11+ offer time: leaping the final hurdle

It’s crunch time. As anyone who has been through the 11+ will know, the next few weeks are a culmination of a marathon six months of exam preparation, interviews, exhaustion and uncertainty. In normal times, it’s far from stress-free; in the middle of a global pandemic, it’s a whole different ball game.

So once you’ve got your offers in hand, how can you be certain that you’re making the right decision about your child’s future? Read on to find out how to cross the final – and arguably the most crucial – hurdle of the 11+ process.

Do listen to your prep or primary school head.

If your child is already in the private school system, then the chances are their current head will know each of the schools you have applied to inside out. As long as you’ve resisted the temptation to go against their advice, they will have fully supported your applications – and their reference will be a true reflection of your child’s ability and potential to thrive at the school.

If you find your child on the waiting list of your preferred schools, strong communication with their prep school head is key. Phone them; tell them it is your first choice, and ask them to ring said senior school and argue in your favour. They know better than anyone else if your child will thrive at that particular school.

If your son or daughter is at a state primary school, again ask the head’s advice. They will have a candid opinion of your child in an educational setting – and they may well be able to guide and support you through the decision-making process.

Do think about the right school for your child, not the most distinguished or impressive-sounding name.

Remember: schools change, so what might have been right for three generations of your family might be a total disaster for your child. Look at the ethos of the school: do their values and discipline chime with your parenting style? Do you want your child turning out like the pupils here? Are children straitjacketed down a set path or can they be both a musician and a sports fiend without being pulled in opposite directions?

Do think carefully about the academics.

We don’t need to tell you that exam results are just one tiny cog in the enormous wheel of a brilliant school, but it’s crucial that you choose a school with academic standards that match the needs of your particular child. How broad are the subject offerings – both when they join and when they start refining their GCSE choices? Will your child be stretched? Will they be able to keep up? Give some thought to their overall academic path: does the school offer A-levels, IB or a combination of both? Is there a grade barrier to entering the sixth form – and is it realistically within your child’s reach?

Do be sensible about how your child is going to get to school.

How long will it take them to get there? Rest assured that your 11-year-old will quickly become horrified at the thought of you accompanying them on the school run – so road-test the route and make sure it works for all of you. It’s going to be their school and they’ll want to claim their independence – but you need to be close enough to be able to watch them play in matches, perform in the school play and show up to parent talks.

Do take the long view.

The school might be perfect for your shiny-faced 10-year-old, but in a split second they’ll be a swishy-haired sophisticate – will it still suit them at 16? Yes, it seems impossibly far off now – but it’ll come round in the blink of an eye.

On the flip side, consider whether your child is definitely ready to move at the moment. For many of us, this extraordinary year has thrown our priorities out of whack – if it is an option, continuity might be preferable to change. Would your child be better off staying at their prep or all-through school until 13, enjoying those all-important extra two years of childhood? You can always consider moving them at a later stage: don’t feel pressured to make a decision now.

Don’t hold on to offers.

This is the number one rule of 11+: if you have no intention of accepting a place, do not sit on it. By doing so, you are potentially preventing waiting lists from moving – and another top-notch candidate being offered a place.

Don’t listen to playground gossip.

Whatever you do, don’t get sucked into the dinner-party conversation, schools’ glossy marketing brochures or panicky online chat forums. Instead, trust your instinct: if you were a child again, is this somewhere you’d be happy to spend the next seven years of your life? Use Talk 看片狂人 to really get under the skin of a school: we’ve spoken to parents and pupils to get the honest inside track and help you find the perfect school for your child.

Don’t take it personally if your child isn’t offered a place.

Remember, there is a right school for every child – and if a school hasn’t offered your child a place, it’s because they don’t think it’s right for them. The most successful children are the ones who know that their parents back them unconditionally – and your child must never, ever feel that they have disappointed you.

Good luck – and remember, if you need bespoke advice, an impartial sounding board or a shoulder to cry on, our parent advisory team are here to help.

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11+ offer time: leaping the final hurdle

TE Schools Advice