Why did you put dc in for 11+

Discussion of the 11 Plus

Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators

Post Reply
11 Plus Platform - Online Practice Makes Perfect - Try Now
Onedayonechance
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:23 pm

Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by Onedayonechance »

I am genuinely interested in why people put their children in for 11+. I'm slightly concerned about writing this as it's the most serious forum I've ever been on.
Is it because of the qudos of grammar, local schools are bad or something else. I have put my youngest through it but didn't put my eldest. I'm not judgemental just interested
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by Guest55 »

Bucks is opt-out because it's a selective LA. Nearly everyone does the Transfer Test ... it's some years ago now for DS though.
Onedayonechance
Posts: 44
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:23 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by Onedayonechance »

Guest55 wrote:Bucks is opt-out because it's a selective LA. Nearly everyone does the Transfer Test ... it's some years ago now for DS though.
I feel very naive when it comes to 11+. I didn't realise some were opt out. Does that add to the pressure?
loobylou
Posts: 2032
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 5:04 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by loobylou »

I put my dd in for it because, of all the 8 or so schools we visited, some of which were selective, some not, but all of which she had a reasonable chance of getting into, one particular school stood out head and shoulders above the rest as the one she would be happiest at. It happened to be selective and therefore she had to sit the exam. We were lucky - she got in and has been extremely happy there.
It would be disingenuous of me to say that it's selective nature had no impact - it obviously has an effect on what the school is like - but I genuinely wasn't looking for selective schools for their own sake, just schools where I could imagine my children being most comfortable.
anotherdad
Posts: 1763
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:33 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by anotherdad »

Same as Guest55. Little choice in the matter unless we were prepared to move out of the county (Bucks). Opting out is still selection because if one opts out of the Bucks secondary transfer test, one is selecting an upper school.

As for it adding to the pressure, I don't know because I haven't raised children anywhere else. I suspect it's a different pressure. In parts of Bucks, particularly in the larger towns, the upper schools face many challenges and have varying degrees of success. That makes many parents work hard to secure a grammar school place, not so much because they're GS advocates but more to avoid the upper schools. The qualification rate is higher than in other counties, with around a third of entrants securing a qualifying score, so perhaps that is less pressured than schools and areas that are much more selective. The difference with those other areas is that quite often they are isolated grammars in a comprehensive system where the alternative to grammar school is a good one.

In summary, I guess the pressure is the same, it's just that it's different types of pressure arising from different factors.
Leighmum2019
Posts: 155
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2018 11:33 am

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by Leighmum2019 »

Essex (CSSE) here. Some of our reasons include the grammars being better schools in terms of results, the appeal of single sex education, the locality (one grammar is walking distance) but also because if you don’t give it a go your chances are the same as not passing so you might as well try!

I’ll be controversial and say there is a social divide in the kids I know who’ve taken it v those who haven’t and I would say that there’s a slight air of snobbery from the parents of those who pass.
Octsmum
Posts: 345
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2017 11:21 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by Octsmum »

Hi

Out of all the schools we looked at it, it was the one we felt was best for DD. It was also the one she liked the most & felt she could see herself at the most.
starcrazy
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 9:03 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by starcrazy »

Because our local comprehensives have been impacted by the existence of grammars. We’ve looked around half a dozen and found one that is of a good standard. Not much choice other than to enter the children for the 11+ really, much as we disagree with the system.
Mumski
Posts: 36
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 4:58 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by Mumski »

Because all the very good local comprehensive schools near us are faith schools and we are of the wrong faith so no chance of a place. Non faith schools are not great and not a good fit for either DS1 or DS2.
kenyancowgirl
Posts: 6738
Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:59 pm

Re: Why did you put dc in for 11+

Post by kenyancowgirl »

Why didn’t you start with your reasons Onedayonechance? Why did you put your child in? I suspect your reasons will be in line with others.
Post Reply
11 Plus Platform - Online Practice Makes Perfect - Try Now