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.

[MrsSteptoe]

Aha, you bit. Excellent.
I agree that bribe would be the right verb if we couldn't get him to sit the 11+ without a financial incentive. However, he is a compliant and sweet soul who has always done what we ask of him, including doing much-hated tutoring and practice papers. After about a year of tutoring and practice papers, we hit the grammar exam season whereupon DH and I agreed between us that we would give him £20 for each exam he sat. Because he's historically been freely co-operative, I think if he wants to save up for an XBox, he can be rewarded financially for going along with my and DH's desire to get him into either a grammar or an independent. Hope that puts it in a clearer light!

[gazzalw]

I would see it less as a bribe than a reward......

[MrsSteptoe]

Completely fair debate to have, though!

[antimatter]

my son failed SGS, passed Wilsons and got place at WB
was I bribing him during preparations for exams - yes
why - because he is the kind of child who need that kind of incentive on some occasions
he is above his year average in most subjects (not Maths mind you)

Xoanon your comment is likely be from someone who hasn't had son sitting Grammar Exams

just because they need incentive to prep for exams doesn't mean anything wrong with the kid or the family

and no, my daughter didn't need any bribing for sitting exams for 11+ and is not in y11 WGSG doing very well

[Xoanon]

antimatter My DD1 is at one of the top grammar schools in the country. And I do mean top. Dd2 has just passed the exam (and is category A therefore has a place) for the same school. I bribed neither of them. Nor did either of them need a year's preparation for the 11+ exams. Despite both having SEN conditions. I think bribing a I child to do exams is a terrible idea. Especially at such a young age.

[antimatter]

but you haven't worked with boys preparing them for exams?

I said - is easier with girls

and yes Wally G is one one of top grammar schools in the country (top in GSCE's scores I think)

[Xoanon]

No it's not. But is is obviously a very good school nonetheless.

I no longer live in south London :( but I still have family and friends who do so I read the south London school threads.

I maintain if the only way you can get a child to do something. - especially an exam - at 10 you are making a rod for everyone's back. But obviously, your kids your choice.

[antimatter]

of course, you are right - being "only" 20th in gcse results amongst other selective state school isn't top any more

I am sure every parent has their own way of dealing with their own kids and their needs. Making sweeping statements and judgements isn't adding any value to this discussion.

I will repeat for the 3rd time - girls and boys are different for when preparing for exams. If you don't agree that there's massive difference and keep coming back with comments like that I rest my case.

[Xoanon]

I meant it's not top in GCSE scores. I think that was pretty evident (and your subsequent post clearly shows you knew that anyway). I also said its obviously a very good school. I don't understand why you have such a problem with me stating my view that bribing unwilling kids to take exams isn't a good idea. You obviously think it's a great idea and if you don't have anything better to do with your cash then sure, why not. But bear in mind when your child is taking 12-14 GCSEs - many with multiple papers - and bearing in mind inflation, it might prove to be pretty expensive. My Dd1 sat 26 separate GCSE papers in the summer. I'm glad I didn't have to give her £520 as a result.

I hope all your kids end up in the schools you want for them. I grew up in the area and it's nice to see the schools being so popular and doing so well (especially since the children of friends now attend them).

[Dibbleofficer]

I think you are being a prig Xoanon , different strokes for different......

[gazzalw]

There is more to good schools than league tables, Xaonon....The Sutton Schools are some of the best in the UK and we are very fortunate to have them on our doorstep.....Unlike some parents who obsess about league position places and seem prepared to move all over the UK to get into the best svhools, I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking we are very lucky to have such choice...

[burntoutdad]

gazzawl you are correct inpercentageg that we are lucky to have such good schools but not all children are lucky enough to get into those schools and some of the comp alternatives are not so great. Those that have means to tutor or have parents able to spend the precious time they have with children stressing over their bond performance marks will hopefully gain places. Otherwise it is that initial extra effort we put in that goes toward helping the league table results of the other schools. Some areas have good schools where all the children would just end up anyway regardless, no hothousing, cramming etc during the childs 9 - 10 year old years when they should be having fun (been there done it, and will have to again with DC2) so maybe a good enough reason to move if u could.
I have always wondered what percentage of those achieving high grades in the comps sat initially for the grammars? And can't decide wether this is a good or a bad consequence of having so many good grammars in one area?

[burntoutdad]

Inpercentageg = stating

[gazzalw]

Burntoutdad, I get where you are coming from on this one, although I would consider moving to get away from the grammar-school-effect, to be entirely different to moving to get your child into what is considered to be 'the best' grammar school.

DS has friends who didn't pass the 11+ who are in the G&T cohort at their comps and it will be interesting to see if they do as well (or possibly even better?) as DS or not....It comes back to the comment someone made on another thread about Malcolm Gladwell's 'David vs Goliath' notion....I think that the bright children in many comps get nurtured in a way that DS is not in his super-selective....

[burntoutdad]

Gazzalw - agreed that is an entirely different ballgame.
Yes I think that the brightest children are nurtured in comps - to prop up league tables of course. But are the very brightest pushed to their full potential? I'm not so sure ,maybe just enough to achieve a grade but no more. In the Grammars they are generally all bright and so maybe are supposedly already capable of gaining the A - C. The very bright will be pushed to get the A* grades that the school needs. It's quite sad that when you think about it education here seems to be geared towards school reputation rather than what's best for the childs needs. Parents that have the time and inclination can supplement whatever the school is missing but not all can, and so some of those children in the middle do not get pushed. Probably the case in either grammar or comp as you say.

[antimatter]

Xoanon - I think you know kids change as they grow older and their motivation as well
my kids are both doing GCSE now and neither would entertain idea of being paid to sit an exam!

Have your kids stayed exactly the same in the way they react to you and school responsibilities?

Can you with honesty say that both your daughters sat to do their 11+ practice papers with big smile on their faces and asked for more?
You didn't bribe them, but you must have used some kind of persuasion as that work was done on top of they school hours.

So being persuasive is OK but bribing isn't. 10 yo child doesn't know the merits of Grammar school vs. others. He trusts parent for what is doing and why.

You obviously think it's a great idea and if you don't have anything better to do with your cash then sure, why not.

why do you assume bribing is ALWAYS with money?

On another point....
My kids were in a private primary where they had day 8:30-3:30, both parent's working full time so doing anything extra 11+ stuff was on top of looking after family and the usual homework they had been given. yes, they homework was up to one hour a day as included projects etc.

They had exams in primary, tests and did various activities as those were loved by them.

I don't know how many papers my daughter will sit with her 11 GSCE's in the summer, at least eng lang she's got behind her.

TBH not many unis pay much attention to gcse scores and difference between A and A* at gcse should not be of great concern. Maybe some medical schools look at it and perhaps Oxbridge - but those aren't where most of those kids will go. Besides - what counts is not how well they do in gcse's but how school prepares them for studying A-levels and subsequently how they do in 6th form.

I have first hand knowledge from my kids friend from one of our local school which tests kids for 20% places (locals will know which one I have in mind). Classroom control in most gcse top sets was appalling and she was very upset that most of lesson went on keeping 2-3 trouble makers quiet....