So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Independent Schools as an alternative to Grammar

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2GirlsDad
Posts: 89
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:33 pm
Location: Herts

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by 2GirlsDad »

Guest55 wrote:I'm not saying the most able should be ignored - my DC was not as they setted for Maths.
I guess this is a never-ending topic as to whether they are stretching the most able enough. DD was also set for Maths but then the top group on top set were level 5 by end of year 5...
As for preparing for 11+, would the primary school want to upset the nearby secondaries by helping children to get to the best selective school they can?
lara228
Posts: 201
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:23 am

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by lara228 »

2GirlsDad wrote:
Guest55 wrote:I'm not saying the most able should be ignored - my DC was not as they setted for Maths.
I guess this is a never-ending topic as to whether they are stretching the most able enough. DD was also set for Maths but then the top group on top set were level 5 by end of year 5...
As for preparing for 11+, would the primary school want to upset the nearby secondaries by helping children to get to the best selective school they can?

Don't get me started on this!!! We have a local mixed secondary that until recently was on special measures and a non-selective boys school that backs on to my DSs state junior school.....and the junior schools' governors have all put their children through independent and selective state exams but are happy to sign letters suggesting that the rest of us parents consider local schools - double-standards all the way. My DSs school already rents a classroom to a specialist teacher who runs an 11+ afterschool (private) tutorial for years 5 & 6 so the school gets funds from supporting something they won't actually put any effort into themselves. Am really fuming tonight as DS came home from school saying that they'd spent the day doing mock SATS and the teachers are really stressing the children - thankfully my DS understands that the SATS are a reflection on the teaching standards of the school and has suggested that the teaching staff take the tests themselves!
mamakiso
Posts: 35
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:14 pm

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by mamakiso »

I'm afraid I'm going to be the dissenting voice; I am very lucky my DS goes to a fantastic school. Its a Catholic main stream school and the Head has been nothing but supportive throughout the 11+ process. She encouraged me to apply for the grammar schools.

She introduced a mental maths booklet and all pupils from year 1 are encouraged to learn the times table and are awarded stars when they achieve. She also purchased the matheletics software which the kids can access in school or at home. Booster classes in Year 6 are offered to all and they are encouraged to attend. My son is very able in maths and she stretches him and a few others and has even said to be she may try him on a level 6 paper for SATS.

With the indie's when she got the reference letter, she called me to ask what his outside interests are and she even asked the all important question - are you sure you can afford it? She gave me pointers for the interviews and has been praying with us throughout.

It's a shame that it appears most Head's don't realise this is a stressful time for parents and they should be as supportive as possible!

How do I feel - same as everyone else really stressed. The worst bit is having to wait 3-4 weeks before you get letters and waiting till March before you know about grammar schools. I have put on weight, I have lost weight! Sleeping has been sporadic, no doubt work has suffered! DS, cool as a cucumber. Roll on March!!

I wish all our children the best!!
2GirlsDad
Posts: 89
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:33 pm
Location: Herts

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by 2GirlsDad »

mamakiso wrote:I'm afraid I'm going to be the dissenting voice; I am very lucky my DS goes to a fantastic school. Its a Catholic main stream school and the Head has been nothing but supportive throughout the 11+ process. She encouraged me to apply for the grammar schools.
We are in a community school that has been doing their best stretching the expectations of the parents and then working to meet them. Coincidentally we also have a Catholic Head and she has been very supportive (once it was clear we would not be taking any hints about going to nearby schools, that is!)
mamakiso wrote: My son is very able in maths and she stretches him and a few others and has even said to be she may try him on a level 6 paper for SATS.

With the indie's when she got the reference letter, she called me to ask what his outside interests are and she even asked the all important question - are you sure you can afford it? She gave me pointers for the interviews and has been praying with us throughout.

It's a shame that it appears most Head's don't realise this is a stressful time for parents and they should be as supportive as possible!
DD will be sitting the L6 Maths, we got that sorted before the first parent consultation this year. We assumed other parents would be pushing for L6 English which I would expect DD to sit as well but that seems to have lost momentum.
I am mostly proud that DD never got stressed about 11+.
All the best luck for everybody - we are done with indies interviews and now it's a matter of luck or praying.
Currently we are focusing on catching up on music grading.
lara228
Posts: 201
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:23 am

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by lara228 »

Am now EXTREMELY jealous!!! The last two posts show that it is possible for state schools to support the best as well as those who need extra encouragement. And as for sitting L6 - DS has been 5A since year 5 and is SO BORED with maths now - top set and on so called extension table and the homework just has us in fits of laughter - if it takes him more than 5 minutes I assume he's been messing around. If I had the financial security and did not have to work I would seriously consider taking him out of school and travel around Europe until the start of September - a much more worthwhile education than he is getting at the moment.
Apple10
Posts: 68
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:18 am

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by Apple10 »

Lara228
I know how you feel. I could take my dd out of school and go on a lovely holiday. School just don't seem to be doing very much at the moment with the able dcs. The focus is to get all dcs to level 4 at a minimum and those achieving level 5 are almost left there to amuse themselves.

However, I did all the work at home for 11+ with dd (and I'm not a teacher, just a mum) and bless her, she managed to secure interviews to the indies we applied to. So I intend to carry on working with her at home.
Middlesexmum
Posts: 1008
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:54 am

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by Middlesexmum »

You all sound very knowledgable about these levels. I'm still working out what they all mean.

At the end of Year 5, dd got 4A/5C for English and 4C for Maths - so how do I know how 'able' she is...?
Thingsbehindthesun
Posts: 463
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2011 11:25 pm

Re: So how is everyone feeling at this stage?

Post by Thingsbehindthesun »

Middlesexmum wrote:You all sound very knowledgable about these levels. I'm still working out what they all mean.

At the end of Year 5, dd got 4A/5C for English and 4C for Maths - so how do I know how 'able' she is...?
Children are expected to be around 4b in year 6. The 5C/4A for english would put your daughter in the top 25% of children in year 5 and the maths is good considering she would have another year to go.
;D
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