Underaged child needs approval to take 11+?

[averageparent]

Has any parent had the experience in getting council's approval for their Underaged child to take a 11+?

(My DC was born 3 months later than the permitted 'normal' age to sit the test, and I have been advised that I need council's approval)

Many thanks.

in Glos I think you only need the school's approval, but have not actually tried to enter DS yet altho all the schools have confirmed OK. Some say you have to be in Top 50% of cohort to secure a place. We do need a letter from primary school saying he is following a Year 6 curriculum.

Try having a chat with the admissions registrar at the school you are interested in - they should know all about it

Still toying with the idea of dropping DS back a year ...

The LA may well be relevant in this case; you need to ascertain if they will contemplate admitting a child a year early. If they will not, then there is no point in attempting to enter the exam.

In Essex it used to be that you had to have a psychologist's report to show the child was academically and socially ready - but I don't know if that is still the case. My son's friend took the 11+ a year early.

I meant to add ready for secondary education - not ready for the actual 11+.

Many thanks, whiskersonkittens, EdithWeston,flamingtoaster, for your sharing.

whiskersonkittens,
I spoke with the Grammar School Headteacher. He's happy to see our DC taking the 11+ a year early because he's convinced ours is a 'Geniune Case' (Our another DC already attending the Grammar School). He knew some parents trying their luck with young child taking 11+ a year earlier, so that if their child fails on the 1st attempt, the child can still have another chance the following year due to young age. Yes, LA mentioned I'd need the Endorsement from the Headteacher of our DC's current primary school to confirm our DC is 'Socially' ready (i.e.Mature enough) for starting secondary education in Sept 2013.

EdithWeston,
LA has NO objection of our DC to take the 11+ in this Oct but has required (other than the above mentioned) an independent assessment by an Educational Psychologist like flamingtoaster has pointed out, before LA would consider letting our DC starting secondary education in Sept 2013.

flamingtoaster, yes, LA has asked for a similar report as mentioned above.

I just find the whole process very time-consuming, energy-exhausting & money-costing if not unnecessary (though I understand LA has a legal obligation to ensure the welfare & interest of a child is well looked after).

But one would have thought that with the Approval/Endorsement/Support from BOTH the Primary School Headteacher (i.e. 2-year observation in Yr 4 & 5 before taking 11+) and Grammar School Headteacer (i.e. after three 50-minute written tests + ongoing observation once accepted) are 'good enough proof' in its own right - better than a 2-hour assessment carried out by a complete stranger, which is based on only one encounter.

Why would you want your child to be the youngest in the year when they could be the oldest? I really don't see the point and social issues will come up.

My DS took the 11+ a year early in Bucks. We had to go through a lengthy process to facilitate this and to sign an agreement that if he was unsuccessful he couldn't sit it again the following year.

Private message me if I can help more

Ps. He did pass

Why would you?????

as somebody who was bumped up a year at secondary
I would NEVER NEVER NEVER do it to my child
or recommend it to anybody else's
not for academic reasons but for social ones later on

My daughter who is a September birthday (so just missed the age cut off) was moved up a year in primary school - she basically went from yr1 to yr3. When the time came for her to move to secondary school we had to get permission from her school and the education authority - who did engage an educational psychologist to interview her- to go through the state school application process. As we are not in an 11+ area (no selective state schools) she also sat the exams for 2 selective independents, both of which she passed. She is now thriving both socially and educationally in yr 7 at an excellent independent school.
The original decision to move her up a year - at the school's suggestion - was a very difficult one to make. But now 5 years later I am sure in our case it was the correct one and the school were very supportive

September Birthday - yup, that is reasonable as she will only be 13 months younger than the oldest in the class
I was 20 months ..... and the problems did not kick in till lower 5th (year 10 in new money)

Thanks, Colleger, LAlady, kilmuir,TalkinPeace2 & radun10, for your sharing.

Perhaps, it may help others to understand the situation better if I give more specific details.

DS was identified as Gifted when he's 5 while us in Australia & he's then recommended to jump 2 years. My wife & I eventually agreed to let him jump 1 year. So, since the age of 5, DS's been attending a class with classmates a year older than him : between 2008 & 2010 in Australia, and from 2010 onwards in UK. DS's always been popular amongst his older (and younger) peers as he's always 'Helpful, Humorous & Kind to everyone' according to his headteachers & class teachers in Australia and UK.

Also, we've an older son, already attending the grammar school DS's applying, who's 3 years older than DS. They always have a good relationship - another proof that DS's ' Socially & Emotionally Mature enough to get on well with older children.

Moreover, my wife & I are experienced Paediatric Nurse & Police Inspector respectively, both have studied Child Psychology during our ongoing training & come into contact with hundreds of children during our long professional life. In addition, I helped in classroom for about 3 years in Australian primary schools. We therefore do have a Very Good understanding of children development, knowing DS's Socially & Emotionally Mature enough in getting well with older children.

Furthermore, DS's already at Level 4A in ALL English areas & 5B in Maths & Science in Key Stage 2. (KS2 expects a Year 6 students to achieve Level 4 by the end of the Year 6, that is when a child is aged 11) And DB's consistently getting a high score in the 11+ Practise Paper (higher than his elder brother's, who was accepted by CGS 2 years ago) In fact, DB's primary school headteacher had hinted last May that our younger boy could have a go at 11+ LAST Nov but we decided to wait for this year.

The situation is now a bit tricky. The grammar school headteacher is more than happy to let DB to take the 11+ in Oct. It's the council considers he's too young, may not be Socially & Emotionally Mature enough to start secondary education. The primary school headteacher just E mailed me he DISAGREED with the council, and he's to write a Strong letter of support, arguing it's in the best interest of our DS to start secondary education in 2013 rather than being further held back.

So, it's NOT a question of I want, or what we want, but more about What our DS NEEDS.