11 Plus Exams Forum

My DD has achieve a good 11+ result and we are keen on WHSG.

I am concerned on a couple of points and hoping that someone out there could put to rest my fears!

1. We are in the borders of Billericay/Hutton and she would catch the bus each day. I'm concerned that she'll be away from her friends and will also find the homework each evening a struggle. Is there lots of pressure? Lots of homework?

2. We also visited Ursuline, and obviously not a grammar, but we all liked the feel and the location much more than WHSG. If she hadn't passed the 11+ this would have been her first choice and I would have been very happy for her to go there. However I feel as though I should send her to WHSG and use her exam success! Argh!

I'm sure there are no hard and fast answers. Would be happy to hear your opinions!

How long would the journey actually take?


There are disadvantages to being further out from school in terms of extra curricular and social activities. Would she be dependent on one bus or is there a choice of times?

If she's done well enough to get an out of catchment place then she should be fine with the homework. There wont necessarily be more of it than a non selective school. A certain amount of 'pressure' and competition can be positive. Being allowed to coast isn't great either.

If you have a local school that you and she are really happy with then you shouldn't feel you have to take the GS place.
Have you looked into hoe well your local school deals with more able students?

I have various friends whose parents thought that GS wasn't for people like them or they didn't want them going away from friends etc and they all regret not having been given the opportunity. However that is many years ago! and it's a very small sample.


As you say, nobody can give you an answer!

If you and your DD genuinely prefer the Ursuline (even the blazer and the awful brown skirt?? ), then put it first on your CAF. It's not exactly a sink school and it's closer to home. She can always think again about Westcliff for sixth form.