Advice - best way to improve chance of grammar

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Alexandra
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:34 pm

Advice - best way to improve chance of grammar

Post by Alexandra »

I am sure lots of you have experience on ways to improve your childs chances of getting into a grammar. I would love my daughter to go to CCHS but realise it is so competitive. She is a bright child and just beginning to get into level 5's in her tests at school. However, she is not quite as 'sparky' as my other child who was successful getting into grammar, who picked things up extraordinarily quickly. How can I bring my daughters skills up or should I just except she is not quite as 'sparky' as other child and not put her through the 11+ process??? Does bright but not sparky mean grammar is out of reach???
moved
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Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Post by moved »

I should hope not. Work with her, tell her how clever she is so that she is motivated. If she is in yr 5 and getting level 5s then she is showing the right potential.
Alexandra
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:34 pm

Post by Alexandra »

If I tell her how clever she is I am worried that she will be really disappointed if she doesn't get in so I have been downplaying her abilities. Now you have put it like that I think I may be doing completely the wrong thing. Although I have told her she is very different to my other child and that not everyone gets in, she is already starting to draw comparisons between herself and her sibling and I don't want her to feel pressurised. I have already had people say things like 'you'll be next' and it just doesn't work like that. Just because one child has got in does not mean other child will get in. My other child does seem to be brighter than her and was showing much more ability at this stage than she has, so I think she will find it much more difficult. I guess my question is do the children that get into grammar NEED to show something 'special' which my other child did or will being bright get her in??? There seems to be levels of 'brightness', she is bright and doing well, other child seemed to be ultra bright and just picked things up so much quicker than daughter.
Chelmsford mum
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Post by Chelmsford mum »

Hi Alexandra,
I have sent you a pm
CM :D
moved
Posts: 3826
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Post by moved »

Can you also look at the Colchester/Southend schools. Many of us have children who are very different. DD is at the county high and I was told that she had little or no chance. She actually passed well and has thrived there. She is nothing like her KEGS counterpart, but then talking to many parents/teachers at both schools the teaching/learning styles are also very different.

DD is a hard worker, which will probably take her far in life.

I always try to find an area to praise that is not a strength of her sibling. Rather than downplay your DD's abilities I would recommend being honest and saying that access to the grammars is never a guarantee with so many excellent candidates and so few place, then she will not see herself as a failure in comparison with her brother. And have a good back up plan.
Alexandra
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:34 pm

Post by Alexandra »

We will look at the Southend schools but travelling does worry me alittle. I see how hard she works and she is so concientious and still not at the same level as other child who has never worked hard and breezed through everything at school.
moved
Posts: 3826
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:42 pm
Location: Chelmsford and pleased

Post by moved »

Sounds like she is an ideal CCHS girl and he is a typical KEGS boy!
Alexandra
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:34 pm

Post by Alexandra »

Thanks moved. I am starting to realise that I am doing exactly what I didn't want to- draw comparisons. Inadvertently I have compared the two of them. So do you think with hard work she can do it and doesn't need that something 'special' like my other child???
TP123
Posts: 466
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:46 am

Post by TP123 »

Hi Moved

Are you saying that to succeed at KEGS you need to be bright without working hard :shock:
Chelmsford mum
Posts: 2113
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:16 pm

Post by Chelmsford mum »

I think all our children are different, even in our own household.One can have to try hard to achieve the standard, that another just attains in a breezy, coasting manner. :roll:
It's an individual child issue not a school issue.Schools are filled with many types of children. :D
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