General Chat

Our offspring could have done it age 13 - they take after OH! On the other hand, there would be a large percentage of this age group who would really struggle as they just don't have that level of ability.

There is enough examining in schools as it is. If they are not careful, the emphasis would be 'teaching to the test' in an effort to improve the school's position in the league tables. Surely a national test at this age would put increased pressure on both students and teachers & is one reason why the SATs were scrapped?

The other thing that concerned me was the suggestion that secondary schools should extend their day, the intention being that the students should have the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular activities.
A family member teaches (math!) in a private school which has an 8 to 5 day, admittedly with long breaks and lunchtimes. The student are shattered by the last lesson, then have to travel home for up to an hour. When there, that they are expected to do their homework. A young brain & body which is still maturing doesn't have that level of stamina

Alright until I got to the multiplications.
I can't do 'chunking'. Grand daughter has tried to teach me, but it seems such a waste of time - much quicker to do it 'my' way!!

My senior cat came from Wales, a place called Risca. The breeder could certainly do his maths. The cat is very good at calculations and knows exactly how many tins of Applaws are hidden away.

OTOH my ex mother-in-law was from Pontypridd.... :-(

The common entrance exam is the same everywhere it just happens that the sample was from Reigate which is in any case a very ordinary town.

If M. Gove wants to bring in the CEE over the screaming and kicking of the NUT then why ? Is the government going to finance Eton, Harrow, Uppingham etc for all those who pass ? Would they want to ?

As Eton is quite a bit cheaper than the young offenders unit at say, Feltham, maybe Gove is onto something.

Didn't get past "2 kittens and one puppy cost £116", Rollo. They might do in Reigate, but in my area puppies are £350 each and kittens £125. You simply take 2 p, remove two p and yet you are still left with lots of p. Unless you buy a daily copy of the Telegraph for the remaining k to we on.

Better not comment on Mr Gove. He spends most of his time criticising Welsh and Scottish education, because education needs a Tory at the helm and England is leading the world in his magical Goveland. :-D :-D

Sadly I have forgotten almost all I ever knew about geometry and algebra so i am pretty certain I wouldn't pass it now. I passed my 11+ in 1951, I doubt I would have passed this paper in 1953.

I wonder if the level of teaching would cope for one thing.

I don't think this will happen do you?

Michael Gove MP suggests that the private school system should be modeled on the "public school" system which will apparently be "a good thing". though Mr Gove himself did not have the pleasure of experiencing the English system having been a day pupil at an independent Scottish school founded, like Eton, for poor boys.

As part of this reform he wants to bring in the common entrance examination. Maybe some of you have sat it. Are your young rellies up to it ? Here is a sample maths paper ( 13+ note, not 11 )

http://goo.gl/SB482Q