Teaching VR at Bucks schools

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pippi
Posts: 320
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:33 am
Location: Bucks

Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by pippi »

There is a post towards the bottom here http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 2&start=10 about teaching of VR in (I assume) a Bucks school, as preparation for the 11+ (which is supposed to be banned by Bucks CC). Does a lot of this go on?!
Jules7
Posts: 248
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2010 7:55 pm

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by Jules7 »

Well VR was definitely not taught in our Bucks State School; the HT was v. clear about this not being allowed except for the official familiarisation sessions scripted by Bucks cc. I wonder if that is what the person posting meant?
However I know for a fact that VR is taught in some independent schools....
ian35mm
Posts: 224
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:04 pm

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by ian35mm »

Well, why not ask me directly?

The fact is that many primary schools sneak in VR one way or another. Often they get it wrong and use the wrong materials!

One school near me which is two form entry, has one class that does VR and one that doesn't.

How do I know? I tutor children from nearly all the local junior schools and have close contacts with teachers in most of them.

Most teachers who do this, do so to try to level the playing field. Why should privately educated children be allowed to practise. Some independent schools hire specialist consultants to teach 'to the test'.

Again, how do I know? Because it's sometimes me that does that teaching.
Lillie
Posts: 231
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 2:34 pm

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by Lillie »

There is an advert in last week's Bucks Free Press for a private prep school claiming an 87% pass rate at the 11 plus. When will the council wise up to the inequality in this system which just props up well-off middle class parents and does nothing to improve the chances of children from less privileged backgrounds? There is no level playing field as far as I can see and very few children indeed would get through with the council's so-callled prep of 3 practice papers.
ian35mm
Posts: 224
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:04 pm

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by ian35mm »

Of course it's not fair. If you wanted a test that advantaged middle class kids over working class kids, then you couldn't have done much better!

According to the BBC last year, in a survey of 544 pupils who had passed the 11+ in Bucks, over 80% had provided their children with extra coaching (either paid for or done by the parents).

How can bright working class kids who do not have parents that can pay, or have parents that have the education to help the kids themselves, be expected to pass this test? The short, painful answer is that they are not expected to pass.
Redfairy
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by Redfairy »

That's a very sweeping statement and presumably said to talk up your 'role' as tutor.
My 2 children both did well in the 11+ with no tutoring or private education. If anyone is not happy with Bucks schools why not move into another county? Cheaper housing!
ian35mm
Posts: 224
Joined: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:04 pm

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by ian35mm »

And one of the many reasons that things don't change is that there is always someone quick to make ..... comments that ignore the facts of the situation.

Surely if I wanted to increase my business, I'd support the system, which I clearly don't.

Arguing from personal experience is always the response of people who do not understand how the system works.

Pass rate in Aylesbury town - consistently around 10%. Obviously you'd have to be stupid to live in a town!
pippi
Posts: 320
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:33 am
Location: Bucks

Re: Teaching VR at Bucks schools

Post by pippi »

ian35mm wrote:And one of the many reasons that things don't change is that
..... primary schools that "sneak in" extra VR coaching don't get reported?
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