Kendrick without prep..is it possible?

[Schoolquery1]

We are potentially moving into catchment for Kendrick this Autumn, currently in catchment for Bucks Grammar, taking 11+ this Sept. No idea how these schools compare, but registered for the test following school advice. Our daughter is very bright, particularly at Maths. She hasn’t had any tutoring but did a Bucks mock recently and scored very highly.
I see a lot of comments referring to Kendrick as being an extremely tough exam to pass, so would our daughter stand any chance at all of passing, if she has no preparation for the test?

You've got a couple of months to prepare so why not prepare her???

I don't know Kendrick personally but it is higher attaining than any of the Bucks grammars (as far as I'm aware) so I'd imagine it to be more competitive to get into as well.

If she's an able child, then I'm sure she can pass but the thing with super-selective grammars is that many children pass but only a small fraction of highest scorers get in.

It’s easy to find out how the schools compare by looking at the Government comparison tables. Kendrick does score higher on attainment 8 when compared to Beaconsfield High and Dr Challoners High. However, as a super selective, you would expect this. There is not a huge difference though and the Bucks schools are much bigger. If you removed the bottom 1/3 from the Bucks schools, you wouldn’t see much difference. The Progress 8 is similar for all.

The difference is the test and the numbers wanting a place. Kendrick only has 750 pupils, so a relatively small intake. South Bucks has a very high percentage getting into the Grammars (relatively) because of the number of places and it will be way lower for Kendrick. Therefore more of a gamble.

You can prepare but obviously you need to find out what is involved. Would the MN 11 plus section help? You obviously have decided to move, so good luck to DD. I think I might have stayed in Bucks!

@BubblesBuddy Looking at 7-9 (A-A*) at GCSE, Kendrick scored about 88% vs 47% at Beaconsfield and 67% at dr Challoners. Whilst all are very academic, Kendrick is definitely way, way above the Bucks grammars. It must be a lot more difficult to get into.

Thank you. Having planned to do a few familiarisation papers for Bucks test over the summer, I wondered whether that would be enough to sit the CEM test too..and be in with a chance.
We don’t want the pressure of covering extra material for a different test, and are very much anti-tutoring for 11plus. If Kendrick is super-selective, then it’s hardly surprising their results are so good, which is why league tables don’t tell you very much about the school itself and it’s ethos beyond selecting Uber bright kids!
If it’s a hot house, I’m not really interested either. We just want a school that can challenge and nurture in equal measure, where a child can reach their full potential, with expert guidance and inspirational input....if anyone knows a school like this..then please do let me know

OP, do you honestly think that a school getting those results isn't a hot house?

It also seems a bit unfair to sit someone for an exam without any preparation. Did you ever rock up to exams, e.g. Driving tests, GCSEs, A-Levels, uni exams etc having done no prep?

Kendrick is not a hot house, just super selective. I know several girls in the last few years who got in without any tutoring, just with a bit of time spent familiarizing them with the paper style. They were all very bright girls who love learning and would read and do work outside of school independently. I also know a few families who have had their daughters tutored from year three who didn't get in, despite them being fairly bright girls.

Don’t have a tutor doesn’t mean no preparation. OP has done some mock and want to some CEM paper. It is a kind of preparation.
My DD got a good result in Kendrick exam. It is not very hard to get in. Especially your dd is very bright. No worries.

Some schools seem to harness a bit of a hot house reputation, rightly or wrongly, but I’d have thought that by selecting children of high ability to start with, they will naturally achieve higher grades without as much effort as those who might have to work that bit harder? If a child can easily achieve say an A, and a school such as Wycombe Abbey or a top of the table grammar..insists on only A*, then there would naturally be an added pressure.
In terms of prep, I am really asking if any familiarisation we do for the Bucks GL test, would broadly cover CEM style papers too. I agree that preparation for exams is important, but tests on VR and NVR are supposed to be ‘ability’ tests, and should in theory not have to be taught? And as long as English and maths skills are pretty strong, in theory it should be enough?
How is your daughter doing at Kendrick now Violin?

Schoolquery1, we did not choose Kendrick. We prefer to another school just did Kendrick as a backup. So we did not prepare Kendrick exam especially NVR, only spend about 1 hour on 11+ NVR preparation. But my dd did bonds NVR as a game when she was younger.

Thanks Violin, do you mind me asking why Kendrick wasn’t your first choice? Seems to be a lot of comments out there in terms of how great it is academically, but not much by way of other non-curricular aspects.

We choose an independent school. My dd plays several instruments and a good music department is very important for us.

Those 'ability' tests shouldn't be teachable in theory. But 10 yo are just 10yo and they don't have much exam experience under their belt. On occasion, even super bright children will be baffled by a new type of question. Not to mention that these exams are under time pressure and having a bit of practice is bound to make you quicker.
Another reason for prepping over the summer holidays would be that children do forget a bit over the summer so you need to keep things like number work up so they can do their best in September.

In your position, I'd do an hour a day just to keep your DD's brain exercised so it's up to speed in for he exams. GL papers are good, or Bond books (stretch level) or anything else relevant you get your mits on (different sources are good for a better variety of potential questions/problems).

Thank you JoJo, coincidentally I have just bought a couple of stretch Bonds for the summer holidays. Hopefully it will keep her brain in first gear at least!
I do know what you mean in terms of active preparation, as opposed to doing nothing, which is not quite as laid back as I had in mind With NVR she does seem quite a natural at it..she scored 100% in her mock, and has always scored 141 in her school CATs for both NVR & spatial, as well as Quantitative / Maths, so it’s seemingly her thinking forte. VR is a bit less...130s on CATS, 95% in the mock. Comprehension also strong. I’d say her weak area is english grammar skills, which is what I’ve just purchased with Bond.
From what I could see, Kendrick test just has VR, NVR and Maths, which is why I wondered whether we could get away with it..a long shot perhaps, but no harm in trying!
Violin, it’s interesting to hear your comments on music. Having just viewed yet another grammar that has left us feeling cold on the music front, we can’t help feeling swayed towards the private sector...it’s such a shame, but perhaps not so surprising.
Thank you all for your comments.

Can I just ask, have you checked the admissions policy for Kendrick? If you're only moving into the Kendrick catchment in the autumn, you won't qualify as "within priority area 1 or 2" and as a candidate outside of the catchment, you will not be offered a place even if you achieve the highest score. They're so oversubscribed that they have only offered to girls within catchment for at least the last 6 years.

From their admission policy for 2020 entry (taking the test this September): The permanent home address of the applicant is within Priority Areas 1 and 2 of the designated area of the school and this has been the permanent home address of the parent(s)/carer(s) and the applicant at 31st August 2019.

Thank you Jane, the house we have an offer on is in priority area, but how quickly things complete will be the issue. I spoke to admissions and explained, so we can only register and see how it goes. We still have to see the school yet also, and having found the ones we have already looked at very uninspiring, I’m hoping that Kendrick appeals a little better. So we shall see..I know it’s a long shot at this stage, so what will be will be!