Sutton, Wallington,Wilsons Test 1 Results

[sleeplessofsurrey]

I suppose we will have an idea of how our ds did, but if you're like me I have no idea whether he will be 'eligible' given the numbers across the centres. Would also be interested to know if the maths really was easier than he though it would be, whether this will mean that the younger children will have an advantage with the scores standardised or does this make no difference. My ds is a spring bday. Does anyone know how many boys actually took it as apparently there were lots of girls at Greenshaw but also some boys there too? Roll on tomorrow. Hope they release the results at the same time.

My thoughts precisely, Ladymuck - they will be useful practice. We just hope for a place at Emanuel, not a scholarship. We're also taking more ambitious exams for Alleyn's/Dulwich/Whitgift - hoping that his English might pull up a bit over the next couple of months. Also St Benedict's, so covering pretty much all angles. His tutor seems to have more faith than I do, but then he only teaches him maths...

Not sure if its helpful but just to add that from my observation there isn't a complete overlap between success in the Sutton grammars and independents. Our son two years ago was successful at Emanuel (but sadly no scholarship) although we went for Wilsons in the end. He also passed Sutton but not WGCS - so no real pattern there at all! We didn't try other independents himself, but others in class successfully got into a range of independents but didn't pass the grammars. I think it's down to whether the exam suits and how they feel on the day - they're only ten, after all...

Does anyone know roughly what percentage of boys who got through the selective ability test will have received a positive email from Greenshaw?

Classicsgirl, thanks for that comment - very interesting indeed, and to my mind a very random set of results is the most logical outcome, since they are only ten and are bound to have good days and off days.

Interested in likely second round formats . 25 minutes seems a very limited time for a decent English composition , or is it likely to be a comprehension exercise with paragraph answers?
Also the maths I assume is long form , show working , likely to include algebra etc that have not been covered at state schools yet at this point in y6. A mystery as ever. Maybe the 3 GS s will all use totally different formats

Dibbleofficer, is your son at a private or state school out of interest?

If it's like DS's 11+ exams, they will all be rather different to each other.

anyone know the timing and format for wilsons second stage test? cant find anything about it?

You could always ask the school directly, Minniemouse65.

I doubt very much there will be Algebra which isn't generally covered in primary schools (except for some level 6 extension work). All the grammars say that only level 5 is required (and algebra is not in level 5).

Everyone ready with their 20 minute Harry Potter essay?

There's a good chance that ds2 will be putting in a doodle as his attempt. Here's hoping for a good maths paper!

Good luck to everyone whose DSs are doing the second round 11+ exams.

Wallington was much better organised this year .

I think there will be a huge turnaround with Wallington with the new Head, don't you Ladymuck? Give it a few years and wouldn't surprise me if it doesn't become the super-selective of choice.

Hope your DS did more than a doodle, Ladymuck?

They've now gone for the 2 year ks3, 3 year ks4 model used by Wilsons, Pates etc, so I suspect they'll see an improvement in grades from that alone. Wilsons lost 2 deputy heads and 5 or 6 head of department a year or so ago. And they've had to increase by another form, so 120 to 180 in 10 years or so.

Let's say I think that those parents who only look at league tables may not be considering all of the factors which will influence the education of boys starting next year.

Well I think you're right Ladymuck! The League Tables don't tell the whole story, do they? It's very narrow-minded to think that a school is nothing but the sum of its academic parts, albeit excellent ones!

Any reason why Wilsons lost two deputy heads and five or six heads of department - that sounds like a mass cull or exodus????

Good luck to your DS2, Ladymuck. We've got to go thro' all this, although from a different perspective with DD in a few years .

I'm afraid that I don't know the cause for so many leaving at once - it is a large school and sometimes these things happen! Current parents all seem happy, but given rising population especially over the next 7 years I do wonder what the schools will look like by the time the current crop of year 6s reach A levels (assuming such things still exist!).

We were certainly impressed with the crop of 6th formers in evidence today, all very switched on, and ready to help/herd parents who were standing in the wrong queue etc.

DS just started at WCGS in September and although it wasn't the grammar we thought we wanted for him it is starting to look as if he may have ended up in the right place anyway! Although it is still very early days, we have been very impressed with communication from the school - lots of information, workshops etc. The school have also been excellent about putting boys who travel from the same direction in the same form - fantastic for helping them settle in.

I started a thread last year asking why Wally boys never seemed to be the number 1 choice (though people did correct me on that). I'm not sure that that will change overnight but the head is passionate about the school and that does come across when he speaks. League tables will always play their part however and Wilsons does seem to have forged ahead in recent years. That said, WCGS were higher up in the tables than SGS for A levels this year but there really isn't much between them. We're hoping that we might have struck it lucky though!

Hi Legallady, good news for your DS! I think the 'new blood' of a younger, new Head will make a big difference in years to come!

my son is in Wally Boys - pastoral care is much better that in Wally Girls - that's where my kids are

I feel an earlier start to KS4 gave my some greater focus
we had workshop this week on how is maths structured, what are reasons for grouping boys in sets as they are etc - nothing that detailed ever was offered in WG

we had parents meeting with head, head of year and and form tutors every year in september
information is always up to date and emails are reaching me well in time about changes and any updates I need to know

I am sure Wilsons does similar communication, just don't know anyone to compare :)

my son was also offered chance to change options subjects within blocks - having that options made him very happy about his choices as he had chance to try subjects and opt for another one (he didn't in the end but was nearly convinced to change Art to Classics)

Hi Wilson's test second round tomorrow, rumor that the English test will be comprehension and written piece. Have not heard any detail on the Maths. Good luck all.

Good luck to everyone at Wilson's test tomorrow - DH is officially a hero for getting up and taking DS to the exam so I don't have to