Child working at "expected" ; anyone's DC working at expected pass the 11plus?

[TheRubyRedshoes]

Just wondering if it's a huge gap to bridge?
She was struggling at school but is now coming on at pace. Her sister was working at greater depth however expected at maths and passed with minimal support bar some mock Tests from me

Her sister is working at expected and would get more help...or have peoples DC failed even with help?
Thank you

This ^^

@TheRubyRedshoes this shows a slight increase

Writing isn’t assessed in the 11+
though. Quite a lot of children are behind in writing compared to maths and reading as the writing expectations in primary school are ridiculous.

I think being a prolific reader is the most important thing, it’s hard to improve in VR without knowing lots of vocabulary. It’s hard to cram vocabulary, really it’s reading lots over a long period (years) which builds this. And 50% of bucks 11+ is VR/English.

lots of children from just out of county sit the bucks 11+ which might be the OP’s situation.

Unsure dad, thank you and damm.

Modge I agree.
It is hard to cram and if not reading then not getting new words or words in context. ...

She's a reasonably good speller and has a good instinct for most word's but whilst her vocabulary isnt bad she will forget new words easily.

It also comes in fits and peaks eg in the last 5 day's she has got quite a few eg belligerent, coy, linger, indignant, appalled etc but I have to work hard to keep refering back to them to help her remember.

All the odds are stacked against us and even getting a place even in she passes will be hard.

@theremustonlybeone

My dd seems to have a week hand. She's far fer better with computer and typing.
I can't understand why she can't have one at school or in the test on creative part

OP I have found reading this thread really interesting and for what it's worth wanted to add in my DD's experience.

She is currrently Yr 6, working at expected in English, Maths and Reading. She's a late summer born too. and also not a prolific reader, and I have to say I think this is the main area where there was a 'gap' to be bridged when thinking about selective schools. For my DD we felt maths could be taught and grasped, but being a slow reader meant she struggles to build vocab, spelling skills etc

Where we live there is only one Grammar option, which this year reportedly had 3000 sitting for 180 places, and we knew this was never really in our DD's reach. I looked around a wide mix of state and private schools for Sept 23 entry, and ultimately, I came away feeling encouraged that the state comprehensive options around us were actually very good. The reason I mention this about comprehensives is that I think you have time to educate and familiarise yourself with the other non grammar options (of course you may already have done so).

We got DD a tutor in early Yr 5, with the view to sit various selective private school entrance exams. As time went on we realised that, mainly due to her not being an amazing reader, these private school exams would be too hard. In the end, she just sat one private school exam, which with the help of her tutor she actually seemed to enjoy. Wierdly, whether she passed or not has now ceased to be important to me. The tutoring has been great - its been a journey of helping her enjoy learning and the 1 to 1 has been amazing, but its also made us as her parents realise where her strengths and weaknesses are. It's ultimately a long game. Everyone develops at a different pace. 11+ may well be too early for our dd to really 'get it' academically but the process of working it out has just deepened our understanding of what our dd needs. This will be different for every child.

Sorry this is a long waffly post so I'll finish with this - Why not just get her the tutor, it will help and encourage her in more ways that just the end goal of Grammar. You'll feel and know that you are giving her a boost that it sounds like you feel she needs, an educational ally if you like! If she passes, great, if not it wasn't the right school for her.

@Hackn3ymum this is a great post. I'm glad to hear your DD enjoyed the tutoring and tbat regardless of tbe outcome of the exam, the whole thibg has been a very positive experience, which you have used to help your dd and learn more about how she learns and where she is at.

Fwiw my eldest DC is in y7 at a comprehensive (SE London). My husband works at a very academic private school and we are entitled to a significant discount off fees. However, thinking about him in y6 when we were doing applications, we could have tutored and pushed and he might have got in. But he really wasn't up for academic stuff at all at this point, his handwriting and spelling were dreadful, though reading excellent. Maths - he would just do it as fast as possible, not show workings, not check answers.

We decided that at that time it wasn't right for him. If he got in, he might struggle. Socially he might struggle (coming from a big and socially v mixed primary).

Fast forward to now.... And he us flying. Top sets, interested in his work, reading huge amounts. We are very happy with the school.

As you say, it is a long game.

@TooManyPlatesInMotion so happy to read your eldest is flying and happy with school. But also what an interesting, extra perspective you and your husband have on this process because of his job!

Of course many DCs are completely up for 11+ and can take in their stride but for many others its just such a massive push to take on at still a young age. They all develop at such different rates and I definitely see this now.

Agree, I also see extra learning as a good thing in the bigger picture, but that's very much an adult/parent perspective. My comments were on how the children felt and that was that their efforts had been for nothing. It's a pretty hard sell to a 10/11 year old who hasn't passed the 11+ that it's at all beneficial.

My DD has been greater depth in reading and writing but expected (although a strong expected) in maths all the way through primary. She’s just scored really well on her 11 plus and will be going to grammar school in a highly selective area. She is a big reader though. No formal tutoring but my husband did quite a bit of work with her using published books.

@TheRubyRedshoes just wondering how this went?

@Eeve.. Is there a reason or context?