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Daughter just gone into year 6 and she's at the top of her year in most things. Her teachers (and us) think we should be looking at selective schools for her and thankfully there are a few good ones within a couple of miles of us.
I'm going to put the work in with her myself but are there any books or websites I shoukd be looking at for guidance/questions/papers etc?
Find out which paper they use, there are multiple then you'll tend to find the exam board sell revision/practice tests, typically on Amazon. The forum at http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/index.php are pretty helpful.
Obviously I don't know your child, but here in Bucks the nature of the exams really means that kids need to be massively practiced in the types of questions and speed of answering to have any chance. My eldest passed last year, but spent about 9 months with my wife and I tutoring him up to speed. Most round here go to after school tutors.
Just keep on eye on how it all works in your area
I know someone whose son "passed" but not well enough to get offered a place. He hadn't put any a local non selective schools as first choice .So the boy ended up in a school they really didn't want.
Don't let me put you off. But your home work is to be an expert on how the systems work and how each school selects
I'd go for a local tutor with a good reputation - they know what each school is looking for and will prep your daughter accordingly.
You only get one chance at this so you may as well do it right.
I tutored all three of mine through it, plus some friends kids. Few tips:
Leave plenty of time - the best thing to teach them is how to approach the exams - plan your time, leave difficult questions and return later, when multiple choice guess if necessary etc etc. It is a lot for a 10/11 year old to take on board so do a couple of hours a week for several months ideally.
As others have said, check which tests apply to your area
Try the tests yourself first and make sure you understand them. At first glance they can be hard, even with the answers!
For the ones we did, there were a number of different type of tests - we found this [url=
series[/url] to be pretty useful
I also found a load of demo questions on line for free - Google is your friend.
When they get the hang of the different question types, then try a few tests of a timed nature, so they get used to leaving a question and trying the next to manage their time best.
Don't get stressed when they can't do the easy (to you) questions
Make sure they understand that failing is not the end of the world. Make sure you understand that too!
If she's going into yr 6, surely this means the exam is imminent? Mine did it within a few weeks of going back. Of course it's probably all different in your patch.
Thats a point - ours are next week and the week after. Already missed the official practice tests
Going into year 6 next September.
My daughter takes the Bucks 11+ next week. We've spent the past 9 months home tutoring and over the break she had a private maths tutor twice a week. If she passes it will be a great but, frankly, if she doesn't then she doesn't belong in a grammar school. Way too many parents round here hot house their kids for two years, get them in a grammar and they spend the next six years in abject misery as they struggle to deal with the pressure these schools bring on kids who fall behind because they are no longer getting the extra tutoring that got them there in the first place.
ok .. you ve made the right start.. starting now is essential..
select your schools and understand clearly from the horses mouth not some mums/dads overheard conversations what the exam will look like and when it will be. undewrstand clearly when you have to register for it and when your child will sit it.
understand exactly what you will need to achieve to 'pass'
so understand now clearly would you like your kid to pass, can they pass, are you and they both prepared to work hard and spend some hard cash.
the bond series of books are excellent they have no peers order online and do them religiously everyday.. every day.. get your kid used to been unaided, timed and accurate.
i wholeheartedly reccommned a tutor with a hefty caveat.. you dont want a tutor who teaches them math or verbal resoning what you need is a tutor experienced to tutor passing the exams and the two are entirely different.
give your kid opportunity practice and honesty and hard work and come next sept. they ll pass easy
This thread depresses me. Good luck to you though. The local grammars to me in Reading have thousands apply for a hundred or so spaces, the catchment area is huge, includes Newbury in this direction for example.
give your kid opportunity practice and honesty and hard work and come next sept. they ll pass easy
Yeah right!
Practice technique and steady work and she will fly through. Parent support and hard work are two key drivers of success, so good for you! 99% perspiration
CGP is your friend. Despite what some teachers said, both my boys used them to blitz A*s in all sciences despite not being scientists. Great books and they still laugh at the crap jokes.
This thread inspires me - great investment, the best!
Here was me thinking it was about a groupset.
When WE did it, we had a practice one week, then the real thing the next....If the child is smart enough on the day surely there is no problem. Similarly if you make them work at it and they pass, then turn up at said education establishment and struggle because the "natural" talent isnt there?? Just saying 😉
We live in Bucks we've withdrawn our son from the grammar school exam & we are the only parents to have done it in his school & you wouldn't believe the brouhaha it has caused.
Wise words from simon side. All this advice above is fine for thick kids, and thick parents, but Loddrick's lass is top of the class. Keep encouraging her to continue what she is doing, couple of past papers close to the time, and she'll swan it.
The desperation of parents not to be part of the normal education system (which is understandable) and the hot housing of young kids to pass some daft test inspires you THM. That figures.
A bit of hassle but you could move to scotland and leave the 1950s behind?
67% of the kids that go to private school in Bucks go on to grammar school. Parents are starting tutoring children for grammar school in year 2 where I live & bear in mind tutor costs approx average are £40 an hour, go figure. The irony in all of it is if you speak to lots of parents they don't actually believe in the system but because it exists they feel an overwhelming pressure to take part in it.
A bit of hassle but you could move to scotland and leave the 1950s behind?
We've found entirely different ways to f*ck up our education system.
Depressing reading for me, the thought of starting to be taught 'how to pass exams' at that age is just ridiculous. Grateful I never had to go through that nonsense (but acutely aware the Scottish system is not as I left it).
Yes I'm pleased that all I did was fill in a form and the kids walk down the road to a great school
I'm not a believer in selective schools. But if they are in your area its hard to avoid playing the game
I'm pleased to say there is not a selective system where I live - both my daughters have done fine at the 'local comp' without this sort of stress at age 10.