Bum. Bumety bum bum bum. All children who sat the local grammar school entrance exam have to resit!

[Havenamechangedtostayanonymous]

Just a rant really!

As a tutor had a copy of the paper and they can't tell how many children might have seen it. DD was nervous enough before the first one and she will have to miss my sister's wedding. I am not happy!

(but I suppose its fairer than doing nothing...)

[Havenamechangedtostayanonymous]

And yes islandofsodor, what fantastic schools we have in our neck of the woods!!!

[unknownrebelbang]

ah yes, but you've both taken a different route...some of us have children in the local state schools.

Oh joy of joys.

(quite happy though with the schools my boys attend).

[unknownrebelbang]

lol - I thought that was a wink, and you were being sarcastic.

sorry.

(really do need my new glasses.)

[islandofsodor]

Namechange - Is your dd purple, navy, red then? I presume not tartan.

There must be some sort of system to cope with extenuating circumstances which I reckon a wedding in Barbados would be. I still can't beleive how this could have happened - who gives a tutor a copy of the paper???

Unknown - It wasn't a decision we took lightly, and to behonest I don't tell a lot of people in real life where they go in case they think we are snobs or something. I have family who are perfectly happy with their state schools. To be honest we couldn't get a nursery place locally when dd was 3 so went private for the nursery years and sort of fell in love with the school in a way.

Dh teaches in the state system (not locally though)

[unknownrebelbang]

Sounds fair enough, Islands. We all do what we think is appropriate for our own children. We made a cursory glance a few years back (for secondary, was never a consideration for primary) but it was never a serious option, really.

We're happy with both schools ours have attended, and consider ourselves quite fortunate, given some of the local schools.

I know some folk that have sent their children private, and they're happy with the choice they've made, although I do know one colleague has just pulled her daughter out.

[Havenamechangedtostayanonymous]

island, I hope you understand when I say I'd rather not say, but yes, it's one of those 3! I'm going to get dh to ring tomorrow to see about an alternative date so fingers crossed for us! I'll keep you posted...

[islandofsodor]

I did have the heebie jeebies about our decision when all the hoo har about the ex principal and the sacked English teacher kicked off!!!!

Fingers crossed namechange. I totally understand. You've probably guessed where mine are.

[Havenamechangedtostayanonymous]

I have a completely unfounded inkling it might be NULS island!

[3littlefrogs]

mdrooney - yes I know. How do these tutors get hold of the ACTUAL paper that nobody is supposed to see before the ACTUAL day????

My friend's dd did the exam at one of the schools in question last year, and heard some of the other children saying they had seen the paper and practised it the previous week. Outrageous. The tutors should not be allowed to get away with it. Doubtless the same people are up to the same tricks this year. The whole thing is a farce.

(Have just come in from another open evening at one of the selective schools, and feel very stressed).

[mdrooney]

To be honost I dont really blame the tutors, really it was the school in questions fault as it had the exame papers on roation I think 15yrs so only 15 papers and the tutors just got the girls to practice and practice with previous papers. Im not going into the whole selective school thing and what I think as Im past that stage dds in y7 and y8 and at a good school, they never sat for selective . but it just proves my point that the selection and test process in a lot of cases isnt on how bright the child is but what tutor they have had.

[unknownrebelbang]

Apparently, there's four in DS3's class sat the paper.

(there's only 14 in their year).

[unknownrebelbang]

Any joy with the school, namechanged?

[Havenamechangedtostayanonymous]

Me and DH ended up chickening out of asking i she could sit it an alternative day, didn't want to labeled as trouble makers so DH and DD are catching a later flight but should be able to make the reception!