Right attitude for 7+?

[user1471592953]

Looking for advice.

DS (6, Y2) is currently at a (Good) London state primary. We may move out of the area and are considering selective schools too.

Comments on DS at parents’ evenings tend to be around his rushing work to get it done, and writing being difficult to read as a result. Also about a lack of focus/concentration. (At home, he does do homework willingly (because we’ve told him he has to do it) but he’d definitely rather play. He did confess the other day that he likes doing homework once he is into it.)

Other comments from his teacher are that he is articulate, has great ideas, is keen on new challenges and picks up new concepts easily, retains information well, and is enthusiastic.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this sort of child in the context of preparing for 7+? I feel as though he might be the sort that comes into his own and is ‘ready’ for the demands of tutoring and entrance exams later on, say Y5 or Y7. At the same time, I feel that the extra curricular activities and further stretch of a selective (plus no homework) could bring him forward. But I’m just not sure if he will get through the exam if they are looking for neat writing and perfect maths! I’ve also thought about just asking him to sit the test without preparation but I guess he’d be compared against others that are tutored - and wouldn’t get in. I’m reluctant to tutor in case the ramp up in work and effort turns him off school completely (given he is only 6 I’d rather avoid that).

Can anyone help provide different perspectives?

there is no set formula really at this age sadly...what you can do is get some of the free example 7+ papers for english and maths off the net...ask him to give them a go and see how he gets on...you will get some idea of potential gaps and whether you feel you will be able to bridge those over the next few months...he doesn't have to get 100% in everything !!!

I cannot advise about the child but I would check the application deadlines first: for some schools it might be too late to apply.

I wonder the same about my DS. It’s difficult to gauge because he’s my eldest by several years and I don’t really know any other children of the same age well enough to see how he compares in terms of attitude to learning. DS’s attitude isn’t great to be honest, it can be a battle to get him to do any revision except maths, but he will sit down and concentrate if he has to.

I imagine that at 6/7 even the most intellectually capable children are not particularly motivated to do lots of homework and revision for exams, surely? And maybe the schools are looking for traits of potential like attempting all the questions and persevering, concentrating for the duration of the exam etc rather than just 100% correct answers, so perhaps there is more wiggle room to pass than we expect?

Why not choose a less competitive school? Plenty don’t have 7 plus exams. You just apply.

Thanks for your responses, everyone. I had thought about non-selective but all the schools in the areas we are looking have an assessment.

@User19876 I think your points about attitude, approaches and interest are valid. My teacher friend told me the other day about the concept of growth mindset, which seems to capture it.

I’ll talk to his teacher again.

Hi op. It seems a bit late for the 7+ unless he has already started prep and exam papers?

Possibly, but the school I’m thinking about (not in London) says that it’s not necessary to prepare your child.

Ps - the above should say that one of the schools we are thinking about says no preparation is required. The others do have assessments where preparation evidently is required. For the reasons in my OP, I’m not sure about going down the tutor/formal exam route for a six year old.

@user1471592953 They all say that! No one takes any notice of it though. Welcome to the world of competitive parenting!

I have a 6yo ds sitting the 7+. He is at a prep school, and they have spent the last year preparing for the exams. I would say it's too late at this point to now just get started on the prep.