Wierd 11+ interview question

[11plusjourneymum]

Hey everyone! I'm new to mumset and the 11+! My DS has recently completed his 11+ exams (grammar and independent schools) and is now interviewing at schools where he passed the exams. He had an interview at Hampton boys recently, which went well, but one of the interviewees asked him if he had a tutor. My DS replied honestly that he had a tutor for Maths and English. Isn't that a wierd question to ask? How will they use this information and for what purpose? My DS had a english and maths tutor in the final 4 months, I hope being honest will not go against him and they will not assume that he is over-tutored? I'm so anxious!!

My son just got invited to a Hampton Maths Extension taster session after the 11+ exam and interview at Hampton boys. He did not get invited to acedamic scholarship assessment but we received this email today. Anyone else got this too? Is this a sign that he will get an offer?

I've not heard of that but to be honest, this is my first time going through with my oldest son..

good luck! its such a stressful process. Has you son done all the exams/interviews?

Yes he has. Now like everyone we have to wait until February. Has anyone else had the maths interview letter that you got?

no idea!

Do you know if your son finished the maths paper @11plusjourneymum ? Mine left 2 qs so not surprised by lack of invitation to academic scholarship interview…

@Hatty999 We didn’t receive a maths interview letter

@11plusjourneymum haven’t heard of the maths extension taster session. My experience of Hampton though has been that the admissions team are super helpful and friendly so I’d just give them a ring and ask. Sounds like a good thing ie that he’s done well on the paper, but not sure how it’s different from the scholarship assessment.

It’s actually not an interview invitation but an invite to a voluntary maths extension session to give him a taster of maths extension lessons that they offer to a small number of boys in gcse and a levels . It’s on 24th Feb so we would have heard about the school’s decision before then anyway , so I don’t think this will contribute to any scholarship or admission decision . But I hadn’t heard of something like this before so was just wondering if anyone else has experience of it.

That sounds incredibly positive!

@11plusjourneymum , I haven't heard of this but my ds is at Hampton and is familiar with the phrase and it's as you describe. I suspect your ds has done well and Hampton are trying to lure you away from Tiffin or another private school possibly with a scholarship. As it's taking place after the offers come out but before grammar school places are out it can only be good news!

What does over-tutored mean? He either had the benefit of tutoring to help pass the exam or he didn't. Some children don't have that benefit so naturally a head teacher needs to take that into consideration when looking for the brightest candidates. That's literally the point of grammar schools. The problem is too many parents try to get round this with tutoring thus depriving working class kids of opportunities.

Problem is, they put things on the 11+ that state schools do not cover until exams are done, which is really not fair. This is why dc need to be tutored, to cover those aspects. But yes, then there are the dc that are in prep schools and being tutored. Or dc being tutored from year 3 or 4.

@11plusjourneymum my DS also received the maths extension invite on 24/Feb, as the email mentioned he has gained a very strong score in the 11+ Maths paper(my boy think he should score around 95 mark or at least 90 on the safe side), I guess it's a very positive news(a good hint?)

Congratulations! Fingers crossed!

That's why they are asking the DCs! They are less likely to realise it isn't innocent small talk and more likely to be honest, potentially dropping themselves in it by disclosing heavy tutoring for the past 3 years. DCs are far less adept at subterfuge!

just reading this thread now. My son also received the Maths Extension taster session on 24th Feb. My son passed the 10 plus advanced exam and already has an offer, He wrote the 11 plus again to try his luck for scholarhip. Unfortunately he was not successful in that but as you mentioned received a letter stating he had done exceptionally well and was invited for the Maths Extendedtaster session. Again what struck us was if he has done really well, but just missed the cut off for scholarhip, then I believe the school is giving scholarip to the top 4-5% on the combined maths and Eng score. But am surprised people were invited for the taster session when the offer day is 9th Feb. My son already has an offer, so we were not surprised to get this invitation

My DS got an offer from Hampton this morning for year 7 entry this September. So pleased!! Thanks for all the support everyone!

Congrate@11plusjourneymum same here! We also received all other offers! Hope a happy ending for everyone!

great news @hiitsquare - Congratulations!

Congrats @11plusjourneymum and @hiitsquare

That’s good news @11plusjourneymum We got a Hampton offer too so our DSs have done well despite tricky questions. Phew!