How to I motivate my son to reach his full potential (he's very bright but only wants to put in minimal effort)

[JEWALSH]

Hello everyone

I'm new to mumsnet - this is my first post.

My son got 3 level 5 SATS last year and started secondary school in September.

He is in the top sets for Maths, English and Science and all his teachers say he is a natural set 1 student who should aim very high as he has the ability.

I went to parents evening last night and all his teachers said the same thing - he is only putting in minimal effort.

His geography teacher said he has amazing ability for an 11 year old and he got 82% on his test without any revision.

I am extremly worried about his English as he has gone down to level 4c (he should be aiming at 6c) - he can do it, he is just being lazy. After getting a level 5 he is not using punctuation, capital letters and getting words like their and there mixed up.

I am at my wits end - I do not want to see his work slide.

He has said he will buck his ideas up and doesn't know why he is being lazy.

Has anyone any ideas to motivate an 11 year old boy and enable him to reach his full potential?

[Ob reminder: this is a revived zombie thread from 10 years ago, for anyone who's only read the OP...]

Really shocked at all the people suggesting children shouldn't feel obliged to work hard academically at school. No wonder the UK has been falling behind in PISA etc. Do the same posters think there's no obligation to do their best work at work when they're being paid? (Maybe better not answer that!)

I hope the OP's DS discovered the joy of hard work some time in the last ten years and is enjoying life!

OP, is he competitive? My DS has done much better academically since he's gone to an all boys school where the main competition is over academics. It has, as you might guess, some downsides.

That said, my DS is a bit older than yours. 11-13 is a tricky time - it's a kind of limbo for the intelligent teenage male mind. The hormones don't help but they are in the end what it's all about.

That said, my DS is a bit older than yours.

The OP's son is in his early twenties, so presumably things sorted themselves out one way or another by now.

I think there is definitely something to be said for working within your capabilities. Working hard is good but can lead to stress, mental illness all sorts.

HE'S 21 NOW.
What happened OP, do come back. Oh wait, this has dropped off your TIO.