Grammar schools mid/north essex - can anyone restore my faith please?

[minxthemanx]

At the moment I haven;t heard of ONE child from a state primary in our area to have been given a place at Colchester or Chelmsford grammars. But PLENTY of kids from independent schools. I teach year 6, and we have 10 children this year sailing through Level 6 (2 years ahead), and I would have put money on 4 of them going to grammar school. Not one of them got a place yesterday. All the kids I know who got a grammar place yesterday are from private school. Please, someone, restore my faith and reassure me that grammar schools are not predominantly for those who can afford private education (and therefore VR, tests, 11+ prep from a young age.) I'd love to hear of any state kids that got a place.

[daphnedill]

North Essex parent here. My DD (now 20) refused to do the 11+. Five of the pupils from her primary school gained places at the Chelmsford grammars. Ironically, they all ended up going to similar universities as my dd.

My ds passed the 11+ and was offered a place at CRGS, but in the end we turned it down, because he would have ended up on a school bus for three hours a day with friends all over the place. He's now at a comp and is predicted to get 11 A/A*s at GCSE, three of which he's doing early. I honestly don't think that not going to a grammar school has done him any harm.

[minxthemanx]

Sensible points, daphne, thank you. I know these kids will do well, although a couple are going to secondary schools with v low academic performance, but am still a little sad for them as they would have thrived in the grammar environment. Hey ho.