How do you know if your child is 'grammar school material'?

[UndertheCedartree]

With the lack of parent and teacher meetings over the last year and a half I really don't know where my DD is. Her last school report said she had a lot of potential. How do I tell if it is worth doing 11+ prep?

Dd went to grammar for 6th form. 11+ would have been too much pressure too early. She gained 7/8/9 at all her GCSEs so was ready a little bit older.

@motherofawhirlwind

I took mine to a tutor who I knew had good success rates and only took a certain number of kids in each year. She did an assessment with her and told me if she was willing to take her on. I know of others who were told no.

But she didn't do any of the things Hollow mentions, still doesn't (Year 10). I just felt she was genuinely inquisitive, a decent reader (just never reads for pleasure), didn't seem to struggle with maths concepts (although her times tables are still appalling) and generally bright. She's never going to be top but she's middleish for most subjects and that's fine by me.

@UndertheCedartree I did this with my twins, didn't want to put them through it if the tutor didn't think they had a good chance, all five of mine passed the 11+ none of them are exceptional and two of them hardly did any work, certainly not massively focussed

*HollowTalk

I think the test is whether she does independent work outside of school. So does she do her homework willingly? Does she read a lot? Does she like non-fiction books? Does she like being tested e.g. spellings and sums? If you suggested learning a lot of Capital Cities for instance, would she be happy with that or complain?*

I knew he was grammar material because I knew he was smart but I had him assessed independently at the end of year 4 where his assessment levels were 128-133 across the board

I also knew that fighting to get him ready for 11+ either state or private would be like pulling teeth and neither of us would be likely to come out of it with any sanity. At that point 10 spellings was still likely to result in 40 minutes crying on the floor.

We didn’t do any selective schools at all and he went to an excellent comprehensive. If the comprehensive had been bad I may have felt differently

He didn’t really pull his socks up until probably late year 9 early year 10 and then he flew with mainly 8’s at GCSE and AAA. Now he’s at a top uni.

I guess what I’m saying is, see how she goes. If we wants to work then do it but if the prep is too much for her then she can still fly

My dd is at grammar school. She didn't fit any of @HollowTalk s criteria except she liked reading- not non-fiction though! She passed her 11 plus but only just scraped in to a super-selective grammar. Her Primary school teacher told us she thought she would be better off the local comp as she would struggle. We knew she was capable though so ignored her. Being an August birthday we thought she would come into her own in time and she did. She got 6A* and 4 A in her GCSEs.

@Rummikubfan how did you get your son assessed? I think I may look into this. My son has just gone into year 4. He is an August born. He is fine doing his homework, he’s good at spelling and loves reading. His end of year report for year 3 said he was excelling in his reading and he was at expected level for maths. I don’t want to put him through it if he isn’t capable.

I was referred to someone who did educational assessments and who gave advice on secondary schools. People kept telling me he was really bright but he was so resistant to putting in any effort especially at home and his primary school was letting him do the bare minimum that I had to get an objective view.

It was an interesting conundrum as we could afford private education but I simply wasn’t prepared to put either of us through the stress of the 11+. There are literally no words to describe how traumatic getting him to do homework was but it meant I had a realistic expectation of where he probably should get to eventually

@HollowTalk

One doesn't negate the other!

No. But the kind of person who is very interested in understanding things is probably more suited to a very selective school than the kind of person who is interested in learning facts.

I guess in areas where 20% or so go to grammar facts may be enough.

The pass mark is 303 for both Southend and Westcliff high schools for girls. Some local post codes get preferential entry (still have to pass but get the spaces over people who pass from out of area) . They are both excellent schools and people travel a fair way to attend. Which primary school is she at?

OOC will be higher because there are a set percentage of spaces for girls in catchment, that leaves fewer for out of catchment so only the best of the best get those, last year I think it was 339 for SHSG OOC