Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Secondary education

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

11+ 2025 support thread #2

1000 replies

AquaPeer · 23/09/2025 12:27

we are on the home run now! Continue to support, love and share in this thread

link to previous

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5200929-11-2025-support-thread?page=40&reply=147336748

continued good luck to all x

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
Overlyconcernedmum · 23/09/2025 22:04

trying29 · 23/09/2025 22:01

boys results coming through now. good luck!

Results for what?

penguinumbrella · 23/09/2025 23:05

Overlyconcernedmum · 23/09/2025 22:04

Results for what?

Sutton grammars

penguinumbrella · 23/09/2025 23:08

So it's a no for us... I think it's definitely a lesson in not just relying on basic ability! We came to this late, and had a very relaxed attitude (4 hours of tutoring over the summer) and I suppose it shows that a bit more rigour was needed!

Best of luck everyone with the next rounds ❤️

FitnessIsTheOnlyWealth · 23/09/2025 23:13

It was a Yes for my DD today at Sutton. Regardless of next round/ getting a place, I’m happy with just today’s success.

trying29 · 24/09/2025 07:23

I agree. They have all done well, regardless of if they passed this first stage or not. Its a hell of a lot for 10 year olds.

RzRzRz · 24/09/2025 09:27

penguinumbrella · 23/09/2025 23:08

So it's a no for us... I think it's definitely a lesson in not just relying on basic ability! We came to this late, and had a very relaxed attitude (4 hours of tutoring over the summer) and I suppose it shows that a bit more rigour was needed!

Best of luck everyone with the next rounds ❤️

Thanks for sharing, though achievement in just attending and getting through the day!

May I ask was that 4 hrs in total over the whole summer ? (Not four hours a week over summer....)

penguinumbrella · 24/09/2025 09:46

RzRzRz · 24/09/2025 09:27

Thanks for sharing, though achievement in just attending and getting through the day!

May I ask was that 4 hrs in total over the whole summer ? (Not four hours a week over summer....)

Yes 4 x 1 hr sessions, so one a week until we went on holiday. I went to a grammar school and tutoring was absolutely not a thing, so sort of disagreed with it. My view was the 4 hours should help him understand the way the exam was structured, and maybe cover some bits he likely wouldn't have covered yet at school.

We used a local uni student who had sat for Sutton but ended up with a scholarship for a private school. His view was that DS was answering all the second stage stuff confidently so he was sure that he'd be fine.

As such, I would very much suspect a lot of it was exam technique - he never sat a full exam before the day, and lets be honest, there will be a pattern in how best to identify and answer some questions for the exam which just comes with repetition.

I share because I'm sure in years to come, someone like me will be on here thinking 'SURELY my bright kid can just rock up and do the exam?' and trying to gauge how much work is really required. I would probably suggest more than 4 hours in total, with a nice student who definitely wasn't a trained teacher!😂

We are lucky in that it was a bit of a panicked choice, worrying about catchment and entry to our local schools but in actual fact we have 4 excellent local schools, one on the up, and Wilsons would have made a nice 6th choice - but it wasn't 'local' (40min commute on public transport) and is single sex. In an ideal world, I'd always prefer mixed and walkable if needed.

So for us, its be a great experience for him (exam sitting), a good lesson about creating potential opportunities for yourself, and a REALLLLLY good lesson in 'just because you're smart, doesn't mean you don't need to work at stuff'.

Schoolhelp23 · 24/09/2025 09:57

@penguinumbrella Same for us, well it was 6 hours, but similar reason (exam structure type prep). I was hopeful for a place at St Michaels, but based on stage 1 HB results, doubt it will happen! Proud of DD for giving it a go though.

SFV · 24/09/2025 10:36

Schoolhelp23 · 24/09/2025 09:57

@penguinumbrella Same for us, well it was 6 hours, but similar reason (exam structure type prep). I was hopeful for a place at St Michaels, but based on stage 1 HB results, doubt it will happen! Proud of DD for giving it a go though.

Don't discount St M just yet - HBS had over 3000 girls sitting compared to St M's 400. My DD didn't get HBS either, but got through first round DAO (where 1000 kids sat) so I'm hoping St M is still an option for us. Competition is less fierce for St M and the timings of the papers were definitely more achievable than those of HBS. Are you willing to share what your DDs score was for HBS? Fingers crossed for us!

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 10:41

For future parents I would say if you have a dedicated kid Atom Learning is a great resource. I didn't know about it 4 years ago when my dd1 applied although she did do a few hours over the summer with an online tutor (COVID) but dd2 has used it several times a week plus did online videos in the holidays. It was much more flexible than a tutor and less daunting than a class. I was worried it wasn't enough based on what everyone was saying but it must have been , though she also had 3 one off sessions with an English teacher mum at school who kindly offered her time for auction at the school fair and who I owe a big bunch of flowers! I don't want to sound like an advert for them and it's not cheap but I think some schools offer it for free to those on FSM.

trying29 · 24/09/2025 10:46

For my side, we did not pay for tutoring but did tutor at home. Examberry and Exam paper plus, in addition to attending the grammar school PTA run mocks were our best preparation.

Lamarais · 24/09/2025 11:36

We opted for tutoring despite our current school saying it wasn’t necessary and that a bright child would do well and I am so glad we did. I wondered if it was needed but as we went along I realised it really was all about technique and speed and school just don’t have the time to dedicate to that sort of practice. I also didn’t have confidence in my own ability to cover the relevant topics. Hopefully the investment paid off but if not he has learnt valuable skills along the way.

It’s a crap system though as it absolutely favours kids whose family can afford to tutor. I fully recognise our privilege here and I don’t think it is fair as it should be about natural ability.

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 15:14

I looked at St Mary Magdalene today which is only partially selective (we are out of catchment though so would need a selective place). I really liked it - much more than I remembered liking it when I visited 4 years ago with dd1. There were COVID measures in place then, and a different head. It's a shame it's so hard to get in - the odds aren't really any better than for Latymer etc although perhaps there's less prep going on.

Also grey coat hospital have said she can sit the language aptitude test after she gets back from her y6 residential which is good of them. No idea what chance she stands as she doesn't speak any languages currently but she's practised all those codes!

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 15:30

Are exam papers plus good do you think? Am trying to find resources for Henrietta Barnett round 2 and they claim to have some but they're kind of pricey.

SFV · 24/09/2025 18:18

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 15:14

I looked at St Mary Magdalene today which is only partially selective (we are out of catchment though so would need a selective place). I really liked it - much more than I remembered liking it when I visited 4 years ago with dd1. There were COVID measures in place then, and a different head. It's a shame it's so hard to get in - the odds aren't really any better than for Latymer etc although perhaps there's less prep going on.

Also grey coat hospital have said she can sit the language aptitude test after she gets back from her y6 residential which is good of them. No idea what chance she stands as she doesn't speak any languages currently but she's practised all those codes!

That's great that they're letting her sit the exam! :)

trying29 · 24/09/2025 19:22

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 15:30

Are exam papers plus good do you think? Am trying to find resources for Henrietta Barnett round 2 and they claim to have some but they're kind of pricey.

we've used them a lot in prep - my son says they are a bit harder than then actual exam. we also use exam berry which seem a bit easier

FitnessIsTheOnlyWealth · 24/09/2025 19:45

trying29 · 24/09/2025 19:22

we've used them a lot in prep - my son says they are a bit harder than then actual exam. we also use exam berry which seem a bit easier

Agree with @trying29- that’s been our experience too

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 20:04

Thanks, bit of a money pit this isn't it? £325 for a bundle. Probably don't have time to use many anyway though.

In other news my mum is still in hospital and that is getting increasingly worrying tbh though she's insistent she's fine to come home tomorrow, on about getting a taxi, point blank refusing to consider carers etc. Sigh.

Lamarais · 24/09/2025 20:31

£325!! That’s crazy isn’t it? I find that pretty offensive. Once again pricing out families who can’t afford it. I understand charging but there must be a more reasonable fee!

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 20:52

Yes. TBF that was a dauntingly large bundle. I don't think we need that many. But it's something like £20 for a single paper. And who knows really how well they replicate the test since the school are quite cagey about what's on it.

Donedonn · 24/09/2025 20:58

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 20:52

Yes. TBF that was a dauntingly large bundle. I don't think we need that many. But it's something like £20 for a single paper. And who knows really how well they replicate the test since the school are quite cagey about what's on it.

I used some EPP practise papers for some other grammar school exams and really they were much harder than the real exam. I don’t see the point of getting kids to extra hard papers! Like preparing them for some doomsday scenario.

SFV · 24/09/2025 22:27

Do you know any other parents sitting HBS you can split the cost with? That's what another mum and I did for DAO papers.

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 23:15

Good thought. I don't really but could perhaps find someone. 2 of DD,'s friends sat round 1 but weren't in top 300.

Keeping everything crossed for Latymer for everyone, including myself. I'm thinking we might get rank 1 results this week? Apparently we won't get round 2 HBS results at all so just have to apply and hope. Would be lovely to get more clarity from Latymer before the application deadline but I guess that only works if you're clearly in top 200 or clearly outside top 700.

SFV · 24/09/2025 23:30

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 23:15

Good thought. I don't really but could perhaps find someone. 2 of DD,'s friends sat round 1 but weren't in top 300.

Keeping everything crossed for Latymer for everyone, including myself. I'm thinking we might get rank 1 results this week? Apparently we won't get round 2 HBS results at all so just have to apply and hope. Would be lovely to get more clarity from Latymer before the application deadline but I guess that only works if you're clearly in top 200 or clearly outside top 700.

So I keep reading different things about Latymer... I'm sad, I know! So apparently, loads after rank 1 (top 700), and rank 2 (after English has been marked)... they remove all the "out of catchment" kids, of which apparently there are hundreds! And then you get a 3rd rank!

Donedonn · 25/09/2025 00:55

Magnificentkitteh · 24/09/2025 23:15

Good thought. I don't really but could perhaps find someone. 2 of DD,'s friends sat round 1 but weren't in top 300.

Keeping everything crossed for Latymer for everyone, including myself. I'm thinking we might get rank 1 results this week? Apparently we won't get round 2 HBS results at all so just have to apply and hope. Would be lovely to get more clarity from Latymer before the application deadline but I guess that only works if you're clearly in top 200 or clearly outside top 700.

Latymer waitlist moves by hundreds. I know someone who joined this year who was ranked 400+. There might be more lower ranked also who might have got in.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is not accepting new messages.
Swipe left for the next trending thread