11 plus this September

[cautiouscovidity]

Unfortunately, our local authority isn't taking DfE advice to defer the 11plus exams until later in the autumn, and so they will take place in mid September.

I'm having second thoughts. My DC hasn't attended school since March (as school didn't take their year back in the summer) and the mocks were cancelled. I'm really concerned about them having to sit a formal exam with no experience of such a situation, only a week after they (hopefully) return to school after 6 months off. I think this would be a very stressful experience. We're lucky that the alternative is a choice of very good comprehensives and so maybe we should just give up with the grammar idea?

Personally I don’t think it would hurt. He can do exam practise at home. Others are in the same position. Just pitch it to him to give it ago but don’t worry too much about the result as there has been lock down etc. Unless you think grammar school is not for him - that’s a different story but I think the 11 plus is good exam practise to learn to deal with the stress they are going to experience for gcse.

Thank you. I guess you're right, it wouldn't hurt to try.

Non Covid situation but DD didn't do any practice after third week of August as our view was if she didn't know it by then, then when would she know it by. It worked, she was less stressed than lots of the children.

It is the sad state that children who are from less academic backgrounds, from families who do not have the money to pay for practice books will be at a disadvantage, if you do not fall into that category then your DC will be at an advantage.

DD's grammar seems to be going ahead with the original date as they always do the tests in small groups in small rooms rather than a scary exam hall so it is easier for them to adapt. The original exam date is also very end of September so changing it by a few days to make it October hardly seems practical or desirable. That may change of course!

Yes I think there may be an even bigger divide than usual for the advantage for tutored vs non-tutored candidates. We can, fortunately, afford a few workbooks but not a tutor. Those who have been tutored weekly throughout the year will have a huge advantage against those who haven't seen a teacher at all since March (our DC have had no contact with their teachers, remotely or otherwise, and so no feedback on any home learning etc). For those who can't even access workbooks, that's really sad.
Still, it is what it is.