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Secondary education

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

Original poster

2023 Eleven Plus support thread

854 replies

elevenduck · 19/10/2022 16:30

I thought it might be useful for parents of 2023 children taking the 11+ test next school year to have a space to talk everything 11+ - tips on managing stress, approaches to the different papers, ways of relaxing etc.

Let's try and keep it positive and supportive!

OP posts:
historyrepeatz · 11/09/2023 08:38

@Coraline353 i started one too and thought it was just me!

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 11/09/2023 12:26

Me too with the spreadsheet! Although I don't want to see any of the grammar schools unless I know if she's definitely passed!
@historyrepeatz we do have townley tomorrow (have to be there by 7.50am!) but we'll be coming by bus so no need to worry about parking!

historyrepeatz · 11/09/2023 12:39

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon much better on the bus. Does your bus route take you down Blendon Road and Bridgen Road? If so there have been temporary lights at Bridgen/ Arbuthnot the past few days adding about 15 mins.

PettsWoodParadise · 11/09/2023 12:58

I visited the schools with DD in Y5 It was a great motivation for her to work hard towards the grammar tests. We didn’t speak down the comprehensives just in case she didn’t make it but she had such a bad experience at one rather poor performing school (knocked over by a crowd of older students) she worked her socks off!

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 11/09/2023 13:02

@historyrepeatz no idea as I don't know that area well. Will check - thanks for the headsup.

@PettsWoodParadise we did actually visit your local grammar school in Yr5. The bexley schools were advertising their open days as being for year 6 parents only. I just don't want to visit them at this point now that she's actually taken the test only to later find out that she's actually failed!

Coraline353 · 11/09/2023 14:34

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 11/09/2023 13:02

@historyrepeatz no idea as I don't know that area well. Will check - thanks for the headsup.

@PettsWoodParadise we did actually visit your local grammar school in Yr5. The bexley schools were advertising their open days as being for year 6 parents only. I just don't want to visit them at this point now that she's actually taken the test only to later find out that she's actually failed!

Agree but quite a few of the open days take place before results are out - Beth's for example.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 11/09/2023 15:12

Ah - I hadn't looked at Beth's as I have a DD! BGS and Townley haven't yet published dates yet (that I see!). C&S have done, but they have some (currently) available the week following results.

Hope the test went well today for your DS @Coraline353

Coraline353 · 11/09/2023 15:15

He's in it at the moment. Probably just starting paper 2. I honestly feel sick for him. But soon we're free!!

historyrepeatz · 11/09/2023 16:08

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon there are some dates in the admission to secondary schools guide on the councils website though more are often added after it's published.

historyrepeatz · 11/09/2023 16:09

Coraline353 · 11/09/2023 15:15

He's in it at the moment. Probably just starting paper 2. I honestly feel sick for him. But soon we're free!!

Hope all has gone well for him.

historyrepeatz · 11/09/2023 16:11

PettsWoodParadise · 11/09/2023 12:58

I visited the schools with DD in Y5 It was a great motivation for her to work hard towards the grammar tests. We didn’t speak down the comprehensives just in case she didn’t make it but she had such a bad experience at one rather poor performing school (knocked over by a crowd of older students) she worked her socks off!

I wish I'd done that but was scared of being told off. In the end we didn't have any because of covid. I think BGS now have some later in the year specifically for year 5 which is good.

curiousmamma · 11/09/2023 16:19

I hope everyone who is sitting it this week finds it ok. Good luck everyone. 🤞🏼

Coraline353 · 11/09/2023 16:20

Beth's did year 5 taster mornings which were great. DS fell in love with the school that day!

Testpreo · 11/09/2023 17:43

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon that is a quick turnaround. I will be interested if Kent and bexley exam formats are similar but who knows ? I am getting very nervous my child sits tomorrow for Bexley. We have not been able to study in the heat let alone sleep well!

Coraline353 · 11/09/2023 17:45

DS is happy. Felt it was easier than mocks he'd been doing. Feels confident. Hopefully it'll be the same for you!

Testpreo · 11/09/2023 18:11

Thanks Caroline - I am finding myself very nervous. I am very surprised. But I just want to over and done with. I have to decide about st olaves but I have not done any special prep and I don't think my nerves can handle another test...

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 11/09/2023 18:28

That's great news @Coraline353. My DD also found that the Kent test was easier than what she'd been preparing for so fingers crossed it'll be the same for her tomorrow (although it does make me worried about the pass mark though!) But you must be so relieved to be done!

Coraline353 · 11/09/2023 18:41

SO. Relieved.
Agree about the pass mark and I do know there was one section where the timings got away from him but still... I'm choosing to focus on relief and the fact that he feels happy.

historyrepeatz · 11/09/2023 18:45

@Coraline353 that's great. I wouldn't worry too much about timings. My neighbours Dd got top 180 a couple of years ago and said she didn't have time to finish!

Testpreo · 12/09/2023 08:12

Yes so is the concern that if it is an easier test the pass mark will go up?

historyrepeatz · 12/09/2023 09:08

@Testpreo yes I think the idea is that a certain percentage pass.

historyrepeatz · 12/09/2023 09:11

Tired this morning, DS did not sleep well even though the weather is so much better and neither did I. He looked very tired going in completely different to how he was on Saturday. Hopefully he perks up a bit. I'm glad that it's over and we don't have some more later in the month as others do.

Coraline353 · 12/09/2023 10:12

Good luck to your DS for today @historyrepeatz. I'm sure he'll be fine once in there. It's a lot for them at this age though.

historyrepeatz · 12/09/2023 15:40

@Coraline353 Thank you! Now anxiously waiting until he finishes school to see how he is.

Original poster
elevenduck · 12/09/2023 16:31

DD had the practice test at school today. She said she found the NVR tricky, and some of the maths. I think she expected the practice test to be easier than the real thing, so it's rattled her a bit.

OP posts: