So, this 11+ thing that you all know about

[Purpleflamingos]

Tell me more.
No such thing as 11+ where I live. Never heard of it before mumsnet. Have done some research and there are three possible ones but one that does boarding.

My specific questions are;

1. would you still send your child if there was a good comp nearby?
   
2. what primary year did you go and look at the school?
   
3. most important - do your dc sit the 11+ in yr 5 or yr6?
   
   Thanks in advance

[dawnlight]

1. Not if the grammar was further away.
   
2. Year 5 (but should have gone y4)
   
3. Sept y6

[MarriedDadOneSonOneDaughter]

Our grammars need registration for the Sept year 6 test in June/July, just after the open days. So you will be viewing and signing up at the end of year 5. Good idea to do the open days in year 4 too if you have time.

[Molio]

All my DC took the 11+.

1. That would depend on the child, the quality of the grammar and the quality of the comp.
2. July Y4 or Sept Y5 depending on which open day was the more convenient.
3. Y6. What's the hurry?

[teacherwith2kids]

1. No. Both my DCs took and passed the local 11+ well, but we send them, to the excellent local comp. On balance, the time taken travelling to the grammars they passed for was not worth it [the grammars have slightly better 'raw' exam results BUT the difference is much smaller than it should be given the huge difference in starting points on entry; on further research high achievers do equally well in th comp] especially as the grammars are single sex.
   

1. Early Y5.
   

1. Early Y6.

[fatbottomgirl67]

1 yes If they wanted to go. Dd1 has gone but dd2 a local comp. Grammar offers a wider range of subjects. One of biggest differences Is the girls are on on a similar level and really want to learn so far less disruption in class and teachers can stretch them further
2 - year 5 and again in 6
3- in kent it's september of yr 6

Can't praise grammar highly enough for dd1 but dd2 is top if class at comp and flying so I guess it depends on your child

[Purpleflamingos]

Right. That's me sorted. View 2 local comps plus grammars in year 4. Decide from there. Many thanks everyone. Cxxx

[Hakluyt]

If you live in a wholly selective area, there are no comprehensive schools, by definition. Comprehensive means all ability- and a school can't be all ability if the "top" 20something % is siphoned off to a different school.

[teacherwith2kids]

Hak,

The OP mentions that there was no 'general' 11+ in her area, and that there are only 3 possible options (1 boarding). So it sounds like either an area that adjoins a somewhat selective area OR one with a cvery few residula grammars. I live in one of the latter, and while in the 2 towns with 2-4 grammars there are no true comps, elsewhere in the county the comps are largely unaffected.

[Purpleflamingos]

Hak, it's all comps in this town. To enter a grammer would mean a train ride into a neighbouring county or boarding further up north but at a drivable distance should anything happen. I drive but will also have another dc still in primary so a school run that distance would be impossible.

[Hakluyt]

Sorry - this is rather a hobby horse of mine. Glad I don 't have to ride it round your thread!