11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi,

I have been having some off the record consversations, and there are possible changes to 11 plus bexley exam.

There are currently trials for introducing English comprehension in a mulitple choice format. This is to achieve more balanced exam. Nothing is definite and they might not be able to roll out in time by 2013.

But perhaps this might be an opportunity for fellow tutors/parents teaching their children to start introducing english reading - even if it just Bond books.

Shahinoor

Shahinoor,

Thank you for sharing this information. I've been wondering about how the test might change, so any snippets of information are very interesting.

Indeed, thank you. All these snippets help. I've been looking on the Bexley Council website regularly too but have no idea when they might make any announcements. Presumably not till the New Year (??!)

Hi all
I've just found this on the Bexley Council website, under a section about a new Education Change Programme. I thought it might be of interest. Please read in particular to part about Revision of Selection Testing.



The London Borough of Bexley has agreed a new Education Change Programme to ensure that every child in Bexley achieves to the best of their potential and is able to develop the skills they need to gain employment.

The aims of the Education Change Programme are as follows:
•More of Bexley's children achieve their maximum potential by the end of primary school
•More of Bexley's children receive a selective education
•More of Bexley's young people go on to gain a place at the University of their choice
•More of Bexley's young people have the skills they need to go into further education, employment and apprenticeships
•Children with special education needs make excellent progress whichever school they attend
•Children who are at risk of poor outcomes are supported into the 'habit' of achievement as early as possible

How will we achieve the aims of the Education Change Programme?

The creation of a Collaborative between schools and the Local Authority: a formal partnership for schools to support, challenge and learn from each other. Management will come from Council officers, Members, Head Teachers and Governors. The Collaborative is a pioneering approach, and we will be among the first London Boroughs to implement this.

Reinforcement of Performance Management: Meetings are currently taking place between the Cabinet Member, Director of Education and Social Care and other Council Officers with the Head Teacher and Chair of Governors of 14 of Bexley's under performing schools. The aim of the meetings is to drive and support improvement.

Review of the Bexley Schools Services Network (BSSN): Work is required to complete a full needs analysis to ensure that the services required in schools can be provided through the BSSN.

Improving Governing Bodies: We aim to improve training, provide mentoring, the introduction of a Bexley Quality Mark for Governors and to strengthen the appointment process.

Revision of Selection Testing: We aim to revise the way that we administer the 11+ test and the allocation of places, while providing new services such as online practice test materials.

Special Educational Needs (SEN): High quality, local SEN provision is a priority, with a focus on SEN being provided by a Member led scrutiny sub-group. Following reviews of SEN there is in place an implementation plan driving the agenda to provide excellent provision locally. Bexley is a pathfinder for the SEN Green Paper, leading on piloting personal budgets for children with special educational needs.

I was told (off the record) that Bexley Tests were possibly changing for next year. I have a daughter that took selection test this year (very peeved that she didn't pass) and a daugher taking the test next year.

There are no plans to introduce an English comprehension into the Bexley test. My understanding is that, from September 2013 the eleven plus in Bexley will consist of 2 tests taken consecutively with a short break between them. The tests will be a mixture of VR, NVR and maths and are considered to be more 'tutor-proof' than before.

Does anyone have any idea of when Bexley are likely to make any official announcement regarding these changes? Presumably they will carry on providing "sample" questions on their website, though rather different to those that are currently there.

Bexley Mum 2 wrote:There are no plans to introduce an English comprehension into the Bexley test. My understanding is that, from September 2013 the eleven plus in Bexley will consist of 2 tests taken consecutively with a short break between them. The tests will be a mixture of VR, NVR and maths and are considered to be more 'tutor-proof' than before.

That "tutor proof" claim sounds awfully like it's going to be CEM tests - which are usually 2 x 45 minute mixed subject tests with a 15 minute break, but marks calculated seperately for VR (which actually includes English comprehension but doesn't include much conventional VR!), NVR and numerical reasoning.

There was a programme on ITV1 Nov 8 7.30 ITV today and one of the Grammar school heads in Bexley made indirect reference to this. Some of you might recognise him.
https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/tonight/s ... t-in-life-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is the link to the programme. You have just two days left to watch it.

Looks like Okanagan is right! Item in Bexley news shopper on changes:
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/10101 ... ey_pupils/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;