When does the CE syllabus start?

[justanotherquestion]

We have DS in a prep that goes through to yr 6, but for various reasons think he may be better transferring at 13+ (and hence move him to a school that would prepare for 13+). There would be better options for preferred schools at 13+. I know he will have to do the 11+ pre tests in Eng, Maths, but at what stage do they commence the syllabus in subjects such as French, History etc.

Just trying to work out if we would have to move him for start of yr 6 or sooner or whether we could move him after the 11+ pre tests.

Depends which prep school you want to move him to and how they run the 13+ CE programme. Ours starts at yr7 because new kids join then. It's fine to cover it over yr7/8. Having said that they are building on what they have done since yr5. However, another local prep has the 13+ stream start the CE syllabus in yr6. The new prep will probably want to have your son as soon as they can, and there is something to be said for him having time to settle in with his year group. Discuss it with the prep and then do what's best for you and your DS.

Good luck

Thanks username that was really helpful!

I also don't have an "official" answer but if you're looking towards pre-tests then I imagine you want a fairly academic route? In which case I would not leave it later than yr 6.

Particularly if he's likely to be in a top / scholarship set the pace of work from yr 7 is pretty brutal so it would be better to have one year to get up to speed and settle in.

It is do-able from yr 7.... What year is he in now?

Specifically Year 7 ie. history topics and studying particular literature books but the reality is that it is accumulative effect and the sooner your dc gets into that process the better. Prep schools may use CATS and Pips to guide you as to which schools to shortlist. Some pre-tests are during year 6 now too. Are the schools you are considering definitely CE/CAS entrance schools ? If they have their own entrance tests taken earlier in year 8 or offer on pre-tests alone it feels something of a waste to go through the motions of CE as well.

Thanks to both of you this is all really helpful, not being familiar with the CE system. He tends to be around top few of top set, so pretty academic and we are wondering about a pretty academic school. He is yr 5. My understanding is that he will need to take a pre-test in Jan of yr 6, for at least 3 of the schools that we are considering. I think you are then offered a place on the basis of that exam and achieving at least min CE results. Do not know when they take the CE though or whether it is their own exam. I am pretty sure they are all CE entrance schools. What is CAS?

Our school does use CATs as a guide. What is pips, is that the subject specific exam in Maths/reading etc?

It is a bit of a minefield when you are not used to the system and cannot rely on support from the school, as they would prefer you to exit at 11 and not take any 13+ pre exams.

January pre-tests? So if he moved for yr 6 he'd just have time to settle in first? (I trust you have met all your registration dates for senior schools?)

This is exactly what we did and we're very pleased we didn't leave it for yr 7. Firstly because (in our case at least) a ten year old is rather more ... accommodating than an 11 year old and more willing to go with the flow of exams and upheaval. And once moved he really needed yr 6 to catch up in Latin, French, Maths, despite having done well in a less challenging prep.

Even if you're not familiar with the prep-CE route I would suggest that it is best to work back from desired senior schools and choose a feeder prep, (ie one that regularly sends children to the relevant seniors.) Although it will be too late for them to help much with pre-tests their familiarity with the process will give you and your DS some necessary confidence.

CAS is Common Academic Scholarship . Some schools will make awards based on this or may have their own scholarship papers which are taken at same time (end April/early May of Y8) and can be instead of CE. They tend to demand a more comprehensive, broader and higher level of knowledge A C in CAS is equivalent of A in CE. PiPs are www.cem.org/primary and sued to chart progress. Agree you may want to work backwards form your chosen senior schools before committing to a particular prep.