11+ questions? Should we go ahead?

[HellybellyMelly]

Currently at a through school - small independent not in any league table but delivers decent results
DD happy/doing exceptionally well
Walkable commute
Affordable

But - im being swayed by the bigger, fancier schools who are in the league tables. Plus other parents talking about the 11+ makes me FOMO because my DD is strong academically and i dont know whether id be doing the right thing. She says she would like to try the exams just to see where she lands. Now is the time to prepare if we want to - but the only reason to move would be to go to a bigger named place

Hi, we decided to go ahead and try. No formal tutoring, just working through books at home. Some choices are completely out of our league like NLCS and HB but thought we would try alongside some of the London consortium ones. Good luck to everyone!

DD (13) was in a small school for primary which she loved for a long time but did outgrow.

She’s very bright academically so while we didn’t get a tutor etc we did get online access for 11+ practice and she did 20 minutes of that each weekday.

Felt a good balance and she got offers from all of the schools she applied to (including scholarships) she’s now Year 9 and being in a selective school 100% is the right move for her (ASD) as she has so many more friends like her and is so confident and happy.

11+ need not be a huge undertaking, it is what you make of it and there are certainly things you can do to shield your child from some of the batshittery.
It sounds like you are in a very good position, your DD is at a school she enjoys and where she can stay but she also has the option to try the 11+. If you can absorb all the pressure on her behalf then it could be as close to a win win as most parents get