11 Plus Exams Forum

Our local state secondary schools had a school transfer day on Friday, where they invited their future pupils to come in for the day. However, my DS's future part-selective school and the private schools do not do this. As a result, nine (out of the usual 45) Year 6 children went into school as normal.

They had been told they were to have an art day, and my DS was really excited. However, this did not happen, even though his teacher was in school. Instead, first they helped the head carry out a load of his rubbish. Then they spent the rest of the morning sorting all the library books into alphabetical order - blimey, in my day, that was a punishment job. After lunch, they had PE with Year 5, and then an uninspiring music lesson with tambourines.

What do other schools do in these cases? I kind of thought that with only nine children, they could have done something more interesting. But they didn't even have proper lessons in the morning.

My DD was the only one in her class one day last week, all the local comps had organized their inductions for the same day (the shock is at the level of joined up thinking that required!) However as my DD is the only one in her class not going to a local comp, she was the only one there. Her teacher said she had to come in to get her attendance marks but we could pick her up after the lunch register. What did she spend the morning doing? Helping out in nursery

When we were in this position I just took my daughter out for the day. She then had an afternoon out for her independent school induction.

Ah, what a let down for the end of school activites. This was a great part of the excitement for my dd and all her friends (even though all her friends went to local schools - my dd goes to the next town). Everything was co-ordinated between the schools to have the same day, even in the towns local to one another as lots of children cross over and go to schools in nearby towns.

I hope your dc has lots of other activities lined up for the last week or so?

13 kids in DD2's year group...got to go and get an ice cream from the corner shop, re-do the Y6 display, finalise the cover of the year book and then 'supervise' the Y1 beach party which seemed to involve spraying each other with water all afternoon and playing in a sandpit!

My children actually prefer 'help the teacher' type things to organised 'fun' activities. DS was one of 8 left in school one day last week, and he really enjoyed doing some helping and tidying with his class teacher. DD had a ball 'helping' in Reception when she missed a school trip when she was in Year 6.

As DD was the only one in her year not to be on an induction day we were told to keep her at home! She enjoyed a day at work with me as I couldn't find instant childcare.

Mine was also the only one but as we only have three classes (R/Y1, Y2/3/4, and Y5/6 he just stayed with the Y5s.

It is not just induction days that seem like a waste.

My child has not had a proper days teaching since before SATS.

At least before the SATS they spent time learnig how to and sitting SATS exams.

On top of the lack of teaching it appears as iff the Yr6 teachers are now taking it in turns to attend "courses" abroad, with their wives.

From the end of Sats, dd didn't do any real classroom learning. I seem to remember her days were full of rehearsals for the final end of year production. The Leaver's Assembly, helping out in the nursery and sports day.

Having said that the last half term was filled with wonderful, memorable things which she'll remember forever (I hope!).