more tutored and more driven. The competition for the child at 11+ also increases as a lot of children are mature and self-driven. At 7+, not all children are so obsessive and not desperate to get into school. They are intelligent and motivated, but that's natural. 11+ is a different ball game altogether.

Bizzarely · 31/03/2022 21:27

I wouldn't think about breaking social circle etc...since it will happen at 11+ as well. And he will have continuity with the same children from year 3 onwards. So I won't consider that while making the decision.
Which school is he in currently? I am from the area so know the schools.
If you think he is high potential and his needs are not being met, causing him to not reach his potential....then I wouldn't wait till 11+ to change the school. Children, who are more able and are not challenged during the long school day...tend to coast through school and don't develop the important skill of working hard/resilience. And that can't be supported just by outside tutors. Tutoring Will make them ahead and then will have to just sit through redundant lessons in school.
Hope my rambling makes some sense.

365sleepstogo · 01/04/2022 07:51

speaking fairly badly with slang and swearing which I know is probably the norm

No it isn’t or at least it shouldn’t be the norm - don’t accept it. You can’t control others but he is young enough that you & his dad are still the biggest influence.
Good luck with your decision!

passport123 · 01/04/2022 14:54

If you're thinking 7+ and the school don't prepare, and you're in April of year 1 then you may be on the late side - most people would tutor from the start of Y1. You could try a few sessions with an experienced 7+ tutor and then an honest opinion of where he is.

Original poster
munchymoo · 02/04/2022 16:01

Thanks all so much for your responses. @passport123, we're prepared to start tutoring but the school (Highgate) say they don't expect it and they can tell a tutored/prepped child and don't necessarily like it. Does everyone just ignore that and get tutors anyway or else they don't stand a chance of getting in??

OP posts:
Original poster
munchymoo · 02/04/2022 16:02

@Bizzarely thanks so much, have sent you a PM

OP posts:
passport123 · 02/04/2022 16:34

@munchymoo

Thanks all so much for your responses. *@passport123*, we're prepared to start tutoring but the school (Highgate) say they don't expect it and they can tell a tutored/prepped child and don't necessarily like it. Does everyone just ignore that and get tutors anyway or else they don't stand a chance of getting in??
Yes they all say that. But they take the tutored kids.
JustTryingouthere · 03/04/2022 09:00

All the Schools say they don't like tutored children, they have to say that! They know full well nearly everyone does it. The playing field is not equal and to stand a chance, additional learning is required. I did the 11 + recently and I know a fee families who fell a fowel of the "don't tutor" My youngest will be sitting 7+ for competitive schools and will be starting at the end of Summer Term this year (he is in Reception). I want no pressure, just slow and steady with fun built into the process.

LigurianBread · 03/04/2022 21:13

7+ much easier than 11+, any day. You can help prepare son for it yourself, however having done just that with mine, feel they didn’t respond as well to me. Getting someone with a track record of successes will definitely help with your son’s success. 11+ just gets more unpredictable. Do consider a few other schools if you decide to go the 7+ route.

Wouldn’t waste time as getting close to exams. Start over Easter to stand a good chance. There is much to cover for a state school child. It is still very competitive at this age

pkim123 · 15/04/2022 20:07

This reply has been deleted

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

preppingforlife · 16/04/2022 01:02

That's totally absurd pkim

StrugglingPa · 16/04/2022 08:50

Reporting your message @pkim123. Please be respectful to children in general. Everyone comes here for constructive posts. Don’t know what prompted you to reply to @MadeInChorley in this manner

MinorWomensWhiplash1 · 16/04/2022 14:40

@LigurianBread and others with experience - where would you expect a child to be academically at this stage of the year to stand a chance in the 7+ For Highgate and similar?

DS is in Year 1 at state school and they seem so far behind the independent schools, they’ve only just finished counting up and down from 50 (DS is well beyond this). He did the full set of 5-6 Bond books the past two months (English, maths, VR, non-VR) with reasonable ease and we will move onto the 6-7 bond books, with aim to move to the 7-8s over summer holidays/first term year 2. Does this sound about the right pace for preparation to sit the exams in Dec/Jan? Would really appreciate any opinions!

Original poster
munchymoo · 16/04/2022 20:34

@MinorWomensWhiplash1 I would like to know exactly the same, thanks for posting the question!!

OP posts:
hockeygrass · 16/04/2022 20:41

@munchymoo @MinorWomensWhiplash1
You need to search the thread called
7+ exam
That started in Sept 2021, it's full of details of the 7plus exams for top boys schools.

Xenia · 16/04/2022 20:44

With our daughters we got them in as early as we could (Haberdashers and North London Collegiate) before the rush at 11 plus which did pay off in our case.

bjmin · 17/04/2022 11:59

@preppingforlife

That's totally absurd pkim
I'm confused, what's absurd?
hockeygrass · 17/04/2022 12:50

@bjmin , her comment was deleted by MN as it was irrelevant fiction.

rogueone · 17/04/2022 12:59

They wont have a sibling policy as its a competitive school however my DS school were clear at interview they were a 'family' school and if the boys passed the entrance exam they would likely be offered. We have two boys there and number 3 will be doing 10+

Your friend is correct that it is less competitive at 7+ however it will still be competitive.My youngest has just done 7+ and for the local schools your expected to be 2yrs ahead. So you would need to prepare your DS as he will be competing with very prepped private school DC.

LigurianBread · 17/04/2022 13:33

@MinorWomensWhiplash1 & @munchymoo
At this point in time, child should know at least times tables: 2,3,4,5,10,11; writing legibly at a steady pace; having covered VR,NVR 6-7 (Bond as a minimum, though those in the know, will cover much more); being able to write a recent piece/few sentences w/o grammatical errors; reading simple chapter books w understanding, ideally use column addition/subtraction for double digits; can listen closely; follow a set of instructions and be able to decipher operation required for simple worded problems.
Your son appears to be doing alright, however having a tutor with a track record will really help, especially as your son is still behind others at pre-prep/other independent schools . Had I done that sooner, my children would have all gotten through at 7+. 8+ gets so much harder, plus much fewer places at the most selective schools.

MinorWomensWhiplash1 · 17/04/2022 14:24

@LigurianBread @hockeygrass Many thanks for your input, much appreciated. We are hitting most of those targets with a few to work towards but I think we’ll go for a range of schools to spread the risk a bit, we’re only considering co-ed too so half the places. Good luck to everyone applying for 2023! 🤞

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