Stillfeel18inside - We decided to do 10+ because DS is getting bored and frustrated at school, he's quite a studious type and although his primary school is lovely, he is complaining about the amount of time wasted in class.
His English is good (top table for everything) but there are about 30 different languages spoken at his primary so the teachers have there work cut out for them.
His Maths, however, is extraordinary (don't know where he gets it from). He's been doing Kumon for 4 years with Gold Standard for 2 years, basically he's doing gcse level maths and understands very complicated operations. He's also a chess whizz.
We couldn't bare the thought of him getting bored at school.
There are also massive advantages for doing 10+, there's much less competition!
74 entries for 24 places at CofL boys, give you a one in three chance of getting in. Compare that to 11+ entries of 600+ for 60 places, gives them a 1 in 10 chance of getting in.
I don't know what the 11+ entries are for KG,but I'm sure they're very high too, but the 10+ had about 50 entries for 25 places, 1/2 the kids will do it!!
It's such a no brainer I can't believe more people don't do it.
I suppose you have to be confident that you child is mature enough to be in a 'big' school surrounded by teenagers but with an older sibling there it should be no worries.
Another advantage I've found is that you avoid any competative talk in the playground, by the time you get to year 6 it's all anyone talks about. If you do it all in year 5 you can keep it very low key, much less pressure and if it all goes wrong you have another chance the year after.
The only disadvantage I can think of is arranging travelling to and from school a year earlier, but there are lots of ways round that.
I'd say go for it, whatever level your ds is at he stands a much better chance doing it early.