11+ waiting for results

[Mumoftwinsandanother]

Hi there

My twins have both taken the 11+ in Bucks today. Results come out on 13th October, I think. It could really go either way for both of them. My biggest fear is that one gets in and the other does not (really quite possible).
Saw that last year there was a thread from parents during the waiting period and I wondered if anyone wanted to take part in a hand holding thread this year (for any county). Obviously have to be very careful what I say to DTs so would be useful to vent here.

Anyone else in similar position?

I’m in too. My DS1 sat the 11+ for a Berkshire grammar today. He was much calmer than me, though I hope I hid it. Now we just have to wait... not holding out much hope as we are in a super selective area so odds he’ll get a place are extremely low.

Brisklady, having lots of options can be overwhelming, but a least you have alternatives if your son doesn't pass and hopefully enough time to sort them out.

Sorry, Soomaa, just realised how entitled my post sounded . It's not quite how it sounded - don't want to go into lots of details, but we only have one potential independent option, where we would pay considerably less than full fee, but it's at least as hard to get into as the grammars - we're certainly not in a position of 'if he doesn't pass we'll just go private'.

I’m in too, test was today. It’s going to be a long 4 weeks, but I’m just mightily relieved to have got past today. DS came out pretty happy, the question area he was struggling with didn’t come up so all pleased about that!

I’m in Bucks too. Glad it’s over but the waiting isn’t fun. The alternatives to the grammar are not great at all. Going to some open days in the next couple of weeks - seen the grammar already which my DS loved....

I would very much prefer not to live in a full grammar system - it’s such a pressure for 10 year olds.

Sympathy to you all. DD did this three years ago. We had three lots of September/October results (Bexley, Kent and Newstead) to get and the wait was not the easiest, with the result of the school DD wanted most the last result of all. It was also our nearest secondary school geographically with the second nearest, a non selective school, being out of distance by about 0.2 of a mile so we would have ended up with horrid journeys for any other non-selective school.

In the end after the tests it was a case of ‘we can’t change the result so no point worrying’ and celebrated with DD that she had done her best and worked hard. It is really important to celebrate their effort before you know the result.

Good luck to all waiting

Don't worry brisklady, it doesn't sound entitled.

Thanks Soomaa. If we do get an affordable bursary offer it will add another choice, which will be easy if we don't get a state offer that we like, but hard if we do. But obviously it's an odd definition of 'hard' - it would be a genuinely hard choice for us, but we would also be extremely lucky to have that choice. But there are two big ifs before we get to that point!!

Yes def celebrate after the exam and before the results. They've done their best and out the effort in and recognition of that is so important for them. Any treats or rewards should be now, not on results day. It's amazing how many promise reaards based on results, without considering how that child will feel if they haven't been deemed of selective ability, or if they have, how for others who haven't, how hearing about others getting rewards at that point will make them feel.

It's really nice if the weekend after the exam, the children are able to talk about how they've had cream cakes or been out for a meal or a treat ....because it's all about their effort, which in the end,mis the only thing in their control.

Hope lots of lovely treats and happy family times have been happening or are planned for e next few weekends as exams end, and all the children are able to feel a sense of relief and satisfaction in having tried, and that being recognised by their families.

The wait is awful, but try not to talk about it too often......if you don't, for many children, it all slips away very quickly as they get caught up in being part of Yr6. It's hard when a lot of Open days are between now and results day....but I guess when you go to the Grammar alternative, it's a chance to really emphasise the positives that you like about it, giving them a sense that if this is the end destination, there are good things about it.....might be facilities or lots of local people going there or whatever....there will always be some positives, and knowing those just lifts the pressure a bit for the kids.

@PettsWoodParadise - I agree entirely about celebrating the effort before the result is know and am hoping to do something special with DS2 in the afternoon after the test.

@Brisklady - we are in a similar situation in that if DS2 doesn't get in we may have to consider an independent school. I don't think we would qualify for any bursary though so could be expensive.

@ShebaFelix - where we are we are not in a full grammar area but we have access to a grammar school if we want to try for it. Only around 4-5 kids from DS school will even take the test. For those who don't there are a number of very good comprehensive faith based schools and a few not so good non faith schools. There is therefore still a level of pressure for us especially has the pass level needed to get a place is very high.

Good luck and fingers crossed for everyone.

Actually because of the shape of Bucks there can be nice comps just down the road eg. Clement Danes in Herts is just down the road from Dr Challoners.

There are good comps just over the border into Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire too.

The only thing my sons think is their residential trip to france. Tomorrow is the second 11+ test and the day after starts the trip. Both boys are super exited and I think it's a great distraction for them.

We had a lovely dinner out the night of the test. I think we'll just plan a favourite meal at home on results day, so it's something nice for him either way, but not a big deal. Want to get home from school as early as possible to escape from all the playground chatter. It's weird to think the schools will find out soon, this week I think, but we've still got nearly a month to go!

I'm in. My DS2 took the test last week. Gulp.

How does the marking work? It's not that everyone who gets (for example) 95% of the answers correct passes, is it? It's weighted.. please could someone explain that to me?

DS2 said he couldn't answer a few of the maths questions, which has given me the fear.

Here in Kent, I think the way it works is that they look at how hard the paper was (ie how people performed in it) and then they use that to determine the scaled scores. So, the pass mark for any individual paper is pre-set at 106 out of 141, but some years you might need to get 75% of the questions right to get a 106, whereas in harder years you might only need to get 45% right. With the end result that roughly the same number of kids pass each year (presumably equating roughly to the number of GS places). That's my understanding - but I could be wrong, plus it might be different elsewhere.

Where we live the grammars don't have a pass mark. The (age standardized) scores are put in a ranking and the highest scores get in. The scores you need vary a little bit from year to year depending on how many children take the test and how strong they performe.

I have heard that Bennett might go up to 10 classes and they do go through the criteria, they also take some more on appeal. Worth checking which criteria they went down to last year - as an indication. Hopefully won't be necessary and the 11+ results will be in your favour.

Thanks for explaining!

The school here says we'll find out our child's score in mid-October, but not whether they've got a place. ?!

Does that mean you have to just add it to your normal school application form and hope for the best? But without knowing if they've got a place, you might mess up your chances of getting in to the nearest comprehensive, as you'll put that on your school form as your second choice, not first, and it's probably over-subscribed and only takes first-choice applicants.

So you might end up getting a place only in a school miles away...?

Wow, stressful.

brisklady - nearly right

The passmark for each paper in Kent has been 106 the last few years but it isn’t set at that

In fact two years ago there was talk of reducing the English test to 105 but it was decided against

If the tests this year were easy then the raw score required to get a pass will be higher

ie test hard passmark for a 10.7 yo (it’s also age standardised ) may be 11/25
test easy passmark for a 10.7 yo may be 16/25

etc

They look at the total raw scores to get around 21% to pass

Remaining 4% head teacher appeal

WhatsGoingOnEh, if the score or rank seems like you’re in with a shot, put it first on the application form, and your comp second, if that’s your preference order - you are not disadvantaged in getting a comp place by putting it second, preference order makes no difference to the chances of you getting a place. Check your admissions criteria to see what determines who gets in and who doesn’t, it’s most commonly distance from school. So not quite as stressful!

WhatsGoingOnEh
You don't risk your chances for a comp place with putting the grammar first.
Someone who puts school A as sixth choice could get in, because he lives closer to the school than someone who put it down as first choice (here distance is most important for comps).

We are in the same boat. We get our scores mid October, but have to wait for the National Offer Day for our places.

My sons had their second test today (we are on the border for two areas) and said it was easier than the first one
The 2nd is weighted a little more to Maths, that may be good for my 'borderline' twin, because Maths is his stronger subject.

WhatsGoing if you’re in Bucks, the results come out on 12th October. The application for schools has to be in on 31 October. So if you’ve passed, you can put grammars down on your list. If you’ve not passed and aren’t going to appeal, you put the non-grammars as all your choices. If you’re borderline, and are going to do a selection panel, you should put grammars and non-grammars down.

None of the schools know which order you’ve put your choices in. All the ones you’re eligible for (eg on distance) will offer a place to the allocations system and then you will be offered the school highest up on your list. If you decline the place, then you go into the second round of allocations - but you aren’t guaranteed your higher choice - it will depend on how many places for there have become available after others hIgher up the eligibility criteria have accepted/declined. That’s my understanding of how it works anyway!

Just went to see one of the non-grammars today. The teachers were great but it’s a world away from the grammars.

Thanks Taffeta. Not doubting your knowledge, but why would they consider changing English to 105? If the raw score to scaled score formula is changed each year according to the hardness of the paper, then why would they need to change the scaled score pass mark as well? Sounds like changing two things when they only need to change one. Am I missing something??

Thanks, all of you, for your helpful messages! It's in the lap of the Gods, isn't it?

Good luck to your lovely DC!