Sorry another Priv.Ed. thread. Where do I start?

[FoofffyShmoofffer]

DS is in year 4 in a state primary. I don't love this school but he will have to remain there until the end. We suggested a while ago the local Private school at Secondary level. He knows that there is an exam to pass and that we will also have to prove poor enough ( we are) to be granted a bursary. He is VERY keen.
I have rung the school and we will attend an open day in Sept. We also know that there is a mock exam, if you will, that he can take when he is in year 5 just for the experience.
Is there anything we can do to help him along? Is it advisable to have a tutor in the exam run up? He is intelligent, no doubts, but considering how keen he is what can we do in preparation? Any guidance would be appreciated.

"Apparently you are eligible for the full bursary if your income is less than £18,346. If this includes tax credits then we won't be eligible by a whisker."

Wow, that's pretty low. The school we looked at had an income level of less than £40k to be eligible - and this is oop North.

Thanks for your posts everyone I appreciate it.

Bunbaker, we are North West. This is the only private school in the immediate area. Perhaps demand is high. I believe this would be a great environment for my DS .

I am hoping against hope that the figure stated is disposable income but they don't state this so I'm guessing not.

Well I'm further on now than 2 days ago so...we'll see. DH keeps reminding me that he is only yr 4 so don't get carried away.

"So I would say that a bit of practice would be important for confidence and familiarity with the questions, but it could be done at home."

That is what we did. No tutoring, but familiarisation with the type of questions I thought DD might get. Her school is a very highly regarded state primary school and performs exceptionally well in the KS2 SATS - last year they were in the top 100 primary schools in England. DD gets tests every week in class for English and maths and said that the entrance exam was easier than the class tests.

"Her school is a very highly regarded state primary school and performs exceptionally well in the KS2 SATS - last year they were in the top 100 primary schools in England. DD gets tests every week in class for English and maths and said that the entrance exam was easier than the class tests."

DS current school is just about getting by. It's not even particularly high up in the top 100 schools in Bolton. When we moved him here in year 1 our main concern was good pastoral care. They have always offered this.
I am concerned that he isn't pushed enough. They don't expect enough and that could be his downfall when it comes to this exam although obviously DH and I will give all the support he needs. His handwriting can be good/dreadful depending on his mood. They don't expect the very best so they don't get it.

It's not disposable income!

I was looking at a couple of local schools on the Internet last night, preps but both feeders for major public schools. They made a big deal of how they really don't expect candidates to prepare for the entrance exam as it is about potential rather than what they know. Not sure how true that is in reality.

"It's not disposable income!"

Haha wishful thinking on my part.

MollieO - Can't help but feel that that's spin on their part.
I brought the subject up with DS lst night. No matter what pitfalls I put in his way, he is absolutely determined he wants to try. So we'll let him try.

I wondered. Ds will probably audition for a choral scholarship next year. The school said that no preparation is required. The music teacher at ds's current school laughed when I told her this and said that everyone who auditions has had singing lessons!

Good luck Foofffy I think by year 4 they are old enough to know what they want to do and all you can do is support him.

Before you get too far down the tutor/nontutor road can I suggest you get an appointment for a personal tour of the school and a meeting with the head separate to the open day?

Thanks Mollie.

Sandstorm, yes I think I will. It never crossed my mind that I could do that.

I'd second what SandStorm said. Both schools we viewed at personal appointments with the head. I'm doing the same with the scholarship school we are considering. I've been to a couple of open days and you get a very different impression indeed - to my mind everything seemed to be 'for show'. Far better to visit a school during a normal day and see what feeling you get.

One of the preps we visited on an open day was my absolute favourite (knew friends with children there and lots of my friends with same age children were planning to send theirs there). Loved the open day. I went back a few months later for a personal tour with the head and hated it. The head was fab at putting on a show at the open day (I was very impressed) but one to one was dreadful. He didn't engage with ds at all (ds is one of those children who likes asking questions and the head ignored him for the entire two hours). It was also noticeable how the staff and pupils didn't engage with the head either (or ds).

Contrast the school we chose - the head answered ds's questions, the staff were friendly and the pupils weren't afraid to great the head.