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Secondary education

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Original poster

11+ - please help us start preparing!

61 replies

Nena7 · 24/04/2015 09:23

I need some help in helping my son preparing for 11+ (I know some of you may say it's late in the day, but here we are...) He is a bright boy and has seen a tutor for the past six months. I would now like to help him a bit at home as well, mainly in exam technique and what he can expect on the day.

Can anyone suggest web pages, online forums, booklets etc where we could find good resources? Also, what did you start with, how did you do it? Thanks for your help!

OP posts:
WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 17:38

Not really interested in you, dear. Do you in fact live in a grammar county?

Thought not.

Not sure what else you think I know about you.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 17:47

It was you who mentioned, on this thread, super selectives and comprehensives, if you read back.

Oh and FWIW I don't think my situation is special or unique. It's very very usual I am sure in grammar counties.

chocolateyay · 27/04/2015 17:58

Bond books
Manchester Grammar School past papers
Practise papers to time

Plus - outside interests. If you have interviews then they look for an inquisitive kid, with passion and non academic interests. Some say outright that they dont want tutored kids.

Doesn't your current school advise?

LePetitMarseillais · 27/04/2015 18:38

MN164 you really are talking tosh.

National Curriculum teaching varies a lot in state schools.My dc hadn't been taught half what was in the exam or necessary speed techniques like long division etc .

I also take issue with your stance against tutoring and kids just sitting there never trying to better themselves.So studying and trying to achieve more is just verboten because it doesn't suit you or your dc. We don't all have to do the same.

MN164 · 27/04/2015 18:40

"you are in a position to criticise other peoples parenting choices when you do not live in a grammar county"

I'll leave that to you then as living in a "GC" is clearly a special case.

The OP hasn't even said they do or don't, but don't let that stop you opining on matters.

MN164 · 27/04/2015 18:42

Oh and by the way we are in catchment for 4 grammar schools - but that isn't a grammar county so that's completely different. Hmm

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 19:07

You may well be "in catchment" for 4 grammars, whoop de do. It isn't the same as living in a county where there is a grammar system.

[head/desk]

You have access to true comprehensives. That is the massive difference, which allows anyone living there to be more laissez faire.

MN164 · 27/04/2015 19:25

Local academy - check
Grammar schools - check
Faith schools - check (atheist)
Independent schools - check (non-bursary qualifying)

Your "county grammar" obsession is irrelevant no matter how unimaginable for other people you think it is.

Do you think tutoring for months on end is a good idea or not?

I don't and didn't participate in it. You made different choices in, frankly, very similar circumstances.

Ultimately, we both got what we thought was best for our children and how we got there doesn't matter. (except in grammar counties obvs.)

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 19:30

Your "local academy" is a comprehensive. It is all ability. Or are you saying it doesn't lost the top 23% within its catchment?

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 19:30

Lose

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 19:31

I agree how we got there doesn't matter. It isn't me who is slaying tutoring or criticising other parents choices.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 19:35

Say your child is bright - top tables for everything. Say they have a bad day and don't pass the 11+. Do you have a local school you can send them to where they will be a top group who are working at a similar level?

MN164 · 27/04/2015 20:12

There's a difference between the comprehensive admission policy and what cohort actually comes in.

I took it that your and my local comp/academy were "all ability" for admission policy but both lose the "top" sets to the local selective school(s) - not just the grammars but also the faith schools and the single sex schools. I'm still missing why our situations are materially different other than the personal choices we made regarding tutoring.

So to repeat - do you think months on end of tutoring is a good thing for everyone to be doing? I don't and didn't participate. You did participate - but do you think that is a good thing/state of affairs?

BTW - I also hate the fact that many kids will not be at their best on exam day and miss out as a result. Not quite as bad as when illness hits in GCSE or A-level season, but the injustice of it is the same.

MN164 · 27/04/2015 20:21

Nena7

This debate is not much help to you. Soz.

As suggested by others here an elsewhere the 11 plus forum is useful and their are lots of sample papers from many schools (private and grammar) on the web. Work up to to doing them in exam conditions at the kitchen table. Start with mini-exams - just a couple of questions. Your tutor really should be giving you all the guidance you need.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 20:22

What are these "single sex schools"? They weren't mentioned before. How does their selection work? Is it a different test or is it selected using different criteria? Or are they another alternative if your child doesn't pass the 11+?

I will not pass judgement on tutoring - for a year, a day, whatever. I recognise that situations and individuals are different.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 20:25

MN164 - If your child hadn't passed the 11+, do you have a local school you can send them to where there will be a top group who are working at a similar level?

MN164 · 27/04/2015 20:32

No we don't for the same reasons you don't.

The effect of some local girls schools is that the comp is not only missing the "top set" it's also 75% boys.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 20:32

What are the "single sex schools?"

MN164 · 27/04/2015 20:33

Oh and the single sex schools select their intake by ..... err .... gender.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 20:37

So you have the alternative option to send your child to a single sex school?

LowryFan · 27/04/2015 20:41

Blimey Man164 you seem very stressed about what other people's DC are doing! Does it really matter?

OP there is nothing wrong with getting a tutor, I would ask their advice before doing anything extra just to make sure you are coordinated.

MN164 · 27/04/2015 20:50

Only if you child is of the right gender and you like single sex schools for that gender (uncheck, uncheck).

MN164 · 27/04/2015 20:51

LowryFan

Fair point. The debate has been of no use to the OP (apologies hopefully noted).

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 20:55

So there are no single sex schools for your childs gender within catchment? The liking/not liking single sex schooling is a choice.

WhatchooLookingAt · 27/04/2015 20:58

Excuse me for pressing this. I am trying to understand if you are in a situation where if your child didn't pass the test (am I right in assuming it's the same as for us, one test for all grammar schools? So one chance?) that the only option open to them would be a school without the top 23% where there is not a top group working at the same level.

If that is the case, I am astounded that you took the risk of just 10 hours tutoring. Unless, of course, your child is a genius and consistently aces tests under pressure.