9:20pm Tuesday 25th August 2009
By James Kershaw
SUPPORTING and preparing your child for any exam can often be an uphill struggle.
When the exam in question is the controversial 11-plus, the type of support and level of preparation that is required can be even more confusing.
One parent found himself in the dark when it came to putting his son through the exam, so he decided to write a guide to help steer other parents through the process.
John Barber, 58, of St Luke’s Road, Southend, penned A Parent’s Guide to the 11-plus, which he has recently published himself.
“My 11-year-old son Matthew made it clear that he wanted to go to the local grammer school,” says John.
“That was an alarm bell for me because while I realised he was bright, there was no guarantee he would pass the exam.
“The book is really our journey as a family to prepare and help our son pass this exam.”
The optional test, which children take in their final year of primary school if they intend to study at a grammar school, has come under criticism for placing too much pressure on young pupils.
The exam itself is just part of the wider debate on the existence of grammar schools in the modern education system.
“I think there are lots of schools out there that are not preparing children for these exams,” suggests John.
“It would be sad if all schools were to do was to teach children how to pass exams.
“However, if there is a selective system there needs to be a reality check and schools need to help those children pass the exam.”
Issues addressed in the book include exploring the myths behind the 11-plus and grammar school system, choosing the right school and using the right resources.
An area John was keen to highlight as unfair was the financial aspect to success in the exams.
“Often it is the case that better-off parents are able to prepare better because they have the means to pay for private tuition,” he says.
“In this sense, there is an unlevel playing field. The book talks about the resources that are out there for free.
“You can do the 11-plus on a budget, providing you are willing to spend a bit of time on it.”
The author actually failed his 11-plus, but still picked up three degrees, going on to teach for three years.
And although he has reservations, especially on idealistic terms, John believes there are advantages to the grammar school system. He says: “I think we live in an imperfect society. The fact is grammar schools are excellent and many comprehensives are not.
“While I’m not entirely comfortable with that, I realise it is the best system we can have.”
Yet despite his own opinions, John was keen to write the book in a fair and unbiased way.
“There is a teacher perspective and a parent perspective,” he states.
“I have tried to make it as balanced as possible because it’s about how to negotiate the 11-plus.
“I’m not suggesting the book could change the system, but I would like to think it’s a step in the right direction.
“At the end of the day, this is your child, their education and their future, and you have to fight for it!”
l A Parent’s Guide to the 11-plus costs £7.50 and is available to buy through www.chuckra.co.uk, or by calling John on 01702 616302.
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