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Good independent jun schools to prepare for Grammar 11+

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:29 pm
by Anil
Hi

Can anyone recommend any good independent junior schools that will help to prepare my children for 11+ grammar school entrance examinations. Particullarly those that do a lot of exam practise in Year 5 (as 11+ exam is held at beginning of Year 6, the work done in Year 5 is of paramount importance).

The areas I am looking at would be: Coventry, Nuneaton, Hinckley, Solihull, Kernilworth and Stratford Upon Avon.

PS I am not overly impressed with King Henry VIII and Bablake in Coventry.

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:47 pm
by guest0001
Hi Anil.
Just interested to know why you were not overly impressed with King Henry's or Bablake? Although my son will be going to Bablake senior in September,he attended mainstream Primary,and received no extra coaching,except the usual extra homework from me. Obviously you want the best chances for your son,because getting a free good Grammar place these days is like gold dust. Personally, i would just find a good primary school for him to go to then get him extra tuition. This site looks good,and there is great support from the forum. In the long run you would save yourself a lot of money. Put it towards fees you may need when he goes to senior independent! Thats if he doesn't secure a place at a Grammar.
If you are looking for a prep school to prepare him for the 11+ then there is Coventry preparatory school or Devonport Lodge(i think that is the correct name). They both have websites. Good luck :)
Juliette

Good independent jun schools to prepare for Grammar 11+

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:53 pm
by Anil
Hi Guest0001

No offence there about the schools. I had open days at King and Bablake Junior. They only put kids forward for entry to thier senior schools; and Independent selection exams will not be as demanding as Grammar School selection exams. It is for this reason I am looking for Independent Schools who prepare thier students for Grammar Schools by practising tests in Year 5. NB, Grammar School exams are held at beginning of Year 6, so pretty much the prep is done in Year 5. For King and Bablake the exams are in Jan/Feb of Year 6. They are also not as demanding as Grammar School exams.

That being said, i do take your point at choosing a good state junior and paying for tuition. But what happens if it is a poor state junior school.

Furthermore, in relation to Davenport, it is key Stage 1 school, not a junior school.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 11:40 am
by Warks mum
Perhaps I'm being synical here, but wouldn't most independent primaries have a vested interest in preparing children for an independent secondary place?

If you are looking at such a wide area of schools, would it be possible to move near a good primary school (Kenilworth, for example, has loads) and go for tuition? As an ex-grammar school girl myself, I had contemporaries who had been to "pushy" independent primary schools who really struggled at grammar. They had clearly been coached for the exam but were not really suitable for (or happy in) such an academic environment.

Also - with the changes in the 11+ in Warwickshire, it might not be possible to "coach" specifically for the exam anyway!

Sorry not to be more helpful.