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Secondary education

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

Original poster

Stockport Grammar 11 Plus

137 replies

MushPeas · 19/12/2023 10:23

Hiya, does anyone have experience of 11 Plus entrance exam at Stockport Grammar?

My DD is taking it in Jan. She's bright, but tends to panic a bit in exams so might not do as well as she's capable of. I can't find any information online about the pass mark.

I also wondered if they invited all children to an interview? She does really well in those!

Thanks, a slightly stressed mum ;-)

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TimMcGraw · 12/01/2024 10:47

Hi - just bumping up this thread. DD2 sat the exam earlier this week but we've not heard anything yet re. an interview. Has anybody else heard anything? DD1 already attends and I remember we received the interview invitation the day after the exam in her case.

Original poster
MushPeas · 12/01/2024 12:07

Hi @TimMcGraw my DD sat the exams on Wednesday too. Gosh it was busy wasn't it with 600 students!
We haven't heard anything yet, I'm now worrying about what that means :(
Great if DD1 attends already :) Hopefully that will help with your DD2 application?
We haven't applied to any other private schools, as we have family history at this one so it's our only choice.
My DD said other kids had exams at other schools coming up.

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TimMcGraw · 12/01/2024 13:12

It was very busy - and yes, we're in the same boat in terms of this being the only independent school that we've applied to, simply because DD1 is a pupil. I think the fact that there is a sibling there already does help insofar of having two candidates who have performed similarly in the tests, but ultimately I think it's the performance in the exam that overrides everything.

It's actually eased my mind a little that you haven't heard anything yet either. Fingers crossed for both of us! x

Original poster
MushPeas · 12/01/2024 14:00

Oh gosh I am worried if only the performance in the test matters. My DD on the day was a bit confused with timings and didn't answer all her VR questions :(

I'm hoping they look holistically at each candidate too, as DD plays two musical instruments and competes in sport.

Keeping everything crossed for both of us! I feel a bit better we both haven't heard yet. I'm sure as you're on DD2 at the school, your DD was v well prepared and has done well!

I'm constantly checking my emails ;-) x

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Original poster
MushPeas · 12/01/2024 14:31

@TimMcGraw email just landed! Have booked an appointment. Hope yours has arrived too :) x

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TimMcGraw · 12/01/2024 14:40

It has! Thank goodness - can relax for a little while at least! x

Original poster
MushPeas · 12/01/2024 14:41

Yey! Now to figure out what they'll ask at interview :) First time for us so no idea! The interviews are short, so it must be just a brief chat I'm guessing? x

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 15:49

Hi both! I joined so I can join 😄

my DS took the exam on Wednesday also, was very intimidating with all those participants! Anyway we booked our interview for Thursday, so fingers crossed for us all!

did you just apply to sgs or are you at others in the area too?

TwinMum88 · 13/01/2024 17:07

Hello, my two sat the tests on Wednesday too, all very nerve-wracking!! Do you know if everyone automatically gets an interview? We had invitations arrive yesterday afternoon too and I’ve booked for the week after next. I felt so relieved when they landed as I thought it means that they made it through the exam stage, but I don’t know if that’s a safe assumption to make! Any ideas? Good luck to all! 😊

Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 17:28

I really don’t know if everyone gets an interview, I’ve told him that it means he did well enough in the exam though in the hope of taking the pressure off him!

logically thinking though I assume most will as it’s a tall order to think all 600 were marked before Friday afternoon? Buy
i really don’t know. My step son attended the school (but is now in college so it was about 6 years since he sat the exam) DH does remember them discussing what he did well in the exam and what was weaker during the interview, but he had attended the junior school whereas my DS hasn’t.

I didn’t think it would be as nerve wracking as this!

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 17:38

Hi everyone!
It's great that we all have interviews. Ours is a week on Monday.
On an older thread on here some people have shared what questions they remember being asked last year.
We have only applied for SGS as have family history. Hoping with everything crossed DD did well in exams.
Did any of you apply anywhere else?
@TwinMum88 my DD mentioned there were sisters in her room, maybe that was your children? She said everyone seemed lovely!
Gosh this is nerve wracking isn't it?
I wonder how many places there are...

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 17:45

We’ve applied for one other school (in Oldham) we’re in between the two. He has their exam on Tuesday (if the snow doesn’t arrive 😂)

I think I’m more nervous that my son is to be honest 😂

he really wants to get a place because the local school don’t guarantee they will run music, and he loves his music! But this was a last minute decision so he hasn’t been tutored for the exams, he did do a couple of the familiarisation papers, but other than that he really didn’t know what to expect, and I kind of worry that he is at a disadvantage and I’ve set him up for rejection 😢

Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 17:47

Disadvantage isn’t the right word, I’m just struggling to find the one I actually mean! 😂

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 18:09

Hi @Mrsmoo1971 it sounds like you have done the right thing by giving him a chance! We started preparing in Sept, and then read that most kids start in Year 5 so I've been totally panicking it's not enough. My DD would do ok on the questions when we worked through them, but found the few practice tests we did much harder.

Did you apply for the music scholarship at Stockport?

Good luck on Tuesday :)

Hope he felt it went ok on Wed. I still can't get over how many kids there were!!!

I'm also hoping that being invited to the interview is a good sign 😁

PS I'm FAR more stressed about this than my daughter. Relieved to have found a few other parents on here as I've had noone to chat with about it. Nobody else at our primary school is doing entrance exams / 11+ and seem surprised when we say we are :(

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 18:23

Yes he’s applied for the music scholarship but we are under no illusion, and know he won’t get it. He has a natural talent for the piano, he did initial grade and grade one, but his vision is poor, so his old teacher said he wouldn’t be able to carry on with the exams. Abrsm won’t allow him to use enlarged print as he isn’t registered as visually impaired, but he can’t read the scores. So he teaches himself really, he’s prepared bohemian rhapsody for his audition 😂 the lack of exams will be his downfall. We went to see kings school who told him because he can’t do the exams they won’t listen to his audition so we didn’t apply there!

he thinks that Wednesday went well, so that’s enough for me, he said he found it not too bad, but also said the school is huge 😂

and the same at our primary we are the only ones that applied, there are usually a couple so I was a bit surprised.

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 18:37

Wow that's really impressive with Bohemian Rhapsody!! I'm surprised at the lack of accessibility for the piano exam, that doesn't sound right and I think you should challenge.

My DD has Initial and Grade 1 for piano and Grade 1 & 2 for violin, but we assumed this wouldn't be enough for the music scholarship. She enjoys music but wouldn't be able to teach herself Bohemian Rhapsody! That's v cool 😎

That's great he thought it went well on Wed :) My DD was upset she didn't answer all the questions with Verbal Reasoning.

It's really hard not having anyone else to talk to about it, isn't it?

I had told my DD she could chill this weekend and then SATS practice papers came home from school for homework 🤣

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TwinMum88 · 13/01/2024 18:46

I’m more stressed than my kids are too… I think that’s the way it has to be! I don’t want them stressed about it, but I know they’re invested and have their hearts set on going.

We also didn’t have a tutor. I took the view that if they’re hothoused for the exam they might need that level of 1:1 support to thrive long term, and that wouldn’t be sustainable or healthy. I hope I made the right choice on that score!… maybe it put them at a disadvantage 🤷🏻‍♀️ We did the familiarisation papers and some workbook stuff so they were prepared, so I hope that was enough. 🤞🏻

Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 18:50

To be honest DS wanted to audition I didn’t want him to! But he loves performing so I ticked the box!

he seems a natural on the piano, he plays viola too but not to any level, we’re having trouble with teachers though because of his vision. We tried and tried to get him the enlarged print books but each time we were told no, his optician has referred him to the partially sighted team at the hospital to see if there are any adaptations they can provide, he has the same issue with reading books, so I’ve had to buy him a magnifying glass so he can read what he wants to. His latest teacher has said she can’t adapt to teach him so we are trying to find someone new.

he loved the music department at sgs when we went to look around, which is why we are waiting now 😂

Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 18:57

I’m really glad I found this post! It’s made me feel so much better knowing that he isn’t the only one that hasn’t been tutored for the exam!

does anyone know so we go into the interview with them or are they on their own?

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 19:18

Hi both, it's such a stressful waiting game!

@TwinMum88 doing the familiarisation papers would have Def helped them :)

@Mrsmoo1971 the music department sounds great doesn't it! Ooh my DD is interested in moving to viola after she gains her Grade 3. I'm shocked about the problems you're having with access to the music exams, I hope that gets resolved asap.

I read the invite as if we go in with them.

On another thread (if you look in this secondary one), you'll see some parents from last year shared info. about the interview.

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Mrsmoo1971 · 13/01/2024 20:02

oooo will go and hunt the other thread!

im not sure which I would prefer, going in with him or him going in on his own! He tends to look at me rather than answering if I’m there! They might get more out of him if he’s on his own! But then again he may just nod and shake his head if he’s alone 😂

Original poster
MushPeas · 13/01/2024 21:11

I know what you mean! 🤣

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TimMcGraw · 14/01/2024 11:42

DD1’s interview was less of an interview, more of a chat, so don’t stress too much. They asked how she found her primary school, what interests she had, if she was in any clubs (sporting or, say, scouts/ guides) and what kind of extra-curricular activities she might like to get involved in at SGS. At times it felt more like they were trying to sell the school to us, rather than the other way round. I do remember there being lots of children who had brought instruments, which was interesting to me as DD1 didn’t play an instrument at all. We do go in with them - they want to interview the parents as much as the kids, I think!

whiteboardking · 14/01/2024 13:31

All the parents I know went in with them & dressed up for it. They are defo screening parents. They also seem to sales pitch to the ones they really want: I know DC that were told eg where they had scored on exam (at top) and parents said it felt like a sales pitch as well as interview

Original poster
MushPeas · 14/01/2024 16:57

Hi @TimMcGraw and @deeprealisation thanks for the info. Relieved it's more of a chat than a hard core interview for the kids! Though I do realise I need to think about what to wear ;-)

Will make sure DD knows about the extra curricula activities in advance. She's interested in rugby though and I'm not sure if they have a team for girls.

That's interesting with the instruments. We didn't apply for music scholarship as DD is currently Grade 1 & 2 in her instruments.

Thanks for all your guidance, it really helps with the nerves!

Good luck to everyone with interviews this week x

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