Was 11plus worth it for you/your DC?

[anonuser89]

Browsing through various posts here about 11plus results, offers and disappointments, and remembering our own experience of going through the process, I was wondering whether all this is really worth it?

Especially for competitive regions like London, the amount of effort, time, emotion (and money!) parents and DCs spend is so high. Then there is the tension, nail biting wait, heartbreaks, endless speculation, gossip, reviews and comparison of the same schools ad infinitum. Next year there will be another group of parents doing the same, probably some threads have already started.

Looking back, do you think it was worth all that?

Ultimately most DCs who did 11plus will end up in universities where significant majority will be from state sector, which suggests that it is perfectly possible to do well in the maintained sector as well.

Sorry, bit of a rambling post, and not being judgemental, after all we were caught up in the same frenzy a while back, but just wondering if people feel it was worth it?

There are MANY children doing very well at good state schools. Lots will be brighter (as bright too) as the children getting into the independents but just didn't try for them. Some children have to do so much work to get there, it destroys them. I have been privileged to teach in education for years and see it every year...it is soul destroying for some even if the parents say they are not putting pressure on. The child knows what it's for and they do feel it. Some get through ok but I wouldn't say any look like they are not affected by the 'will I get in?' thoughts. I know children who have been successful in both state schools and those successful in indies. Clearly indies have tons more money/ better resources and very little SEN so in a way you are paying for a narrower part of the society. Perhaps some children who might coast at state, might be given that extra push at an indie, who knows. What is probably the hardest thing to watch is children who are clearly 'middle' range, being tutored and coached to within an inch of their lives to get high enough...and then they don't get in anyway. That is the thing to watch...and be mindful of.