Has anyone moved to get into the catchment area of grammar schools?

patchwork_cat

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

It will probably depend on the entrance exams and the primary school. A lot of grammar schools use reasoning tests as part of their entry system and it would be extremely unlikely that a (state) primary school would prep them for those. Independent schools might.

In terms of English & Maths exams, they are National Curriculum based, so the better the primary schools at those subjects, the better your child is likely to do. For top Grammar schools, (we were told) your child should be performing at a high SATS level 5 when sitting the tests. Most pupils at the best Grammar schools will end Y5 at this level; they take very bright kids. (I only looked at what are known as Superselective Grammars, so an average Grammar may be nowhere near as selective/hard to get in to.)

Personally, I would not move (assuming we're talking buying & selling), certainly not years in advance because you are effectively betting against admissions criteria that could change. By all means rent a one bedroom flat (and move there) for the six month period that covers application forms and exams if you feel this might help. Although I'm sceptical about what you have been told on this to be honest. Consider applying from your current address and have a back up plan if your child is unsuccessful, or you doubt they are Grammar school material nearer the time (you should have a very good idea.)

Oh and in answer to your original question, no we didn't move to go through this process. The schools we looked at (one which was 3 hours away and would require a relocation) offered places to the top 96 scorers on exam day, based on a fairly complicated ranking system of weighted exam scores. You needed to put this school as your 1st choice and if successful, would be offered it (and thus lose the opportunity to go to the local comp which you put as 2nd choice fyi.)

I had never heard the term super selective before, but assuming that super selectives take the best xx on test regardless of location, sibling etc. then ours are super selective.

Lunar_Eclipse

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I do advise a tutor even though it goes against the idea, as lots of other parents use tutors then your child is disadvantaged on exam if you don't.

The schools we visited (Colyton & Kendrick) categorically tell you NOT to tutor your children. If they can't get in on their own merits then they suggest you reconsider the school. They do however suggest you familiarise your child with reasoning (and in fact Colyton offer a day to do just this.)

Apparently, we were told, there is very marginal benefit to exam success through tutoring. On average, 2 years hot housing buys 4 points! It's just not worth it, in my opinion (which I appreciate is a minority view.)

I'm against tutoring so didn't go down this route. Our daughter sat for one of the above mentioned school and 3 independent schools, all of which fall within the top 20 academically speaking in the country. She was offered a place at all of them. I'm not comfortable typing that, but I do so to offer encouragement not to tutor.

Lunar_Eclipse

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I had never heard the term super selective before, but assuming that super selectives take the best xx on test regardless of location, sibling etc. then ours are super selective.

I read it in the press. It refers to schools such as Kings, Colyton, Kendrick & Tiffin. Basically it's schools that fall within the top schools in the country (and have hoards of kids trying to get in!)

It's not a term used for those that take the top performers on the test necessarily, but for those that have incredibly bright kids in them (a siginificant number of whom will be Oxbridge material)

Plans_all_plans

LunarEclipse, can I ask what information you are sceptical about in my post? Is it the bit about people living in borough having a better chance, even if their marks aren't quite so good? This particular school is a faith grammar school and is the only one we're interested in in the area (there are other non-faith grammar schools which are better, but not by masses) It is the faith side of things that I am most concerned with. This school has primary schools that are almost like feeder schools and if your child attends one of these then they go higher up the criteria.

scooby088

Whats so wrong in sending your child to the local high school or academy? For me it's a complete non starter as i cannot see the point in getting another high mortgage for my child to get as some perceive as a good education, if you child isn't dumb as a post as with the cream it will rise to the top. So the answer to the question no i haven't moved and never will.

mrcow

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

The schools we visited (Colyton & Kendrick) categorically tell you NOT to tutor your children. If they can't get in on their own merits then they suggest you reconsider the school. They do however suggest you familiarise your child with reasoning (and in fact Colyton offer a day to do just this.)

I agree. Any child who takes the 11+ should be properly prepared or you're not giving them the best chance to pass, which would be a shame (I'm not talking about tutoring here).

You wouldn't enter any other exam without sufficient preparation. The schools ar probably saying that as they don't want to have to select pupils who are actually level 4ish standard as it creates a headache for them.

The Bond assessement books are good preparation for pupils to get experience as to what the exam questions are like. If your child needs any more than that, then perhaps grammar school isn't for them.

patchwork_cat

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

The schools we visited (Colyton & Kendrick) categorically tell you NOT to tutor your children. If they can't get in on their own merits then they suggest you reconsider the school. They do however suggest you familiarise your child with reasoning (and in fact Colyton offer a day to do just this.)

Apparently, we were told, there is very marginal benefit to exam success through tutoring. On average, 2 years hot housing buys 4 points! It's just not worth it, in my opinion (which I appreciate is a minority view.)

I'm against tutoring so didn't go down this route. Our daughter sat for one of the above mentioned school and 3 independent schools, all of which fall within the top 20 academically speaking in the country. She was offered a place at all of them. I'm not comfortable typing that, but I do so to offer encouragement not to tutor.

Purely my experience, it goes against the idea and my beliefs, but in my area tutoring is prevalent and so to give my childr the best chance I tutored. I would disagree that here tutoring only gives 4 points. I wouldn't have tutored my child if they couldn't keep up, and some don't . I don't agree with tutoring, but if everyone else does it then you have to.

I don't think our area has it right. My DS hated tutoring, so we gave up and he got in , but on 'clearing'. We didn't take up the place and he went to the local comp. He left with 13 GCSE, 7 at A and A*. Our grammar has a 98% 5 a* - c pass rate, go figure! He obviously should have got in!

Sublime_2

I had to find a new home last year for other reasons, but schools were of vital importance in determining where i moved to. I'm lucky to have two excellent schools in my village.

Plans_all_plans

There is nothing 'wrong' per se with sending your child to the local comprehensive scooby. I agree with you that local comps can churn out doctors, lawyers, accountants etc (my husband's friends will attest to that) but I am concerned with what I've seen in my local faith secondary schools (the only ones I'm interested in)

The reason I would like my child to receive education from the private/grammar sector is because of the greater extracurricular opportunities available within it. I was lucky enough to have a private education, receiving a scholarship myself (although I'm sure I've not capitalised on it in the way my parents would have hoped, given that I became pregnant during my final exams at university)

Surely everyone would like their child to receive the same opportunities that they themselves had? This'll be my last post to anyone looking for a debate about selective education vs state education, as it is not the question I posed.

patchwork_cat

I don't think that I have read anyone looking for a debate at all. I think people are commenting on tutoring more and that in reality it should have no place in admission to the grammars, but unfortunatley in some areas it does and others who should have gone miss out. ( Ahh I see that someone on my ignore list has posted, maybe they were debating the merits!)