11 Plus Exams Forum

My DS is worried because he was placed 115 and has got a place at CRGS.

Talking to a mother at school yesterday, she said she was glad her DS did not get a place because she didn't want him to just scrape through and then struggle.

Like lots of others, in practise papers, my DS was scoring over 90% in the VR papers but only managed 76% in the actual test.

I think he will be fine but have I got it wrong?

I do not wish to sound ungrateful because I know there are others who would love to be in my position, and I do not wish to upset anyone.

Ultimately makes little odds how they did when they get to the school.

At my school many years ago 2 girls got foundation scholarships - obviously had done stunningly well. Over the next 7 years they did OK but not high fliers.

PS - it is off course classic sour grapes from the other mother

I think even the Head said in his speech to parents that the boys ranking bears no resemblence to how they perform in future years.
Be happy that your DS got in!
There are 2 more parents on this forum whose sons ranked 118 and 122 and got in so hope they will share their thoughts.
Celebrate!!

SEP18 wrote:Talking to a mother at school yesterday, she said she was glad her DS did not get a place because she didn't want him to just scrape through and then struggle.

Plenty of DC who placed lower than your will get into the school. Maybe with waiting list movement even this mother's? Let's see how glad she is not to be sending her DS there then
Seriously, kids can have an off day, it is only a matter of a few marks between first and last in and if you feel your child can cope that is all that matters.

Why do some parents assume that a child will struggle at grammar school just because they were given a lower ranking? This does make me cross!

There is no evidence at this stage to suggest that a child will not be able to keep up with some of the higher ranking students. There has to be a cut-off point somewhere and, because of this, someone will be top of the list and someone else be bottom. It's as simple as that.

Do we hear of parents worrying about their child struggling to keep up with higher achieving students at a comprehensive school? I suspect not; you just get on with it.

Celebrate and enjoy the moment. Your son has done brilliantly to get a place at CRGS. You know that this is the right school for him and that is all that matters.

Rant over - now I am going to do some ironing.

Although ranking does not have a huge effect there will still be pupils in any school who are towards the bottom of their peer group. The question is would they be better coasting at a different school or are they better off being stretched to the maximum of their ability in the school they are in?

I am not implying that a low ranking would put your son in that position, I just feel that even if he were he would still be better off in a grammar.

When they compare themselves with other pupils, they nearly all feel that they are less good at something. We just need to remind them that they are not making a rational judgement when they say that they are not very good at something.

Remember the rankings apply to people putting the schools anywhere on their CAF list. It doesn't mean your son just scraped a place as the cut off is higher. The test does not determine their ability at school later on.

Just try to ignore the comments and look forward to September.

I'm sure he'll be absolutely fine! Rank makes no difference once admitted and 115 isn't at the bottom, anyway. Ignore the remarks of a plainly jealous woman. In your other DS's year, one of the last boys in was on the team that won The Times' spelling competition, got on the front page of the paper, made a TV appearance and brought glory to the school. He's doing alright and I'm sure the school is glad to have him.

Sometimes discussing scores and ranks can open a can of worms. I know of one girl who gained a place at CoCHS with perfectly respectable scores. As seen from the scores thread, these scores do not always compare favourably with those achieved in practice. One mother, instead of warmly congratulating the girl, said how surprised she was that the girl had got in with "such low scores"! It's amazing that adults think it's fine to behave like this. To pit your wits against a ten year old is nothing short of disgusting.

SEP18 wrote:My DS is worried because he was placed 115 and has got a place at CRGS.

Talking to a mother at school yesterday, she said she was glad her DS did not get a place because she didn't want him to just scrape through and then struggle.

Like lots of others, in practise papers, my DS was scoring over 90% in the VR papers but only managed 76% in the actual test.

I think he will be fine but have I got it wrong?

I do not wish to sound ungrateful because I know there are others who would love to be in my position, and I do not wish to upset anyone.

I am not from Essex but sort of had the same thing on my mind. My son was scoring a lot higher at home than what he got in the exam. But he got his first choice but got scores that were not that great. But after looking at the scores he said"Now I have to work extra hard in high school to show them that I am good enough". I am glad ds is going with a determination to do his best rather that be complacent, if he had much higher score.

As for the other mum....she just wants to bump off people so her child zooms ahead on the waiting list

I imagine there are at least 100 boys who were lower than you who did not get in who would still do well. We know of one child who (so called) "scraped" in at about the cut off a few years ago, but is comfortably in the middle of thier peer group. Some kids also take off later: friend of mine failed 11plus and is now a doctor. Take the place!