SchoolTalkUK.com

Hi, Just thinking about my daughter who is sitting her 11-plus as we speak, I think we were more nervous than her this morning, anybody else got their children sitting it today?, let us all know how they get on.

hey hpe your little girl did ok, my son does the 11 plus on the 13th of december and im already feeling nervous, when do u get your results we have to wait till march so long couple ov months there well hope shes done ok take care

Thanks Shaz, yes we dont get our results till march either, seems such a long way off. My daughter didnt too bad (she thinks) the maths was easier than she thought it would be, but she found the english really difficult, but the main thing was she loved doing it, she found the whole experience really exciting which was great, we were really nervous but she was fine. Good luck to your son, hope all goes well

Just glad its all over now, no more practice, well until the SAT's that is My daughter thinks it went ok, you never know really do you, although she did say she guessed on two big sections on the english whatever will be will be!!

Hi,

I'm confused, I didn't think pupils sat the 11 plus anymore?

Yes there are lots of grammar schools here in Essex, the 11-plus is still a big deal for many around here.

Wow that's tough, especially if the children have to sit their SAT's too. I have to say, I don't understand that at all??????

I think I would be taking it up with the LA. Surely it should be one or the other. When do your children have the opportunity to enjoy themselves? I mean they are even talking about phasing out SAT's. No doubt other exams will be introduced to replace them, will your children have to take 3 exams then?

I think there needs to be some way of measuring performance, but in some of our schools many children have gone through a nightmare to perform well. I feel it is just to make their schools look good locally and nationally. Whilst Headteachers have tried to discourage pupils from taking holidays during exam time, friends of mine have noticed that if the children aren't so able at sitting exams, then the Heads haven't worried so much about them being on holiday, but have cracked down on more able pupils taking holidays during this period.

The other unfairness is that some good schools are made to look bad if their overall SAT's results don't appear to be good. This may just be based on having a higher than average proportion of children with SEN or the schools are located in less affluent areas; maybe there are high numbers of non english speaking pupils. The results are all thrown in together and an average result is calculated. Yet the individual needs of each child may be met very effectively, but these schools could be under threat of closure as on the surface they appear to be under achieving schools. It is all crazy.