To tell or not to tell
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To tell or not to tell
Hello everyone
My dd's school head has instructed us parents NOT to share the 11+ test date with our children
My initial reaction is WHAT!!!
I would feel terrible sending my dd in and keeping it from her. We were very open when my son did the test as was his primary school, all the kids knew when it was so I don't think I can go along with dd'd head.
Any thoughts
Patricia please tell me what you think. I assume you tell your pupils the date??
Mel
My dd's school head has instructed us parents NOT to share the 11+ test date with our children
My initial reaction is WHAT!!!
I would feel terrible sending my dd in and keeping it from her. We were very open when my son did the test as was his primary school, all the kids knew when it was so I don't think I can go along with dd'd head.
Any thoughts
Patricia please tell me what you think. I assume you tell your pupils the date??
Mel
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Have to say, I think this is one of those personal thing-ies...
As a family, we don't have any secrets ever, so for me not to have told my son would have meant him never trusting us again. We worked towards it and I thought this was the best way to do it.
Some friends of ours, who I think are fab parents, surprised me by saying they were not going to let their daughter know the date, I was amazed and surprised but they explained that despite being bright, she hated exams, would definitely not sleep the night before, would definitely make it a big focal point in her life and they felt it was best for her.
She only just passed (and we did not ) possibly because of nerves on the day and afterwards said she was so glad she didn't know the day was approaching. I think her parents got it dead right for their child. It really wouldn't have suited our son, it would have been so out of character of us, he wouldn't have known where he stood after that.
So, an interesting one but I think quite a personal one as well.
Ambridge x
As a family, we don't have any secrets ever, so for me not to have told my son would have meant him never trusting us again. We worked towards it and I thought this was the best way to do it.
Some friends of ours, who I think are fab parents, surprised me by saying they were not going to let their daughter know the date, I was amazed and surprised but they explained that despite being bright, she hated exams, would definitely not sleep the night before, would definitely make it a big focal point in her life and they felt it was best for her.
She only just passed (and we did not ) possibly because of nerves on the day and afterwards said she was so glad she didn't know the day was approaching. I think her parents got it dead right for their child. It really wouldn't have suited our son, it would have been so out of character of us, he wouldn't have known where he stood after that.
So, an interesting one but I think quite a personal one as well.
Ambridge x
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Re: To tell or not to tell
IMHO... total nonsense. The reverse is true. Better to have a date to work towards.Mel X wrote:My dd's school head has instructed us parents NOT to share the 11+ test date with our children
Regards
SVE
Animis opibusque parati
Dear Mel
Some years ago the dates were always unknown. The decision to be up front came in about 8/9 years ago. I do know a couple of schools that still ask parents to keep the dates a secret. Neither of these schools have managed to keep the dates from the children.
There is always a parent who will tell their child who in turn tells their friend [of course it must be a secret] they then tell someone else [and of course its a secret] and they tell someone else the secret...
Its near on impossible to keep it quiet.
Patricia
Some years ago the dates were always unknown. The decision to be up front came in about 8/9 years ago. I do know a couple of schools that still ask parents to keep the dates a secret. Neither of these schools have managed to keep the dates from the children.
There is always a parent who will tell their child who in turn tells their friend [of course it must be a secret] they then tell someone else [and of course its a secret] and they tell someone else the secret...
Its near on impossible to keep it quiet.
Patricia
Hi
This is most likely teacher speak for "don't prepare the kids". If the children do not know when the test is and they are not prepared for it, this presents the perfect scenario for the school, the LEA and NFER who set the tests. These three organisations are constantly claiming that preparation is not necessary.
Parents should ensure that their children follow a suitable course of preparation and should definitely know when the tests take place.
Remember a large portion of the 11+ verbal reasoning tests is not contained within the National Curriculum.
Regards
Mike
This is most likely teacher speak for "don't prepare the kids". If the children do not know when the test is and they are not prepared for it, this presents the perfect scenario for the school, the LEA and NFER who set the tests. These three organisations are constantly claiming that preparation is not necessary.
Parents should ensure that their children follow a suitable course of preparation and should definitely know when the tests take place.
Remember a large portion of the 11+ verbal reasoning tests is not contained within the National Curriculum.
Regards
Mike
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Dear Mike
No, its not teacher speak for no preparation.
In Bucks, all state schools must provide an evening for parents where all matters of the 11 plus are discussed. They even have a ready made, uniform powerpoint presentation.
http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/schools/leade ... /index.asp
Some schools just ask the parents not to divulge the dates of the tests. The main reason being that there are a number of children who find the process quite demanding and will turn up to school in floods of tears, setting others off in tandem. If the children are unaware of the dates, no such pressure is given, they go to school as normal then about 9.15 escorted to the hall/room where they will be tested, no time for stressing out. Thats it in theory...
I personally preferred knowing the dates, did not know with my first child, did for my others...
Patricia
No, its not teacher speak for no preparation.
In Bucks, all state schools must provide an evening for parents where all matters of the 11 plus are discussed. They even have a ready made, uniform powerpoint presentation.
http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/schools/leade ... /index.asp
Some schools just ask the parents not to divulge the dates of the tests. The main reason being that there are a number of children who find the process quite demanding and will turn up to school in floods of tears, setting others off in tandem. If the children are unaware of the dates, no such pressure is given, they go to school as normal then about 9.15 escorted to the hall/room where they will be tested, no time for stressing out. Thats it in theory...
I personally preferred knowing the dates, did not know with my first child, did for my others...
Patricia