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Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 9:18 am
by baconsandwich
Hi there
Does anyone know the date for next year's CSSE exam (2015 entry) or is it not common knowledge yet?

Also, I would be really grateful for any thoughts on this...

My dc will be going into year 6 next September. The school always take year 6 away on a much anticipated week's activity holiday to France in June but they have brought it right forward to September 22nd next year, on the basis that the children will benefit from the team building experience. Seems ridiculous to me for so many reasons, but mostly of course, I am worried about the proximity to the CSSE exam. Whether it turns out to be before or after the test, it will be very disruptive. Missing the trip would be very distressing, but I expect that there will also be much anxiety and disruption in the lead up to going, so either way, it's going to affect what should be a calm time.
I am so annoyed. My dc's school has always completely disregarded any need to cater for very able children, scraping Oftsed goods simply through results which are more attributable to the committed and aspirational families and the reasonably well-off area it serves. The eleven plus has always been a dirty word and children are prepared to go straight to the feeder comp, with no support for following other options.

I can't believe they can do this. I feel completely powerless. I am going to see the head on Monday, but school has made the booking and I don't hold out much hope :-(

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 1:27 pm
by djy76
Hi

There is nothing on the CSSE website about the 2015 entry date, however bearing in mind this year and last year it is likely to be 20th September.

My DS has just taken the 11plus and he is winging his way to cub camp for the second night (everyone else went last night) it has been great to have something else to concentrate on and talk about in the last 36 hours before the exam.. It was also something for him to look forward to, you will find a number of parents are doing something treatwise post 11plus exam - dinner/lunch out, bowling etc..

Although the timing could be better, with lots of forward planning and doing as much of packing etc as you can to support your DC they may well be able to do both?

Good luck

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 1:33 pm
by mikedellfarm
I would hazard a guess that next years exam will be held on Saturday 20 September 2014, you cannot however let your child go to France if you are serious about the 11+, which I presume you are.

My DS is sitting at home coughing his chest up, having worked very hard, he is now sitting the exam on the alternate date for CRGS which is Monday 30th September. I never envisaged this would happen and am grateful for all the support I have had from this Forum, the CSSE and CRGS in moving him to do the alternate date.

I don't know which school you are aiming for, or its alternate date, but you must look into that before considering the trip. Surely the trip is not compulsory anyway ?

Other option, shred his passport at the end of August. :D

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 3:33 pm
by seriousmum
I totally agree. If the 11plus is a serious venture you will only get ONE chance at it. There will be countless more chances to visit France.
mikedellfarm wrote:I would hazard a guess that next years exam will be held on Saturday 20 September 2014, you cannot however let your child go to France if you are serious about the 11+, which I presume you are.

My DS is sitting at home coughing his chest up, having worked very hard, he is now sitting the exam on the alternate date for CRGS which is Monday 30th September. I never envisaged this would happen and am grateful for all the support I have had from this Forum, the CSSE and CRGS in moving him to do the alternate date.

I don't know which school you are aiming for, or its alternate date, but you must look into that before considering the trip. Surely the trip is not compulsory anyway ?

Other option, shred his passport at the end of August. :D

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:03 pm
by 2 to go
The exam is likely to be on 20th September. The trip would be a lovely treat to look forward to after he has done it. I would not have considered not letting my 3 DDs go on their Year 6 school trip if it came after the 11+, such trips are the eagerly anticipated highlight of their primary school years.

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 5:46 pm
by baconsandwich
Hi all.
Thanks for all your replies.
I am VERY serious about the 11 plus, trust me! That's why I am freaking out about the potential impact of the trip, even if it comes after the exam! I just hope the excitement / anxiety about his first trip away plus the anticipation of the impending exam is not too much on the lead up.
Obviously there is no way he could go if the date turns out to be a week later... but it will be hard to take the pressure off in the lead-up if he is spending the week joining year 5's lessons as the only yr 6 child not in France :-(
Just have to deal with it and do what feels best nearer the time I suppose.

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 6:26 pm
by ToadMum
As far as I can see, the 30th September reserve date is a CSSE one, not for any individual school. I would go ahead on the assumption that the CSSE main date will be the 20th and the reserve date probably the 29th, if they follow this year's scheme. When do you have to complete payment for the trip to France?

You run the risk of losing your trip payment if your child is ill and cannot make the main date, and the reserve date is during the trip. But if they can't make the main date through illness, they probably won't be on the trip either? Also, check with CSSE as to whether a school trip which has to be booked before the test date is announced qualifies you for the reserve date anyway.

(Back n June, our primary school scheduled its transition info evening for the same time as the SHSB open evening...).

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 7:41 pm
by talea51
I have to say that I agree with mikedellfarm on this. I also never fully appreciated the possibility that our 11+ journey would be extended the way that it has been. Thankfully for us, not by too much and it hasn't actually impacted on plans I has already made. Knowing what I know now though, I would have made certain that we we were not away until well after the alternate exam date. The 11+ is a once only opportunity. I suspect that next year's date will be 20th sept and the alternate date will be the Monday one week after the exam. Ideally you will need to keep both of those dates free.

My advice would be to speak to the school and ask if the trip could be delayed so that it does not jeopardise your child's chances. I understand that you've said that the 11+ is a dirty word as far as your school is concerned but I still think you need to raise your concerns with them. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain by discussing it with them.

I think it would be a real shame for him to miss the trip but equally it would be a shame if he misses the 11+.

Not a nice situation to be in, I wish you the best of luck and hope it works out for you and your son.

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2013 10:26 pm
by moved
Sorry, but there is no way you can sign up for the trip. It is a yr 6 trip, plenty of children never go on this sort of trip and manage to get on fine in life.

The 11+ only happens once, if you want him to take it then keep him home.

Re: Next year's CSSE exam date

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:36 am
by Chococoa
Going by this year and last year's dates for exams it is likely that the 2014 exams will be on the 20th September and the reserve date approx a week later. Can't say for definite though.

If the school trip commences 22nd September I think the gamble here is not the exam but whether you are prepared to lose the money you paid for the school trip if she cannot sit it on the 20th due to illness or unforeseen circumstances and has to sit it on the later date.

It's all about the money, money, money - Jessie J's song springs to mind. :lol: