hindsight's a wonderful thing! Post 11+ thoughts

[minecraftfansmum]

My little minecraft fan managed 100% in his non-verbal reasoning test - giving him an IQ of 131+. However he missed out on the 11+ by 3 points in September 2012, the pass mark was 236 he scored 233 - which I think is fantastic since verbal reasoning isn't his strongest area. The appeal by the headmistress of his school was unsuccessful. He's always been a shy little dreamer - head in the clouds and chatterbox in class (only child) and his Y5 sats results were level 4s (he's a young end of July birthday). His new Y6 teacher called me up to school a few times to complain about his talking in class and moved him to sit with a group of girls for a while. This upset him a lot, hours of sobbing at home, however his sats practice tests have shown a big jump in his ability and I'm thinking he needed the kick up the proverbial! He's passed for St Anselm's, which is wonderful, managing 77% in their English papers and 81% in the maths. I'm wondering if it's worth appealing to the grammar admissions board on March 1st - or whether to leave it as St Anselm's seems to be a great school? Does anyone have any advice? (ps if your practicing for the 11+ do lots of timed work - don't let them diddle daddle!)

[minecraftfansmum]

I've looked up the league tables for local Wirral and West Cheshire secondary schools going on the GCSE results for 2012: the grammars (including St Anselms) between 97% and 99%; the girls comprehensives between 60% and 71%; mixed comprehensives or all boys secondary modern between 47% and 60%.

Apparently the top 25% go to the grammars although I believe that figure reflects the top 25% of extensively tutored children - all of whom from DS's school who have passed the 11+ being level the average level 5s. I know of children who were not tutored who have non verbal reasoning scores of over 120 (grammar is supposed to be 117+) who failed the 11+ by 20+ marks. I think just hard graft and commitment will help the 11+ successes continue to succeed.

Having said all of that I work with quite a few young people who have had a grammar school education and have degrees, even first class degrees, and they work as support workers - they appreciate their jobs. One of the young men from the Wirral Grammar was encouraged by the grammar to take a degree however he opted for employment instead. He has worked formerly caring for a young disabled man. He wants to take the NVQ in social care and move into management. He has friends with degrees, huge debts and not altogether promising prospects.

So really what skills are needed today? If your DS is fairly good at maths and art - what can he do with it? Really it's the direction you head off in that's important.

I was educated abroad, we had history, geography, science, maths and english language tests from Y4 on, every couple of weeks! - all the kids were fluent we weren't trying to achieve level this or that in English, we all had them already!

[annsdoodles]

(started above thread and changed name - being useless can't seem to work out how to go back to previous name) Apparently, it may the case since I've had it on good advice, that DS (- missed 11+ by couple of points and was rejected by grammar school panel) - this may have been because he passed the Catholic grammar exam and they therefore expect him to take that place - same happened to a female pupil whose case was taken to appeal by her headteacher.

Role on Saturday morning (I didn't fill in the online allocation form - have to wait for the post!) Can take in a deep breath and appeal with help of school if he has missed out on a grammar place.

Have gained a lot from reading all of your messages, good luck! (by the way - the grammars here on the Wirral will take new pupils through the year groups to replace pupils who have left - if there are say 6 places available within a year they will take the top 6 children who apply for those places - competition could be less severe.)