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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Grammar Schools

24 replies

Karishmaoz · 11/03/2019 16:17

Dear All,

I'm new to this group, my son is in Yaer 3 currently and I'm planning to give a try to Grammar schools. Can someone please advise on below:

I'm in Ruislip, which Grammar Schools can I apply for? Is there just one exam overall and then we get the placement as per the scoring or there are additional exams for each Grammar school we want to take a chance for?
Do we really need to move to a different areas to be in the catchment? Are there any Grammar schools, which doesn't give specifics to the catchment areas?
What would be the best time to start with thte tutoring and how can I support my son from Year 3 onwards? Is too early to start now?

Any answers will be well appreciated!!

OP posts:

buckleten · 11/03/2019 16:22

All of your answers will be on the 11 plus forum, google that, it is a huge help!

Mustbetimeforachange · 11/03/2019 16:23

In Ruislip you're not in catchment for any grammar schools so you would have to move or apply for ones which don't have catchment (sorry don't know which they are, but you could ask on www.elevenplusexams.co.uk). Mostly they have their own exams, but I think some share. Some have a pass mark, then admit by distance, others take the highest passes. Again - check out the website above. I think there are good schools in Ruislip anyway, so you might not need to bother.

Twerking9til5 · 11/03/2019 18:55

Take great care.

As your child is only in Yr 3 it is really not possible that your child will win a Grammar school place, generally, or 'on the day'. So if you move to somewhere where it is on catchment you need to know that your non-selective / comprehensive school choices are also good.

Grammars that have no distance criteria are known as super-selective because anyone can apply and the candidates with the top scores get the places, no matter how far from the school they live.

Much more competitive than a school where distance is a factor or there is a complete selective system.

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 09:25

Thanks, I have registered with that too...trying to work around the layout of that forum :)

OP posts:

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 09:27

So, If my son is giving the exams for those super selective schools, he doesn't have to give exams for Hertfordshire Grammar Schools? Or he might have to give that too?

OP posts:

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 09:28

Thanks, That's helpful....My DD is in Secondary School (State) in Ruislip and she is doing fairly well...so not keen on uprooting her to take a chance for my son :)

OP posts:

JustRichmal · 12/03/2019 09:41

What would be the best time to start with the tutoring and how can I support my son from Year 3 onwards? Is too early to start now?

I would do things like maths and English, as this will not go amiss, even if he does not get into grammar. Letts and CGP do revision guides and workbooks which cover the curriculum for each year group.

You could get him bond books for NR and NVR, if he likes doing them. (Dd liked doing NVR at that age). But there will be plenty of time for this in year 4 and 5.

Keep any teaching you do at home light and for the fun of learning, rather than the chore of having to get a good grade in the 11+.

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 10:20

Thanks a lot Richmal, from where can I buy these books? Any cheaper websites to buy from?

OP posts:

JustRichmal · 12/03/2019 10:51

It looks as though The Works is doing Letts books online. But, if you have time, it might be worth popping along to a bookshop and seeing which your son likes. WHSmiths and Waterstones also tend to do them. (They sometimes have offers). If your ds picks which style he likes, he may be more likely to actually work through the books.

If you Google "KS2 workbooks", that brings up a range of them.

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 11:06

Many thanks Richmal...I appreciate it!

OP posts:

user1474894224 · 12/03/2019 11:11

Hi in our area (also not grammar catchment) tutoring starts at y4. Ask on your local mum 2 mum FB pages for recommendations and call them now. Also use the forum above....on the front page look for the group with your area....it is really helpful but they don't recommend tutors.

Mustbetimeforachange · 12/03/2019 11:16

So, If my son is giving the exams for those super selective schools, he doesn't have to give exams for Hertfordshire Grammar Schools? Or he might have to give that too?
Yes, he would have to sit those too if you wanted to apply to them for him. You should look at the forum linked earlier, the school website & the local authority websites where the schools are located.
From memory (& this is all behind us), the ones that share scores are Essex, Slough & Reading, but this could be wrong these days, so please check.

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 11:51

thanks a lot :O

OP posts:

woodhill · 12/03/2019 11:55

Were you thinking of Watford Grammar OP?

woodhill · 12/03/2019 11:56

The schools are good in Ruislip as well. e. g. Bishop Ramsey or Hayden

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 12/03/2019 14:09

I live near Queensmead School in Ruislip. I was thinking Watford Grammar/ QE as these are the only 2 options Im left with esp when I dont want to move to other catchment areas. Would you suggest any others that looks promising?

OP posts:

Mustbetimeforachange · 12/03/2019 17:53

If you've got good schools nearby I really wouldn't put you/him through the stress, to be honest

woodhill · 12/03/2019 19:40

Why can't he go your dds school?

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 13/03/2019 11:49

He surely can go to my daughters school but I was just thinking to take a chance for trying the Grammar School.

OP posts:

HotpotLawyer · 13/03/2019 17:07

Well, it is obviously important that you do not uproot your daughter.

If you have good schools nearby, I would not go through two years tutoring to put stress on your child taking exams that he might not pass / might not get a place and if he does have a long journey to school.

Bright children do as well in good schools as they would have done in a Grammar School. In a good comprehensive school the top set is 'grammar school children'.

Nothing wrong with having a try, but extra tuition is a lot for young children, IMO.

MarchingFrogs · 13/03/2019 22:23

From memory (& this is all behind us), the ones that share scores are Essex, Slough & Reading, but this could be wrong these days, so please check.

Just for information, the Essex grammar school which uses the same exam as the Slough grammar schools and Reading School is Chelmsford County High School (for girls).

The boys' grammar school in Chelmsford (KEGS) is part of the CSSE, the Consortium of Selective Schools in Essex, whose exam gives access to Colchester Royal Grammar School (boys), Colchester County High School for Girls, the Westcliff and Southend grammar schools and the three partially selective schools in the Southend area. All of these schools are oversubscribed, so no way would I uproot a girl already settled in a school on the strength of pursuing a 'better' school place for her sibling.

Original poster

Karishmaoz · 14/03/2019 11:18

Thanks a lot......for your reply 'MarchingFrogs'....I can see being in Ruislip, Im only left with options - Watford Grammar/ QE (well lets see)!!

OP posts:

Lightsabre · 14/03/2019 12:39

www.elevenplusexams. will be your friend re; all things 11+

hollyby · 06/10/2019 16:17

@Karishmaoz I know this is a fairly old thread but I presume you are still looking at schools. You could also try Chesham Grammar - their catchment often stretches to Ruislip. And if you are religious, you could try St Bernard's Grammar in Slough. They have a lot of students from Ruislip (school bus picks them from Ruislip rugby club). I think it's around 75% Catholic but they take members of other religions too.

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