11 Plus Exams Forum

I am potentially looking to move from an excellent state school for daft but important to us reasons, however staying in the private sector beyond 11 would cripple us financially so we are praying they'll all pass the 11+
Does anyone know if the more academic private schools locally do anything to prepare them ? I planned to find a tutor anyway but I'd hate to think I was paying out all this cash and being in a worse position.

Hi

I'm not in your patch but it is a very reasonable question that you are asking, I have known private primaries who are really not interested in the state grammars and are more enthusiastic about the entrance exams to other indpendents. This can manifest itself in them gearing the work to January / February of year 6 when the indie exams are as opposed to Sept /; Oct when the 11 plus is.
Also a perceived feeling that relatively little can be done to improve scores for the 11 plus (partic if VR and NVR) compared with the indie exams.

My thoughts only - others might disagree!

I'm wondering what your "daft but important to us reasons" are. Are they anything that can be overcome? Seems a shame to change from an excellent school.
My perception is that most of the more academic Independents would just prepare pupils to carry on in their own senior school. However there are many prep schools which do just prepare for local Grammar schools and most have near enough a 100% pass rate. These include Prenton prep and Redcourt (in Oxton). Not sure which area of the Wirral you are in.

It's actually Birkenhead we are looking at.
The truth is the state school is fine but the children just aren't happy there, various reasons they haven't got a "best friend" and they are all unhappy about that and mine are wet fish if i'm honest, they over react to things, are very sensitive to other children being "mean"
I looked at the preps you mentioned and although they are half the price of Birkenhead the facilities appear to be less than they currently have at state school.

Hi 3pink

it is tricky if you think the children are unhappy at their current school and I can understand you looking at other options., obviously from what you say there are several reasons why they aren't happy and it may differ for each child. Question is do you think it will be any easier at a new prep school - not always easy being the new kid and often the other kids have "best friends" aready, oh they can be pretty mean at any school.....

Sound like Birkenhead won't be all that keen on kids heading elsewhere (from what others above have said) - can be tricky preparing a chikd out of school when the school aren't behind it, recipe for increasing the anxiety level all round!

I must admit we have fallen for Birkenhead and it would be very difficult to leave. Are your DC's at Birkenhead guest42 ?

The good thing about Birkenhead is that there are lots of new children, especially girls joining all the time, unlike their current school where it feels like the cliques are formed in ante natal and if you aren't there at the start forget it.

I'd love the eldest at least to go all the way through but can't imagine one family would be eligible for three bursaries can you ?

Thank you so much for posting guest42 you have no idea how pleased I am to hear that.
Our girls have no enthusiasm for school right now and came out glowing after their trial days.
We're going to go for it and then look around all the grammar schools and compare them with BS when the time comes, but for now just enjoy the primary years.
Thanks again.