in panic mode.....anyone else feel the same?

[Angie76]

Hi Disney-Mum

You must be so stressed out with the added worry with your DC being SEN.
It sounds like you have been a great support to them though as it seems they went in confident. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they do well. 4 tests is alot like us but one of our chosen schools is part of the consortium and the other selects by highest mark. Didnt want to just try for one and miss out because of their admissions process. He may not get into either so stool need to find a plan C !!!!
My DS's next test is sat 15th. Good that your DC has some time before the next one. For you also as it's quite draining this whole journey.
Good luck for the next one on 22nd and for the rest x

Angie76

[Disney-Mum]

Hi

I think we might be doing the same school entrance as you, one for the consortium and one not, but we had to change the dates so they don't clash, and also he's not available on one of the dates so the last test isn't until the beginning of Oct.

Needless to say, I won't be on here much after this week because I don't want to stumble across anything that might 'give away' the papers. I didn't realise they will be the same papers, but it makes sense otherwise the results wouldn't be accurate.

It is stressful, we are also looking at non-grammar schools in the upcoming weeks. My elder son is Autistic/Learning difficulties and goes to a specialist school, so this is my first taste of 11+ fever - its quite something. Although with my eldest we had similar stress trying to work out what style of school would suit him.

I think we should all feel proud for surviving this few months (if we do, haha) - I intend to have some one on one me and him time at the end of it all - so he doesn't remember this period just as work work work!!!

Good luck everyone
x

[Angie76]

Hi Disney Mum

It sure is a journey but hopefully we will all look back and be happy with the outcome whatever that may be.
I'm in Lincolnshire. Where abouts are you?
Gosh you have had a lot to deal with. It must have been a worry ensuring your DC with Autism was in the most appropriate school to meet their needs. Now this journey, which for us has had it's ups and downs.
Good luck x

Angie76

[Disney-Mum]

Hi Disney Mum

It sure is a journey but hopefully we will all look back and be happy with the outcome whatever that may be.
I'm in Lincolnshire. Where abouts are you?
Gosh you have had a lot to deal with. It must have been a worry ensuring your DC with Autism was in the most appropriate school to meet their needs. Now this journey, which for us has had it's ups and downs.
Good luck x

Angie76

Yes, Lincolnshire too - just took first exam for Caistor, and will be trying for QEHS too (Although we are out of catchment for both). He came out of Caistor saying he had finished it in 30mins, so I'm not overly convinced he read the Q's properly. Side effect of his difficulties, Brain works extremely fast and then refuses to believe he could have possibly read it wrong, and will argue until he's blue that it 'didn't say that' last time (He would be GREAT on a debate team, haha) Although, I am always pleasently surprised when the results come back, so who knows....

This week is us looking at non grammar schools SEN policies etc. He is coping unbeliveably well, this in itself has made me think we are right to give him the chance. I don't know how many children with SEN manage to get into Grammar, but it is worth giving him the chance/experience. He has ADHD/Aspergers.

I think all the kids doing the exams should feel really proud of themselves, no matter what the outcome - its a very brave thing to do at their ages. I know many adults who can't cope with exam situations.

His brother is deffinately in the right school. It was a hard choice decising on non-mainstream and going the 'specialist' route - but looking back it was a no-brainer. It feels wrong that it should be so hard, no one is actually allowed to give their opinions! He would have bombed in even the lowest of comp schools though. eek - thats a scary thought!!!!

I will be glad when its all over! I bet thats the most over-used saying at the moment,haha!

x

[Angie76]

Hi Disney Mum

It sure is a journey but hopefully we will all look back and be happy with the outcome whatever that may be.
I'm in Lincolnshire. Where abouts are you?
Gosh you have had a lot to deal with. It must have been a worry ensuring your DC with Autism was in the most appropriate school to meet their needs. Now this journey, which for us has had it's ups and downs.
Good luck x

Angie76

Yes, Lincolnshire too - just took first exam for Caistor, and will be trying for QEHS too (Although we are out of catchment for both). He came out of Caistor saying he had finished it in 30mins, so I'm not overly convinced he read the Q's properly. Side effect of his difficulties, Brain works extremely fast and then refuses to believe he could have possibly read it wrong, and will argue until he's blue that it 'didn't say that' last time (He would be GREAT on a debate team, haha) Although, I am always pleasently surprised when the results come back, so who knows....

This week is us looking at non grammar schools SEN policies etc. He is coping unbeliveably well, this in itself has made me think we are right to give him the chance. I don't know how many children with SEN manage to get into Grammar, but it is worth giving him the chance/experience. He has ADHD/Aspergers.

I think all the kids doing the exams should feel really proud of themselves, no matter what the outcome - its a very brave thing to do at their ages. I know many adults who can't cope with exam situations.

His brother is deffinately in the right school. It was a hard choice decising on non-mainstream and going the 'specialist' route - but looking back it was a no-brainer. It feels wrong that it should be so hard, no one is actually allowed to give their opinions! He would have bombed in even the lowest of comp schools though. eek - thats a scary thought!!!!

I will be glad when its all over! I bet thats the most over-used saying at the moment,haha!

x

Hi Disney Mum

Its sounds like your son is doing remarkably well and that he has a very supportive family. This should hopefully carry him through this and fingers crossed he gets into your preferred school. The beauty of the Grammar Schools is they are structured which im guessing would really suit your son with his Autism.
I used to work teaching at a Specialist College in Grimsby and more recently before my second DS worked at a Specialist Autistic College in Roxby and Barton.
The key for many was having structure which meant they could cope better with their daily tasks.
Must have been a difficult decision choosing non main stream for your other DC but it looks like you have found a great place for them as there are many great providers out there.

It is Caistor and QEHS that we are applying for. Distance could be an issue with QEHS which was originally our preferred school as it is easier to get to. We are 13.5 miles away though so unfortunately dont hold much hope here. More recently decided to try for Caistor and it seems my son is now happy with either. Worrying thing is if non could take him if he was fortunate enough to pass. I know he can do the work but alot of it will be how he feels on the day so will not pins my hopes on it. What will will be i guess.
I really hope your DC is not feeling stressed with it all and makes it through the next 3 and wow what an achievement if he passes and gets a place. You are def right in that we should be very proud of our DC's for even going into this and attempting these tests. As you say many adults cant cope with exams let alone a 10 yr old. They are remarkable i think so will keep my fingers crossed that there are many happy parents in the coming month.

Good Luck for this saturdays Verbal Reasoning paper at QEHS

Angie76

[Disney-Mum]

Aww, Thanks Angie76 for the kind words

Meltdown has hit today with a bad night resulting in a bad day today at school - was expected really.

We're not doing the Exam this weekend at QEHS, we have had to arrange it for the next sitting, which in our case is first week in October. Because we are doing both exams, the Caistor NVR is for a different day to others too. Luckily no one else we know are sitting them, so theres no chance of 'playground talk', and Ive not told him hes doing it at a different time to some children anyway.

So, from tomorrow I don't think I will be on here much. I don't expect people will talk about the exams, Ive not seen any evidence of that, but don't want to risk it!!

Good luck to everyone, and I'll pop my head in **for moral support** once its all over!

x

[Stocky]

Hi DM - the completion time you have stated doesn't necessarily mean he has done anything wrong. My DD sat for QE last year and came out saying at the half way point she was on question 80+. I despaired and was convinced she had missed page(s) out, but she assured me "at the end of every page, she checked the last number of the question and made sure her next question was the next number", I was very impressed with that, as noone had told her to do that.

If you need any support between now and when DC does the test, use this forum, as my experience of Lincs last year post test, was nothing test related as such until the results were out. Its an awful time for parents too, with little or noone to talk to, so make use of the likeminded parents on here.

[Angie76]

Hi Disney Mum

Just wanted to check you meant Verbal Reasoning for Caistor in your last message because there is no Non Verbal for Caistor. There is one for QEHS though.

Angie76

[Disney-Mum]

Hi Disney Mum

Just wanted to check you meant Verbal Reasoning for Caistor in your last message because there is no Non Verbal for Caistor. There is one for QEHS though.

Angie76

Eeeek, yes, I meant verbal. Its so confusing, I have them written in my Diary in big letters so I know which one is when, but still get confused, haha!

Thanks Stocky, thats a help. I have found this forum so helpful so far (I don't usually use Forums but stumbled across this when looking for info back in June), It really is the only place I can think about the 11+ and not feel like a pushy parent. All the comments are very supportive of eachother, and thats lovely.

x