When did you determine your child's ability for private school?

[idky]

I know there is an assessment for entry into private schools but do you prepare beforehand with your child or become aware of their ability then decide to go for private education. Which comes first?

If you knew your child(ren) had the ability, what signs were they showing? You'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts.

Thank you in advance!

Timed 11+ mock test.

You’re talking about selective education, not private education. Private education does not require a child to have ability. Some private education requires a child to have ability. As does some state education.

What @BumBumCream said

Also, there is a different 11+ treshold for different schools. Some have it very low. Nearly every child gets in. But there are also superselective with very high expectations and one out of 15 is acceptedm
You have to test your child or send him to mock test and basing on that see which school he/she will get into.

There are private schools catering for all abilities so I think most people decide that they are interested in and can afford to go private before looking into schools that might suit their child. Parents send their children to private schools for all sorts of different reasons.

11+ past papers and preparation books are a good place to start in assessing where your child is.

If schools tell you how your child has scored in standardised tests that may help also.

If your child is very able (top it near top in everything at primary) and you are in a grammar school area it would be sensible to look at those because they are free! Their teachers will have an idea of whether they reach the required standard and if they might thrive in that sort of school.

Different schools use different types of entrance tests, so you need to work out which are used by the schools you are interested in.

You will then need to make sure your DC is familiar with the tests. You may decide to use a tutor to help

You can usually tell by about Y3/4 whether a child has the ability required for selective education. Not all private schools require the same levels of academic ability, so you need to check what sort of levels the schools you are interested in accept.

I would say if your dc is easily strong in strong in academics, that is a starting point. For example, not needing to help them with their homework and they are GDS. Also, feedback from their teachers. But just doing well at a state school is not enough, you then need to go over some of the 11+ stuff with to see how they score. If they score well then you know which schools to target. Of course, some prep might be required to make sure they have covered the content first. Once content has been covered, you see how they score and target schools accordingly.

@BumBumCream like she said.
You're thinking of selective education OP. That exists in both the state and private sector. The most selective schools are usually the famously selective grammars like Henrietta Barnett and Queen Elizabeth boys. It's not unheard of for someone to get into St Paul's but not there.
Private schools will all 'test' the child to figure out where they are, as usually the kids are coming from preps with no sats. They usually also interview you to check for compatibility with values, home life etc. This is really what you're paying for.
Many private schools will accept pretty much anyone, and many have pupils funded by EHCPs due to their significant SEN needs that are easily catered for in the smaller classes. Of course there's also many that are very difficult to get into, but that's the case in both sectors.

Sorry I am referring to grammar school but in my area you have to pay for a place. I am aware other towns have free places but the ones around me all charge.

A grammar school that charges is just a private school with the name grammar in it. Doesn't mean it's super selective.

What has 'ability' got to do with it?

The bank balance determined it was going to be the local comp (no grammar offer round here)

Children have to take an entrance assessment to get into a grammar school. I'm sure ability would be a factor here? If they are excelling in school and preparing then the exam could be passed perhaps?

I’m assuming the private school you refer to is genuinely selective . Really bright kids I think you know very early . My DS1 it was obvious at year 1 age . His brother it was borderline right up to the bitter end in the 11+ and he didn’t pass in the end though a couple of his friends of similar ability did .

Look at any CAT tests or SATs your child has done , see if their work is expected or exceeding on reports and ask their teachers opinion

What kind of school does your child currently go to?

If it’s a prep, you should get an answer to the question of whether or not your child is likely to be pass the exam for a specific school.

Ability is a factor but that doesn’t mean the standard is all that high.

In the city I live in there are two private schools. One is very open that they are only “minimally selective”. Basically you just have to be achieving at the appropriate level for your age. It is more of an exclusion than a selection.

The other is more selective. But the kids I know who went were only just above average I would say. Lovely kids but definitely not geniuses. I suspect that they would come across well in interview though.

If it’s a fee paying school then it’s a private school that just happens to have the word grammar in the name. It’s not a state grammar school.

You need to ask the schools you are interested in for details of their admissions criteria and tests. Some will give you past papers, some will give you suggestions of books to use to practice.

But nobody on mumsnet can give you the answer as it totally depends on the schools.

If Labour get in then it is likely that the “pass mark” will go down as well as a number of parents will decide that VAT on fees make it not feasible to go.

Well yes, prepped, coached, practised - not REALLY a sign of ability, as such.

Ability didn’t come into it whatsoever for us, same with every other private school family that we know. It was simply a matter of us finding the right environment for DD to thrive with the best opportunities

There are a few private schools in our area which are called xxx Grammar - one of them is somewhat selective, the other has an entrance test but apparently it's not at all onerous. Nothing like the actual state grammars (and even they aren't superselective here).

Afaik the best way for parents find out which of these alternatives their kid has the aptitude for is to send them to a private junior school which isn't connected to any of them, they should steer towards appropriate choices. CAT tests may give some measure of the child's ability.

I'm not understanding your vague responses...are you upset about something? I hope everything is ok...

I was very able in school, straight A student but I also prepped and practiced because I didn't want anything below As.

My mum would say she saw signs since she was a toddler because I was glued to anything with a form of text.

I am thinking ahead about my 3 year old that's all...

Thank you! Exactly what I needed!

Thank you everyone for your supportive responses!!

Not at 3, IME. At 3 he seemed average (bright, great talker but no clues about his future academic performance)
probably y1/2 we could see we were dealing with a very clever child
y4 made the decision to go for a super selective grammar near us
y5 started tutoring.

Why don’t you ask your childrens’ school about their overall ability? Both of our children attended a state primary school. Our daughter’s teacher suggested that she sat for the local grammar school and the HT actually sent for me to say that, as I had recently gone back to f/t employment, he wondered if we could private education for our son as he was so bright. An experienced tutor (not a student) will also be able to assess your childrens’ ability and will know which local schools will suit them.