OldTrout wrote:
Dear All:
I so remember this week and the build up to the 11+. As a parent you can't help but feel the anticipation and you also will find that your child is coming home with stories about all the talk about the 11+. I know that I felt tense all that week into the exam for both of my girls.
It's a weird sort of time - starting a new school year and all that business and a big exam at the weekend.
I'm not perfect by any means - and I'm sure both my girls knew I was nervous for them - I wanted them to succeed and do well - but I knew it's a challenging exam.
My advice is for you:
Keep home life calm and happy this week.
Don't talk about the exam much. Don't cram or worry about last minute learning. Really - it should be about building up your child's confidence.
Review the instructions about filling in answers today or tomorrow - when you have the time/ space - rather than doing another practice paper or whatever.
Be organised: Get all the things you need for exam day - letter/ food/ knowledge of where you are going
Plan to arrive early - you will be amazed how many people are there (be prepared - warn your child a lot of people will be there)
Plan on heavy traffic around grammar schools
Make sure you pack a snack & water (and don't forget them - oh yes poor little fish went without a snack - I may never live down the shame).
The schools will give you information on where to pick up your child afterwards - usually organised alphabetically - so don't worry about where to meet up -
just make sure you understand from the person you hand your child over to at check-in for the exam what you do when you come to collect your child.
AFTERWARDS: Really can't urge you enough to remember that this is your last year with a young child who loves having you around. PLEASE, PLEASE -
no matter what the outcome of this exam process - really enjoy this year.
BE PROUD - what an amazing kid you have! They're so incredibly brave to sit this exam with all these kids! Celebrate that. Let them know that you
think they're fabulous for trying so hard, for all the hard work in the run-up to the exam, etc..... Let them know that all you expected was for them to
try their best - and you're so pleased they have.
QUE SERA - really can't stress this enough. It is much more helpful to you and your child to take the attitude you've done all you could and now
whatever will be, will be.
in case: There can be a temptation for children to say how easy the exam was afterwards. OK - I'm only one old thing and my circle of 10-11 year olds is limited -
but it has been my experience that those kids going on about how easy the exam was tend to be the kids that don't get in. I strongly urge you to
not allow yourself to make any grand pronouncements about how they've definitely got into a grammar and encourage your child to avoid this as well.
Saturday will be a big day - but I hope that the days after will be normal, fun and full of good memories that will last beyond this whole 11+ hooplah.
Wishing you all the very best of luck
OT
OldTrout, thank you so much for taking the time out to write such reassuring words. This is our first time and finding this forum has been such a blessing. I truely believe that is the effort that matters. What will be will be and at least my son had the courage to try. There are many around us- that were discourage by the process and never applied to sit. In hindsight, it might of been better to start in year 4 of gentle prep, but there is nothing I can do now. Oh well! Deep breath for us all and let's stay positive
