The pitfalls of secondary school applications
With 10 years under our belt helping families through the transition to secondary school, we've seen a great deal of success when it comes to good parenting.
From time to time though, we see parents make a few mistakes that can dramatically affect the process, outcome and general happiness around the 11+ or 13+ process. Years 5 and 6 have historically been anxiety-inducing years when it comes to the process of application to secondary schools, hyped up particularly in the race for London schools.
Here are, as simply put as we can, five mistakes we see parents making.
1. Over-preparing for interviews
Many parents spend weeks drilling their children for school interviews, creating unnecessary anxiety. In reality, 2-3 hours of focused preparation is sufficient. Use this time to help your child understand what interviews entail and remember the four key skills of communication: awareness of strengths, understanding of weaknesses, ability to pivot and squeezing the juice!
2. Believing five books will transform verbal reasoning
The number of times we've had parents ask us a month from the ISEB whether suddenly doing lots of reading will help improve verbal reasoning scores. The truth is that understanding and progress within language is like doing your stretches before a football match. Low and slow, over time, will help improve a child's cognitive verbal ability.
3. Focusing solely on academics
It is a myth that successful preparation comes from practicing on academic tests. Parents often concentrate exclusively on entrance exams and academic preparation, neglecting equally important factors. Schools assess the whole child, including extracurricular interests, character, and fit with their community. A well-rounded application demonstrates more than just test-taking ability.
4. Excluding children from school selection
Many parents shortlist schools without involving their child, only to face resistance later. Students who participate in choosing their schools feel more invested and motivated. Visit schools together, discuss options openly, and value your child's instincts about where they'll thrive.
5. Having a first and second choice
It is fine if these choices are kept distant from the child but the last thing you want is your son or daughter going into their exam with the weight of expectation on their shoulders. Keep schools on a horizontal playing field.