Page 30 | 11+ 2025 support thread

AquaPeer · 2024-11-02T15:24:00+00:00

Hi all, I really enjoyed reading previous 11 plus support threads and I think we’re probably ready for a new cohort of year 5s start their prep? so I thought I’d set up one for next year. All welcome! we are trying for dame Alice Owen. DD currently has group tutoring once a week but we are looking to increase to twice a week before Xmas. i am *trying* to get her to do a cgt GL 15 min tests a day very unsuccessfully! This half term is going to be all about embedding routine 😀 look forward to meeting other parents preparing

Magnificentkitteh · 12/09/2025 12:21

Yes similar but for HB. Though have remembered she's on brownie camp the last weekend in September so limited time for extra prep anyway. That said, I'm not sure whether cramming is that easy for second rounds anyway as they sound like they might be a bit more free form?

Nushi21 · 12/09/2025 12:35

Good luck everyone

troppibambini6 · 12/09/2025 12:45

Good luck everyone sitting today 🤞

We are Monday and Friday with first choice being on Friday.

Sorry but I need a rant. I’m so bloody cross with school. They gave them all a “practice” maths paper to do this week. Ds came home really deflated as he scored 74% (used to scoring much higher) I was discussing it with a mum who owns a tuition company (who actually work with the school) and was saying how much it knocked Ds confidence. She said she really wished school had spoken to her first as that is basically a rogue GL paper she said they don’t use it as it’s far too hard and is really badly written.
Why the hell give it to them the week before the exams?!! Ds is really doubting himself now.

Ive decide to pull him out on Wednesday and Thursday. We are going to do a bit of easy prep, build his confidence up and do some nice things.

SFV · 12/09/2025 12:55

troppibambini6 · 12/09/2025 12:45

Good luck everyone sitting today 🤞

We are Monday and Friday with first choice being on Friday.

Sorry but I need a rant. I’m so bloody cross with school. They gave them all a “practice” maths paper to do this week. Ds came home really deflated as he scored 74% (used to scoring much higher) I was discussing it with a mum who owns a tuition company (who actually work with the school) and was saying how much it knocked Ds confidence. She said she really wished school had spoken to her first as that is basically a rogue GL paper she said they don’t use it as it’s far too hard and is really badly written.
Why the hell give it to them the week before the exams?!! Ds is really doubting himself now.

Ive decide to pull him out on Wednesday and Thursday. We are going to do a bit of easy prep, build his confidence up and do some nice things.

That's shit of the school... surely at this stage they should be doing anthg to boost the confidence of the kids. I'd give him some GL/CGP maths papers to bring him back up again. Tell your son what your mum friend said about it being a rogue/hard paper. Their confidence is so important at this stage.

Tiredlady1 · 12/09/2025 13:11

I've had this issue as well, where the answers could easily be at least two of the options.

Tiredlady1 · 12/09/2025 13:17

troppibambini6 · 12/09/2025 12:45

Good luck everyone sitting today 🤞

We are Monday and Friday with first choice being on Friday.

Sorry but I need a rant. I’m so bloody cross with school. They gave them all a “practice” maths paper to do this week. Ds came home really deflated as he scored 74% (used to scoring much higher) I was discussing it with a mum who owns a tuition company (who actually work with the school) and was saying how much it knocked Ds confidence. She said she really wished school had spoken to her first as that is basically a rogue GL paper she said they don’t use it as it’s far too hard and is really badly written.
Why the hell give it to them the week before the exams?!! Ds is really doubting himself now.

Ive decide to pull him out on Wednesday and Thursday. We are going to do a bit of easy prep, build his confidence up and do some nice things.

What is it with these schools showing up at the wrong time ! Yes I am in agreement. Some papers are ridiculously hard that they've been a hindrance. I've just avoided those as we approach his exams and given him short bursts of medium excercises that he truly thinks he is a king and maybe just slip in some of the challenging ones here and there. I believe that confidence helps blood flow to the brain, which allows for better thinking.

troppibambini6 · 12/09/2025 14:11

I honestly feel like saying to school you’ve done bugger all all year and now you show up at the eleventh hour doing more harm than good!

I’ve spent this afternoon rubbing out answers on papers he’s already done a while ago (and got great scores on) for him to re do.

He’s more than capable he just needs a bucket of confidence now. He’s did a ten minute test last night and got 50% 🙈

I’ve promised we can have a fire in the back garden and burn all the papers when this is over 😆

troppibambini6 · 12/09/2025 14:13

I told him what she said but I felt like the damage had been done!

SFV · 12/09/2025 16:49

Schoolhelp23 · 12/09/2025 09:52

Good luck @SFV - We left super early as had to navigate the strike, then realised the Northern line opened earlier 🙄 So she went in at 8ish. Long day! Fingers crossed for both of us!

Hi, how did your daughter get on? Mine is pleased to be done and seems happy with how it went! She missed 2qs on maths out of 60 and 2qs on NVR out of 40 (which im teying to not fret over, also because it's out of out hands now). She liked that they took breaks regularly - they got to go and play outside at some point and have a general meander around the school. Apparently, the day had a chilled vibe, which was nice to hear. Now the long wait until October!

Schoolhelp23 · 12/09/2025 20:16

@SFV She was in good spirits but did say that the VR and Maths were hard, and she's usually pretty ok with them! She left 2 of the Maths out too. She doesn't seem too confident about it but it is what it is. Their class didn't go out, think the majority didn't want to which is a shame! Hope you didn't get stuck too long in the downpour at pickup...!

SFV · 12/09/2025 20:39

Schoolhelp23 · 12/09/2025 20:16

@SFV She was in good spirits but did say that the VR and Maths were hard, and she's usually pretty ok with them! She left 2 of the Maths out too. She doesn't seem too confident about it but it is what it is. Their class didn't go out, think the majority didn't want to which is a shame! Hope you didn't get stuck too long in the downpour at pickup...!

Oh, the downpour was times perfectly for pick up! We all got soaked!! Tbh, i think if prepped kids found a subject hard, probably they all did - same for missing questions. If she found the timings tight, likely they all did. Are you done with exams now?

Magnificentkitteh · 12/09/2025 20:44

I got so drenched at HB pick up. Was standing for ages with no umbrella and it was absolutely bucketing. Everyone was sheltering under trees and getting told off by the head for being in front of some cones or whatever

Magnificentkitteh · 12/09/2025 20:44

Latymer was better as you could keep an eye on the gate from the cafe opposite

Schoolhelp23 · 12/09/2025 21:02

@SFV Yep all done. We only went for St Michael's and HB - don't expect to get called to 2nd stage of HB at all with the numbers applying there, but was good formal exam experience for her in advance of St Michael's as she hasn't sat any mocks etc. Can't find any info on how many were invited to sit, I know last year was 274 but as you said, expect more this year. I flit between 'it is what it is', to really really hoping she's done enough! 😩

SFV · 12/09/2025 22:29

Schoolhelp23 · 12/09/2025 21:02

@SFV Yep all done. We only went for St Michael's and HB - don't expect to get called to 2nd stage of HB at all with the numbers applying there, but was good formal exam experience for her in advance of St Michael's as she hasn't sat any mocks etc. Can't find any info on how many were invited to sit, I know last year was 274 but as you said, expect more this year. I flit between 'it is what it is', to really really hoping she's done enough! 😩

Hahaha, I'm the same! I know it's out of my hands now, but I really hope she gets through St M as that's where she's always wanted to go. Fingers crossed we get good news in Oct. I don't need her to be at the top, just in the top 128! ;)

bourns · 13/09/2025 14:21

My son took the Birmingham grammar schools test this morning and said it seemed easier than the practices he'd been doing. Fingers crossed as that could go either way!

Magnificentkitteh · 13/09/2025 18:31

Well done to your son and enjoy the feeling of it being over for a few days before the results angst kicks in!

Purpletoes · 13/09/2025 18:38

My daughter had her 2nd test this week today. Now a 2 week wait for final one and then the nervous wait for results. Each test is for a different authority we are in catchment for

MamaKiwi · 13/09/2025 18:46

@Purpletoes I’m wondering whether your daughter also sat the Kent Test and the Shepway?

Verdict here was that the Kent Test was easier than the Shepway - one of my sons couldn’t finish the maths today but I’m told that’s not uncommon and children can and do fail to finish and still pass.

One more test for us, and results next month for all.

Purpletoes · 13/09/2025 18:54

MamaKiwi · 13/09/2025 18:46

@Purpletoes I’m wondering whether your daughter also sat the Kent Test and the Shepway?

Verdict here was that the Kent Test was easier than the Shepway - one of my sons couldn’t finish the maths today but I’m told that’s not uncommon and children can and do fail to finish and still pass.

One more test for us, and results next month for all.

Hi she sat Bexley on Thursday and Kent today. She said both were ok. So Fingers crossed. Hard to know if they have done ok or made silly mistakes. She did manage to finish them just need to wait now

Lamarais · 13/09/2025 19:59

I'm already finding the wait tedious! We have DAO first round results this week and it's hard to know how much practice to do for round 2 without knowing if we are even going to be doing it. Feels like both of us are exhausted at this point and just want it over with.

Magnificentkitteh · 13/09/2025 20:33

Yeah, I think we have at least another two weeks to wait, perhaps more. The mock companies could turn the computer marked tests round within hours.

SFV · 13/09/2025 21:08

Lamarais · 13/09/2025 19:59

I'm already finding the wait tedious! We have DAO first round results this week and it's hard to know how much practice to do for round 2 without knowing if we are even going to be doing it. Feels like both of us are exhausted at this point and just want it over with.

We're in the same predicament!

MamaKiwi · 13/09/2025 21:16

@Magnificentkitteh I was lamenting that with some other post-test mums today actually. This wait seems like madness, particularly given how quickly the mock exam companies are able to turn around their computerised test results.

Hurry up please, October 16….

Tiredlady1 · 14/09/2025 12:41

We still have two tests to go! My husband booked a me at w fancy resturant for the whole family afterwards. It's also to show our DS that we are just proud he tried his best. Is anyone looking into private schools and have any info on how much scholarship they are offering this year given the demand has dwindled.