Does your state primary prep for 11+ ?

procrastin8or · 2023-02-04T18:26:50+00:00

Just that really. If you are in or near an area with the 11+ does your state primary do any work to prepare pupils? I've been told that the 11+ covers stuff not taught in year 5 and the exam is first weeks of year 6.

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

LIZS · 04/02/2023 18:29

I don't think they are allowed to.

Original poster

procrastin8or · 04/02/2023 18:57

A friend said that some state primaries do prepare pupils and my first thought was that they aren't allowed but I don't know where I got that from.

OP posts:

MonteStory · 04/02/2023 19:02

They aren’t allowed.
Also I believe it tests reasoning rather than the curriculum?

Lapland123 · 04/02/2023 19:03

Prep schools don’t prepare them either

Beamur · 04/02/2023 19:04

No.
It's something you will have to do yourself.

Fedupnowhadenough · 04/02/2023 19:05

My children’s prep school prepares them, as do most

LIZS · 04/02/2023 19:06

That is the gap Explore Learning et al fill.

Hopefullyupwards · 04/02/2023 19:08

Mine doesn't. Why aren't they allowed though?

Lapland123 · 04/02/2023 19:17

I meant prep schools don’t prepare for state 11+. Obviously they prep for 11+ to independent schools, that’s their raison d’etre

lechatnoir · 04/02/2023 19:17

None of the primaries near me did any but quite a few Prep schools do. Assuming your child is grammar material (at least top 1/3 of their class, in higher sets, doesn't struggle academically etc) you don't have to have a tutor! look up past papers specific for that test area, get some Bond books, practise timed tests and make sure they understand & practise different VR & NVR methods as this is the area that definitely won't be covered in state primary.

I'm in Kent with two at different grammar schools, neither had private tutors or did excessive revision (1 hour a day after school only in year 5) but that is quite unusual IME. They are doing well and where they should be. Another child failed 11+ and also at the best school for him (non grammar)

ZebraKid71 · 04/02/2023 19:21

My kid's state primary doesn't do it within school time but they do do after school prep for 11+, it's £5 per week for an hour session and they run throughout year 5. Its free for those who get free school dinners. We are in West Yorkshire and there are two grammar schools in our town.

Lozzybear · 04/02/2023 19:22

I know that the state primary closest to the grammar that my DS attends prepares their most able pupils - it’s a super selective grammar. They have a very good success rate. For background, most of the children at the primary live on the large council estate nearby. It’s a shame that other state primaries don’t take the same approach.

modgepodge · 04/02/2023 19:24

Lapland123 · 04/02/2023 19:17

I meant prep schools don’t prepare for state 11+. Obviously they prep for 11+ to independent schools, that’s their raison d’etre

I work in a prep which preps kids for state 11+. A large number of parents (50% probably) send their kids to us hoping they will then pass the 11+ and they won’t have to pay for senior school. We also prep for independent senior schools.

Most state schools won’t prep OP, other than teaching the national curriculum which is what half the paper is (maths and English, the other half being VR an dNVR). You’ll need to get a tutor or teach that to them yourself.

modgepodge · 04/02/2023 19:28

Also you are right, various y6 maths content including algebra and ratio as well as some of the harder fractions decimals and percentages stuff gets tested. I don’t know why the schools/exam boards lie and say it only covers the y5 curriculum, even the GL sample materials on their website contain y6 level questions.

ModeWeasel · 04/02/2023 19:31

neither had private tutors or did excessive revision (1 hour a day after school only in year 5)

an hour a day after school for a whole school year at age 9/10 sounds massively excessive!!!

Original poster

procrastin8or · 04/02/2023 20:31

MonteStory · 04/02/2023 19:02

They aren’t allowed.
Also I believe it tests reasoning rather than the curriculum?

It does but there is also maths that seems to be year 6 level so it seems kids would need to learn that somehow outside of school whether at home or with a tutor.

OP posts:

Original poster

procrastin8or · 04/02/2023 20:34

lechatnoir · 04/02/2023 19:17

None of the primaries near me did any but quite a few Prep schools do. Assuming your child is grammar material (at least top 1/3 of their class, in higher sets, doesn't struggle academically etc) you don't have to have a tutor! look up past papers specific for that test area, get some Bond books, practise timed tests and make sure they understand & practise different VR & NVR methods as this is the area that definitely won't be covered in state primary.

I'm in Kent with two at different grammar schools, neither had private tutors or did excessive revision (1 hour a day after school only in year 5) but that is quite unusual IME. They are doing well and where they should be. Another child failed 11+ and also at the best school for him (non grammar)

Yes I did the 11+ many years ago with books my parents bought me from WHSmith, I don't think tuition was common then. My school was religious and very anti the 11+. A friend said that other schools did prepare and do now but the schools I know locally don't do that.

OP posts:

Original poster

procrastin8or · 04/02/2023 20:35

ZebraKid71 · 04/02/2023 19:21

My kid's state primary doesn't do it within school time but they do do after school prep for 11+, it's £5 per week for an hour session and they run throughout year 5. Its free for those who get free school dinners. We are in West Yorkshire and there are two grammar schools in our town.

That's interesting and good that it's open to those who might not otherwise afford it.

OP posts:

VashtaNerada · 04/02/2023 20:39

11+ Maths is from the Year 6 curriculum and neither of my DC’s schools helped prepare for it. Agree with @lechatnoir that you don’t need a tutor though. We did the preparation ourselves and both of mine passed.

Original poster

procrastin8or · 04/02/2023 20:43

Lozzybear · 04/02/2023 19:22

I know that the state primary closest to the grammar that my DS attends prepares their most able pupils - it’s a super selective grammar. They have a very good success rate. For background, most of the children at the primary live on the large council estate nearby. It’s a shame that other state primaries don’t take the same approach.

Oh that would seem to shake my theory that state primaries aren't allowed to prep for it. I guess if it's stuff that isn't in the curriculum then this school must be able to cover that first and move on to 11+.

OP posts:

Legomania · 04/02/2023 21:00

Our state primary does too. I hadn't appreciated until this thread that this is unusual. We can afford tuition but will be in a minority at our school.

Reluctantadult · 04/02/2023 21:05

No the primaries in my town don't prepare them for 11+. There are 5 grammars a bus ride away. There's one state comp in town that's requires improvement at ofsted and pretty big. People aiming at the grammar seem to get tutors during yr5. Many don't pass. It's a concern to me.

smileladiesplease · 04/02/2023 21:07

Went to a state primary in inner city brum 70s. They were the only school that prepared us for 11plus. I think 90% passed as that's all we did in the leavers year. Test paper after test paper. It most certainly wasn't officially allowed then.

Forever42 · 04/02/2023 21:08

State schools are judged on their SATs results and coverage of the national curriculum so that's what will guide their teaching. It is irrelevant to the school how many children pass the 11+.

Original poster

procrastin8or · 04/02/2023 21:08

modgepodge · 04/02/2023 19:28

Also you are right, various y6 maths content including algebra and ratio as well as some of the harder fractions decimals and percentages stuff gets tested. I don’t know why the schools/exam boards lie and say it only covers the y5 curriculum, even the GL sample materials on their website contain y6 level questions.

It seems wrong to put maths in the test they haven't covered at school. I know they don't do reasoning at school but that's not learned in the same way?

OP posts: