11 Plus Exams Forum

Just thought I would let people know - the Vale of Aylesbury Housing trust is considering offering free 11plus coaching to children of tenants who are due to sit the 11 plus in Oct. 2009. I thought this might help some people as coaching is so expensive yet year on year it is proving to be the most effective way to get children into grammar schools - some research shows 30/40% improvement in results after coaching. You need to be a tenant and send your details to the VAHT housing trust. The newsletter is available to download via their website - google VAHT and click on newsletter - its on the 4th page or so. Alternatively you can contact the trust or read your newsletter if you have one delivered.....

http://www.vaht.co.uk/files/458/pdf/0/3 ... roct08.pdf

It's certainly an interesting idea!

I support this initiative totally at first sight, and I hope that it will prove its worth in due course and will be widely publicised.

Thank you very much for posting it "Bucks Mum of 2".

"Aylesbury Vale" is - by some way - the least successful of the 3 areas for the 11+ in Bucks.

Every indication is that social reasons cause this discrepancy, rather than a lack of academic ability.

I hope that this initiiative will break through the barrier.

Sally-Anne

The word is, initial take-up is low, but the Trust is looking at it as a long-term project so hopefully the benefits will be seen and it will grow.

It remains to be seen if the Trust has sufficiently thought through the implications, but the guy in charge certainly is aware of the challenges involved.

I'm not sure about how widely publicised it should be, however. There is an example in Bucks at the moment where large sums of money are being ploughed into socially and economically disadvantaged primary schools, but which seems to benefit children in those schools who are not disadvantaged at all.

Still, if it levels the playing field even slightly, then it can only be a good thing.

Dear Ian35 and Bucks mum of 2

You both seem to know some of the background. The principle of the initiative looks great.

Do you or anyone else know:

::Whether its a full funding or part?

::Will it be means tested? [not every Council/Housing Association tenant is poor]

::Where will the money come from to pay the tutors/teachers.

::Who will pay for the accomadation to teach the children?

::Will rents go up for tenants of the VAHT to pay for it?

At the moment there is not a level playing field across Bucks, some can afford tutors, some cannot, some can afford DIY, some cannot. This iniative would need to be rolled out across the County, as we will have some who are offered 'free' coaching and others who are not. There are many many areas in Bucks with poor pockets.

Principle is fantastic and its certainly a good start, but would love to know more.

Patricia

Fully funded

Not means tested as far as I know.

Tutors/accomodation from paid for from Trust funds.

No rent increases as a consequence.

Unlikely to be rolled out as the Trust only has a remit to inprove the lives of it's tenants.

The Trust are considering options atm, but as the guy in charge is away, so watch out for further info in the near future.

Dear Ian35mm

Thanks for your reply.

I meant to say, the iniative would need to be rolled out across the County by all District Councils and Housing Associations.

Their funds come from the rents payable, therefore when costing their yearly increases they will presumably have to take the overheads of this venture into consideration.

I am certainly not knocking the idea, without a doubt I like it in principle.

Perhaps the guy in charge can be persuaded to join our forum?

Patricia

They've convinced me that they have sufficient funds already set aside for this project.


From what they've told me and the funds that they have already available, I cannot see any way in which the rents of tenants will be affected by this project.

And as for others being involved, the brief of the Trust is:

"The Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust is a not-for-profit Registered Social Landlord providing affordable homes for people in, Aylesbury, Buckingham and the surrounding villages of the Vale."

I've heard nothing about it being rolled out, but can think of considerable problems at this stage

So -
1. those children whose parents can afford a private tutor are given an advantage,
2. those children deemed "disadvantaged" are given an advantage through the housing trust scheme, but
3. the ordinary kid on the street who isn't a) priviledged enough to have a private tutor, nor b) disadvantaged enough to be eligible for the housing trust scheme must continue to hope that his/her inborn ability is sufficient to compete on increasingly biased terms?

Just my opinion.

AndyB

The children who would benefit from the Trust's project aren't 'deemed' to be disadvantaged - they are disadvantaged.

On every measure that the education system uses, these children come from the most underachieving groups in Bucks. The VAHT knows this, and part of their comitment to their tenants is to improve their quality of life.

As such, the project can only be applauded.

And yes, more could be done for other children. So organise something! Don't criticise those that are bothering to try to change peoples lives for the better.