2023 Eleven Plus support thread

[elevenduck]

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!

We’re trying to prepare for a super selective exam that only takes 12 children a year. So it’s imperative that he’s scoring really high and I just dont think we’re going to get there. I was t going to even try - hence the late start.

We’re getting his report this week so it will be interesting to see if he hits Greater Depth in maths. I doubt it but obviously hopeful. Otherwise English is GD. Verbal Reasoning probably good and obviously needs to be strong.

That's exactly what we're doing @elevenduck. We went round the one that I was most keen on so we're going back to that one and the other grammar to pick between them. There's been some changes at the original school so it'll be interesting to see how it is now.

We have no more mocks lined up unless we pay a separate company but we'll do some at home instead.

@RudsyFarmer Only 12 places? Can I ask how that's possible? Is it a scholarship route you're taking?

Yikes, only 12 dc a year? How many apply? Last year we had only just started doing the 11+ prep as well (our dd was year 5 then) and we were applying to super selective schools as well (I felt discouraged when telling people as they would always respond how academic and difficult the schools were to get into). I would not lose hope just yet. Her scores jumped from just average the first try to 120s and then 130s, 142 just before exams. But it also depends on your dc motivation. How well they absorb the info.

It’s a religious school that takes primarily kids from a Christian background where the family has to have attended church and the vicar has to sign documentation etc. We can’t get in on faith basis so the only route for us would be academic. There’s 12 academic places and 3 music places. In terms of how many children apply - hundreds 🤣🤣

The only reason I’m laughing is because it’s not that important he gets in. I have secondaries near by that aren’t awful and I’ll just get him into one of those. This is just a ridiculous punt that I suddenly decided to go for as he seemed to be flying academically. He’s up for the challenge but also understands the reality is that he’ll probably only score in the top 100 or less.

Such school belong to partial selective school category, in London area such as MHCHS or Herts DAO, Parmiter schools etc have similar academic place allocation. Some are as difficult as selective grammar but I won't call them super selective.

Not sure the grammar school situation in your area, but a lot of applicants attend the aptitude tests of these school will also attend other fully selective grammar schools test and mostly will have preference to fully selective grammar if they got place (DAO being exception) so even some schools has hundreds applicants for less than 30 places you don't have to be the top 30 to get in, typically ranking position can be much lower.

We have no grammars. Just comprehensives and private schools. We’ll survive 🤣

In the area without grammar schools, the comprehensives schools are generally better than those comprehensive schools in the grammar county (according to research finding).

Grammar schools are state schools which will have similar funding per head like a normal comprehensive schools.

I understand that parents want fully selective grammar school because they believe in an high attainment environment children may be develop better (not enough research finding suggest this).

I'm still not sure why partiality selective schools are also popular among parents in general? It will be a mixed ability intake anyway. Is it because the place is harder to get and people have tendency to chase these opportunities due to scarcity principle?

I see @RudsyFarmer. That makes sense. I thought it was a very small intake otherwise 😂

As well as the two grammars in the same town there are also another two that are labelled as grammars as they follow a fair banding system to get in. I'd never heard of it until recently.

Just had a strange conversation on the school run with a fellow mum who said that she's only going to put the grammar schools on the CAF so that the council will have to give her son one of those schools. I tried to tell her it doesn't work like that but I don't think she believed me!

Just had a strange conversation on the school run with a fellow mum who said that she's only going to put the grammar schools on the CAF so that the council will have to give her son one of those schools. I tried to tell her it doesn't work like that but I don't think she believed me!

OMG, why do people always DO this? 🤦‍♀️ You’d think by the time you’re applying for secondary school, people would learn that you can’t force the local authority to give you what you want like that!

That sounds very risky! Also if it doesn’t work they will be in the horrible appeal stage to find an alternative school 🙈

Tell me about it. She thinks that whatever place he comes in the exam he'll get a place because she only put the grammars on the form! Madness and potentially very stressful if he doesn't get in!

Poor child 🙈 them doing the exam and trying to get a place is hard enough without a backup plan 😬

Our borough has a little section in the guide to applying for secondary school stating the reasons people might not have got any of their choices. The first is only putting grammar schools when you didn't pass the test. None are super selective but all are oversubscribed so would never have children in year 7 who didn't pass the test. Many more pass than there are places.

I agree it's a stupid thing to do. I don't particularly like our local school but I know I'll have to put it on the CAF form. I would be stupid not to. At least I'll know she's got a school place then.

Am of to school visit number one soon. Fingers crossed it's as good in person as it is on paper.

Great thread, following with huge interest!!!

I have a question which I wonder if anyone can answer?

Do the SW London indies ask which other schools you have applied to? Either in person in an interview, or as part of the application form?

I’ve heard rumours that they don’t, and rumours that they do… so I’m none the wiser!! 🤣

Application form of most schools ask this question.

Interview, some school did ask but limited knowledge on SW London indie.

Not sure it matter though? I guess indies school just use the information to work out how many over offer they should make.

I have just applied to KCS, Hampton, and Kingston Grammar for my DS and none of them asked on the application forms. Can't say for sure about interviews though as this is my first rodeo!

Not sure about boys school. Think most of the GDST schools use the same or similar template applicantion form. And most of them had this question "Please give the names of any other schools you have applied to" in the additional information session regardless it is SW London or not.

Hello we are late to the exam prep party but only recently with the help of grandparents realised we can afford the fees now. We are prepping our son for Merchant Taylors. He is a bright boy but can panic a bit in a test type situation bless him.

Goodluck Solstaruk Atom learning is quite a helpful website as they have reasoning questions which get harder as your child improves. (I don't have shares honest!)

Are the 11+ mocks worth doing?

Is it beneficial for children to do as many as possible in an exam setting with tutors?

Worth doing, to get to grips with exam technique and the speed they need to work at. Mainly to demystify the whole experience and help with any nerves.

As many as possible? I don’t think that’s necessary. I think my DD did three.

Thank you

Has anyone used Atom's 1-1 tuition service? DD has been struggling a bit with Non Verbal Reasoning and isn't particularly receptive to my attempts to help:) I do find their Help videos and documents really helpful so not sure it's even worthwhile engaging a virtual tutor at this point.

And pointless. For Bucks you have to be living in catchment by the deadline for applications, which is only one week after the results. Takes longer than a week to sell your house and buy another one!