11 + to try or not .

[Alisaann]

Hi all , just looking for so advise .
i have a child in yr 4 doing well at school would say slightly above average very hard working and a delight all round ( for teachers 🤪) she’s also very driven . My question is should I start perp for 11 + or not .
she has mentioned on a few different occasions she would like to try for our local girls grammar . We have a fantastic comp on our door step but unfortunately there is a very strange set up for the school where by you have to attend church in order to get in .Its based on a points system where by if you attend a church primary you get more points and also if you have siblings there you also get more but you still have to attend church for 2 years before . Our other local comp is just ok some would say awful but compared to schools Ive read about in other parts of the country it’s fine .
i have a client that is a tutor and is happy to do some tutoring with her in exchange for free hair cuts 😄. I didn’t want to go down this road as I’m not so bothered if she does it or not but my daughter is really wanting to give it a shot . My question is should I just go for it or will it be a mistake as she isn’t a “gifted child” .

My DD is currently year 6 and will be attending our local girls grammar school in September.

I would very much recommend starting tutoring in year 4, to ensure your child is not only familiar with all of the content, but confident with it.

My DD started tutoring in Year 4. My DD performed highly in the 4 mocks she completed, and ranked 58/1186 out of all the girls in the county. She even came out of the 11+ exam itself happy and confident she’d performed well.

My recommendation is, if you’re going to go for the 11+, go all in, and prep in advance

You have to tutor because everyone else is and therefore they raise the stakes

Why not do a bit of tutoring and let DD have. Go? Present it as giving more options if she passes.
We're an 11+ area. Some parents go mad with tutoring. DS had friends doing 3 hours. Day over the summer holidays. DS did practice tests and learn half a dozen words a day. He passed, not by miles, but he passed. And had a fun summer.
Depending on where you live passing the 11+ doesn't always guarantee a place at grammar due to oversubscription criteria

Thanks for the reply .. we are going to do this I think , if she passed she’s get in where are about 3 min walk away from the school .

I wonder if you live where I do, set up sounds like it is.

How will your DD cope if she’s “bottom of the pack” at the grammar school?

I know a fair few parents who have only done minimal tutoring for their DC so they learnt how to sit the tests but not coached for 2 years. Some girls end up being the tutored throughout their time there.

One of mine attended for 6th form and described like a cult 😬 she thought it was very pressured and no one liked to ask for help and lots of MH issues.

Let her sit the tests but if she doesn’t pass with only minimal tutoring then it’s probably not the right environment. Mine were happier being big fish in a little pond rather than the super competitive environment.