11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi, Guest 55,
Sorry to be bothering you, but I have a question you might be able to help me with.
I understand from various posts that I have read, that you are a maths teacher.
I also understand that in Bucks there is only a VR test, whereas in Berks there used to be NVR, VR and maths, but this year for the first time, maths as been excluded.

My question to you is this- ( as a maths teacher) do you believe that there are children who have a gift for maths (and probably science) but whose ability is not assessed properly through the current format of 11+ tests in Buckingamshire and now Berkshire?

My son is very good at maths and I now feel that he (and others like him) have been marginalised by the new format of the tests in Berks and probabaly always have in Bucks - so I was interested in what you might have to say as a maths teacher with regard to this issue.

As we live within commute of Slough I am considering 12+ - for Burnham Grammar - but as it is only VR and we did fairly badly in this subject at 11+ I'm not sure whether we should just give up.

I appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Thanks
LFH

Hi,

My feeling is that just testing VR misses some very good Mathematicians who are weaker at English. Some of the children who do qualify have very low Maths KS2 - e.g. sometimes a level 3 or more commonly a low 4

However I don't think this should stop you going for 12+ - the children are a year older and, sometimes, the VR seems to 'click'.

Thank you for your reply, Guest55, it is all very interesting, we shall have a think about 12+
LFH

Does anyone know, am I right in thinking that Burnam Grammar usually has places for children who pass the 12+ ?
I wouldn't want to go down that route and have no chance of a place
Rgds,
LFH

Hi LFH

Last year BGS had 57 vacant places. The Allocation Profile this year was "All Offered", as in previous years, and that suggests that Year 7 will not be full in September.

We will have a better picture of the situation this year in a few weeks time, but despite the pressure on GS places in South Bucks this year, I would be very surprised indeed if BGS does not have places for the 12+.

Sally-Anne

Thanks Sally-Anne - do you know if living in Berks would count against us?
Rgds
LFH

Hi LFH

Yes, I'm afraid it will - allocations are made on exactly the same criteria as for the 11+.

I suggest that you try to find out whether any children in your area of Berks were allocated places at BGS via the 12+ last year, or this year (allocations are posted on 15th May). Combined with the number of vacant places for this September - once we have those figures as well - that should give a clearer picture of whether your chances are better or worse than in previous years.

Sally-Anne

Thanks Sally Anne, I will have a look in May and make a decision then.
I wouldn't want to go through all the preparation again, only to be disappointed again.
Rgds,
LFH