Selective Schools / 6th form

[BasiliskStare]

My son went to a selective school at 13. Some of his friends and DCs of people we know went at that age, others went at 11. Others went to selective schools at 6th form or 6th form college.

Do those who do not agree with selective schools have a view about at which age it may be appropriate? In my DS's case 11 would have been (probably) too early. He was diagnosed as dyslexic age 10. An exam at aged 11 would probably not have been in his interests. I realise this will overlap with other threads, but am somewhat interested in others experience. If this overlaps too much with grammar threads , then I apologise and please just leave it. I post out of interest.

I can't see why 10/11 is a problem. DC have had half their schooling at that stage so it seems pretty sensible to me, as an age to select.

Selection at 16 is fine as colleges have to set entry requirements for their courses, you can't just let anyone rock up and take further maths.
Selection is usually done on GCSE results and interview so a reflection of aptitude and effort, rather than the vague 'potential-discerning' 11+

Doesn't research suggest that any disadvantage/advantage isn't relevant by aged 16? All schools in our town are comps but they have very strict, high entrance requirements for sixth form....so it forces kids who don't get A's in their GCSEs to travel outside the town to complete their compulsory education - I think we have the provision for students wanting to go to Uni but we have cast the other students aside.

Academic selection at age 13 or at sixth form gives late developers further chances but again like the eleven plus is only really relevant for well supported DCs from educated usually MC families. I doubt that there is an increase in FSM pupils at the sixth form entry stage compared to year 7 for grammar schools.

Selection at 16 is quite different really because by then children have taken their first public exams and have also selected which subjects they want to study further. By 16 children have matured a lot and have discovered if they want to study and which subjects they are strong in.

In fact, all sixth forms are selective to some extent for A-levels or IBACC, and they mostly have specific grade requirements for the subjects the student wants to study. Our local highly regarded college demands 5 A Star to C passes with an average grade of B for 3 A levels; you need to have at least a B in the relevant subjects to study Maths, Sciences or MFL at A level. Our local grammar is asking for a minimum of 8 GCSEs with an average grade of 6.625 with at least a 5 in English and Maths, and the student must have 7, 8 or 9 in the subjects they wish to study at sixth form.