11 plus

troubleinparadise

In my area, we have selective grammar schools.

The children that take the 11plus (by parents' choice) are all coached for many months for the exam. Most of the parents are very well educated, often professionals, and it is a way of getting a very good academic education without having to pay fees.

So be under no illusion that there is often a great deal of competition for places, and that unless you are prepared to put in the hours yourself, or pay for extra coaching, your child will be up against those who have been coached in the type of questions, exam timing and the exam hall situation itself - and even a gifted child might find that challenging.

And then if they pass and get a place, you can't stop there. The schools provide good academic teaching, but virtually no parochial care. If the child is having problems, support is not part of the remit. That is the point of selecting them - children that can be given information, told to deal with it, and then get on by themselves. Sport - if you are in the top 11 in your year you might get into a competing team. Otherwise, you just bumble along.

Actually, not much has changed since I went to Grammar 40 years ago! Even the buildings look the same.... but the children do come out with good exam results, and are used to standing on their own two feet. My daughter and her friends all have jobs having finished Uni in the summer, in a variety of areas, and are lively and interesting people to be with.

mrcow

peachyprice wrote: »

There's a world of difference between preparing a child by doing practice papers as home so they know what to expect and expecting them to give up every weekend and at least one night a week to tutoring for 2 years.

I don't disagree at all. I teach many children who, if I'm honest, aren't really suitable for a grammar school education. Obviously once they are in the school, they are given as much extra support that we can possibly provide.

I wouldnt say that this means that they are "behind" in everything - different pupils have different talents (as in any school) but it can be stressful. Sometimes it's just a question of being in the right environment with the correct focus.

My gripe is with those parents who state that their child is going to be entered for the 11 plus but that they are going to get "zero" help towards it - and don't think that there aren't PLENTY of these. My first response is that I don't believe them. Some people come out with such rubbish. If however it transpires that it's the truth, I just feel sorry for the pupil for having such ridiculous idealists as parents. It's just cruel.

In my county, primary schools do allow the pupils to see a practice test - but it's a week before the real ones and it's not even marked......leaving it far too late to explain technique to a pupil or to settle any nerves or quibbles.

mrcow

troubleinparadise wrote: »

And then if they pass and get a place, you can't stop there. The schools provide good academic teaching, but virtually no parochial care.

Sorry I don't get this - do you mean pastoral support?

ktb

meer53 wrote: »

They must have Grammar schools in Newcastle !:D

If you find a state funded Grammar in Newcastle, please let me know!!!!

From wikipedia: "There are no remaining state grammar schools in North East England."

troubleinparadise

Mrcow: Sorry I don't get this - do you mean pastoral support?

oops, yes, I do! So much for grammar school education..... :eek:

squeakysue

JC9297 wrote: »

No, he had an advantage by being born in September, that's why it is age-adjusted so that younger children don't lose out.

Ok to a point I agree with you but he has a friend who was born in may who is a high flier and similar levels to my ds in school so he had an advantage over my September born son

warehouse

Hey OP, I have every sympathy with your situation. Where I live there is fierce competition to get into the local school so getting through the exam is required.

You have a year to get the children up to speed, so that's plenty of time to do it stress free. The key to success is practice practice practice, until they can answer the questions in their sleep. This can be done in a fun way so that they enjoy learning the style of the questions.

As you see the practice exam marks start to come in consistently high, then you need to teach them to answer the questions that are highest in value first, (IE 5 points for 5 answers that can be done in seconds), and come back to the questions that take longer afterwards.

With my eldest Daughter we did have a tutor and lots of practice books at home, started the process way in advance of everyone else and she nailed it with minimum stress.

Much as I disagree with the whole process, you have no choice as a parent if you want the best education for your child. Good on you for thinking so far ahead.

mrcow

squeakysue wrote: »

Ok to a point I agree with you but he has a friend who was born in may who is a high flier and similar levels to my ds in school so he had an advantage over my September born son

The child born in May is simply more able for their age than the one born in September. The weighting process is designed to expose that. It's not "having an "advantage" unless you include being more able as an "advantage".

jackyann

troubleinparadise wrote: »

In my area, we have selective grammar schools.

. but the children do come out with good exam results, and are used to standing on their own two feet. My daughter and her friends all have jobs having finished Uni in the summer, in a variety of areas, and are lively and interesting people to be with.

So are mine & their friends from comprehensive schools.....................oh and most of the private school kids & grammar school kids they met over the years at University & various workplaces seemed OK too..........

Person_one

mrcow wrote: »

No-one who actually cared about their child would put them in for such an important test without at least letting them see an example paper and having a go at the multiple choice format (which is different to anything they will have tried before). Imagine sitting in the exam hall with all of your peers "getting on with it" and with you staring at the paper, not knowing where to start. It would be horrific. Especially with the verbal reasoning questions - there is a set format for these which, if you get your head around it, makes the questions very simple to do.

Sucks for the kids who have parents that don't actually care that much about them then.