Chaedle Hulme Gammar School

[ocab]

We are thinking of sending our eldest (currently in year 5) to Cheadle Hulme Grammar School. When we went round the head suggested not getting atutor but lots of peole have said this is madness. Really want her to get in...and she is coming from the state sector so not sure if she should have extra help? She is predicted level 5's at the end of year 6 - is that enough. Would rather not get involved with tutoring, but ultimately would rather she got in!

Also any advice on an alternative school for her, in case she doesn't get in. Not sure wher to look.... We wanted her to go to local state school but one nearest us is not great (at all)....

IMO this partly depends on your daughter's level of confidence. Our DD was pretty good at but not confident in Maths - she believed she could not do it. We took her to a lovely supportive tutor just for a few sessions in the year before entrance exams and it made a huge difference to her confidence, and as a result, her progress in Maths.
If the Head is recommending it (and is not recommending a particular tutor) presumably it is because he knows competition is tough and the children benefit from it - if you really want her to get in, it's a small price to pay.
A good local tutor will also know what type of exam the school uses and will be able to take her through past papers etc. Being familiar with the type of exam will make it easier for your daughter to succeed.

Thanks for that. It's more that the head wasn't recommending it...so I can imagine him asking all the kids and having had tutoring then counting against her! Also apologies for my typing - mean't "Cheadle Hulme Grammar school"...

If she's coming from a state school she will probably need tutoring before the exam, just so she is familiar with the format. Most of the state school children will have had some form of tutoring (dd started in the April before), any of the children already at prep schools will have had lots. However, most of the schools will take this into account so will expect higher scores from the prep school kids (state school advantage!)

Have you looked round the schools? There is a big difference in the ethos of many of the independants, & also a few of them have changed recently (CH being one) so I would recommend you have a look round all the ones in the area.

Stockport Grammar is an obvious one, but also King's in Macc, and Manchester High - depending on where you live and what your priorities are.

Went through it all last year & am in the middle of doing it all again now. Can give you some info if you like - prefer off board though. You can email me at deborahk at btinter net dot com if you can work that one out. May be a few days before I reply though.

We are interested in schools in that area ocab - where do you live ? I'd have thought Stockport Grammar was the obvious alternative?

A friend of mine lives in that area and her DSs were at private junior school. They spent a significant amount of time doing practise papers (and according to my friend little else) for months for the various private secondary schools' entrance exams. I'm not particularly pro-tutoring, but you have to think about who your DD will be "in competition" with. Passing entrance exams not only down to ability, lots of practise and technique has a lot to do with it.

Thanks eveyone. We live in Heaton Chapel, SK4.
Am thinking of a "if she doesn't pass the exam" alternative...ie something easy to get into!
Looks like tutoring might help, anyone know how to get hold of one? And I know Cheadle hulme don't release exam papers, but should I assume it is like an 11 plus (and can you get 11 plus past papers anyway??) So many questions......

(PS Deborah - I sent you an off list message too)

ahhh i though you must have lived in that area ocab, I also live in SK4 but HM so our secondary school is different to yours - could you apply to the one that is our catchment?

What sort of school are you looking for? There is also Hulme Hall which I've heard good things about or if you want something more 'family' then Hillcrest in Davenport may be a thought?

Ocab, haven't received any message yet, you may need to resend it. Make the header something obvious in case it goes to my spam box

not sure what cheadle's entrance papers are like but you can get 11+ papers from WH Smiths. It used to be that NFER Nelson were considered closest to our 11+ papers (infact seem to recall being told that NN set the 11+ but that might be out of date info now)