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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:
AutumnLemon · 24/09/2023 09:07

Return2thebasic · 24/09/2023 09:04

@ComfortFoodCorner , A lots of countries do have this kind of exams. Worse, there's only ONE regional/national level exam day. Only ONE chance. Here we sit different exams for different schools, so not all eggs in one basket.

There's no perfect system. When lots of people compete for resources, the means for allocation is limited. If the UK, not everyone wants to sit and there's no obligation. Just you would have to settle with local schools.

We only sat for two schools. One of them needs to be 5% out of over 1k applicants, whilst the other still requires to be the top 15-20%. I'm prepared to send him to a local school if nothing else.

Where we live there's one exam for one set of grammar schools. You could sit for private schools if you could afford the fees, but there are none within a 40 minute drive for us.

There are of course local schools but they are all Requires Improvement. So it is very similar to an all your eggs in one basket issue.

Tore121 · 24/09/2023 10:23

Same here one exam for all local schools on the same day. All local schools are require improvement. 😬 Even the local private school (not that it's an option.)

Paddingtonthebear · 25/09/2023 09:01

Turns out the test on Saturday had an extra 10 questions on the maths paper that were not expected. So 60 questions to answer in 50 mins. DD ran out of time and didn’t answer the last 5 questions. I’m guessing that’s not a great sign 😬

historyrepeatz · 25/09/2023 10:48

@Paddingtonthebear I wouldn't worry too much about not getting through the entire paper. I met someone who got one of the top180 scores in our area (out of nearly 5,800) and she didn't finish the paper. No one I spoke to was able to finish every section.

curiousmamma · 25/09/2023 10:53

It sounds like she did brilliantly to get through almost all of them in the time given. I wouldn't worry about getting though all of it though as I don't think they expect the children to get though all the questions. Everyone I've spoken to said their kids didn't finish too.

Tore121 · 25/09/2023 12:02

The paper DS did had an extra 15 English questions and 5 less minutes. He guessed the last 10 😬🤨. It sounds like most of the children did as they had been working at 50 q'a in 50 mins. She sounds like she did great!

Paddingtonthebear · 25/09/2023 12:09

Maths is her weakest of the 3 papers so I won’t be surprised if she doesn’t get through. Just have to wait and see. Was also a bit surprised they were not given any verbal cues before the timer ran out.

Tore121 · 25/09/2023 13:49

I know my DS didn't get any verbal cues either. They just had to keep watching the clock :( so much pressure for 10 and a few 11 year olds isn't it. Guess all done now.

I hope she did well. Just a waiting game now. Think they all had different curve balls thrown in so to speak.

curiousmamma · 25/09/2023 14:02

That's a lot of pressure on the kids. Mine got a 5 min warning for maths, VR and English. They didn't get one for NVR as a 5 min warning was half way!

Tore121 · 25/09/2023 15:37

I know so much pressure. My son said his friend didn't even realise the paper was 45 minutes instead of 50 and was shocked about the 65 questions. I appreciate that it would have been on the front of the paper (my son read it) but it's a learned technique.

I guess regardless of the result this process will prepare them for the SATS. I'm sure that will seem significantly less stressful.

thing47 · 26/09/2023 17:26

@Tore121 are you in Bucks? If so, the grammar schools don't take much notice of the Y6 SATS. The Secondary Moderns do use them for setting in Y7 so depending on your DS's 11+ result he might not need to be stressed by the SATS at all. Good luck.

Tore121 · 26/09/2023 17:29

He's been doing really well in the practice SATs so isn't worried. We aren't in Bucks. Just worried about getting into a grammar so so competitive 🙈

thing47 · 26/09/2023 17:34

Ah sorry, ignore me then! I just thought from your username that you might be. As you were. And the best of luck to your DS.

Original poster
elevenduck · 01/10/2023 09:56

How is everyone doing with the long wait?

We seem to have so much time in our days since we've stopped the tutoring! I'm trying to keep myself busy so I don't dwell on results day too much!

OP posts:
Coraline353 · 01/10/2023 10:06

It's feeling like a LLLOOOOONNNNGGGG wait. I can't tell how much it's on DS mind or not. I know he's found viewing secondary schools quite overwhelming in general.

I'll be a wreck closer to the date.

Original poster
elevenduck · 01/10/2023 10:27

We have about two more weeks to go. I'm putting DD in an after school club on results day so I have time to compose myself before she gets home, and so she's not looking over my shoulder as the email comes in.

OP posts:
curiousmamma · 01/10/2023 11:06

It feels like such a long wait and it's only been a week so far for us.
We got an email from one of the schools though suggesting that they are already Ming to get the results out much quicker than expected though so the wait might not be as long as I feared!
My daughter is also lost with what to do too. She's not used to having soooo much free time. The poor thing doesn't know what to do with herself.
@elevenduck Good idea about the after school club like you say it will give you time to get prepare yourself. We still have to wait for a letter and my daughter has said she wants to open it herself. Confused

Coraline353 · 01/10/2023 11:39

Bexley have said results 'by 17th October' which is a Monday but apparently they usually come out on a Friday and Chis and Sid school changed their open day info based on results being out on Fri 13th October. DS has an inset day that day and we're also going to the Chis and Sid open day that day.

Tore121 · 01/10/2023 13:22

Other parents keep asking "have we heard about the results"

It does feel like a long wait. Also "how did the test go"

It's impossible to know isn't it. Trying to prepare how to say if it's a possible or negative result. It's a very competitive grammar to get into. Hard as DS has quite a few friends applying.

We have been viewing schools but the local comp isn't great in comparison. 🤞 everyone

Tore121 · 01/10/2023 13:28

Positive even!

Idlovetostayhereandbenormal · 01/10/2023 15:37

It feels like such a long wait. We’ve been keeping busy with open evenings too and it’s helped crystallise which are our favourite schools. Just need to get the marks now! I have absolutely no idea whether he’s made it or not. Our results are out in about 2 weeks and are supposed to be available around lunch time so I’ll have the afternoon to compose myself before pick up time!

historyrepeatz · 01/10/2023 21:22

Coraline353 · 01/10/2023 11:39

Bexley have said results 'by 17th October' which is a Monday but apparently they usually come out on a Friday and Chis and Sid school changed their open day info based on results being out on Fri 13th October. DS has an inset day that day and we're also going to the Chis and Sid open day that day.

When DD did it in Bexley in 2020 the test was supposed to be 16th September and results Wednesday 7th October so 3 weeks apart. Due to covid the test was postponed and it was 4 weeks between the test she sat and results day which was Thursday 3rd December.

Tore121 · 01/10/2023 21:50

Hopefully they come the date they said (mid October ish) to allow for the secondary applications. I guess if not will just have to select anyway and hope for the best :)

ComfortFoodCorner · 02/10/2023 07:36

I am sorry preparing myself to have the "talk" if the results go the other way. Dd's classmates always discuss the scores and compare themselves. I told her that I will only tell if the score is good or not and I will not tell the actual score as it will lead to unhealthy comparison... we have picked up few hobbies like crochet, and reading books for fun etc, to keep our mind off..

Tore121 · 02/10/2023 10:59

I remember when we first started I didn't mention to others he was doing it. Unfortunately they ended up finding out and the other boys got competitive anyway. Even after the exam they did the "that was sooooo easy."

I guess it's just one of those things if they compare but I know it's going to be tough. Some of them had been tutored for 2 years so imagine they will do very well.