To tell or not to tell

Eleven Plus (11+) in Buckinghamshire (Bucks)

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Road Runner
Posts: 410
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:32 pm

To tell or not to tell

Post by Road Runner »

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 :?
hermanmunster
Posts: 12819
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Post by hermanmunster »

The kids are bound to hear from someone - they are very efficient on disseminating info!!!!!!


My kids had to know as they were out of area and had to go elsewhere but I am sure that all the kids in area knew too - they talked about little else!
Ambridge
Posts: 374
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:46 pm
Location: Bucks

Post by Ambridge »

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 :lol: :lol: ) 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
SunlampVexesEel
Posts: 1245
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:31 pm

Re: To tell or not to tell

Post by SunlampVexesEel »

Mel X wrote:My dd's school head has instructed us parents NOT to share the 11+ test date with our children
IMHO... total nonsense. The reverse is true. Better to have a date to work towards.

Regards
SVE
Animis opibusque parati
patricia
Posts: 2803
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:07 pm

Post by patricia »

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
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Post by Guest55 »

Children know the dates of the KS2 tests - what is the difference?
Mike
Posts: 625
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:29 pm

Post by Mike »

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
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Post by Sally-Anne »

Ridiculous! :roll:

The kids will find out, either from playground gossip, from an indiscreet adult or through friends at other schools.

S-A
patricia
Posts: 2803
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:07 pm

Post by patricia »

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
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