Calderdale 11 plus 2019 exam dates announced
North Halifax and Crossley Heath Grammar Schools have recently announced the admission dates for children currently in year 5 who are looking for entry in September 2020.
The exam this year will be on Saturday 28th September.
Open Evenings for the schools are on:
Tuesday 25th June The North Halifax Grammar School Open Evening 5.00pm to 8.00pm
Thursday 27th June The Crossley Heath School Open Evening 5.00pm to 8.00pm
We would recommend children in year 4 who are considering a grammar school place also attend these sessions (there is no restriction on how old your child can be). It can help with their motivation to complete 11 plus preparation work if they are really keen to attend one or both of the schools. Be warned, the open evenings can get very busy.
Further dates and details on the registration process can be found at the school websites: https://www.nhgs.co.uk/admissions/school-admissions/timetable-admissions/school- admissions-2020
https://www.crossleyheath.org.uk/admissions/
Brilliant at maths and sciences, hate English!
We see a number of secondary school children at Satchel who are extremely able at maths and science subjects, but who seriously struggle (in terms of motivation and results) with English.
Whilst they will almost certainly drop English as soon as they have finished their GCSE, it is vitally important that they achieve a minimum of a 4 or 5 in English language or literature to secure a place at a Sixth Form college. However if they hope to go on to a career in medicine, for example, they should aim for at least a 7.
We believe it is important to get these children reading. Many will have not picked up a book since primary school. We have a number of books in our class libraries that can engage these children. Comprehension and understanding is not something that can easily be taught; there are numerous skills involved. However regular reading is a proven way to facilitate this process.
Writing can often be a particular chore for these children. We use a number of techniques to help. We start them on Short Writes, asking them to write around a paragraph of high quality work. We also use Sentence Sheets to help them craft their work, getting them to use a semi colon or a sentence that starts with an adverb, for example. As they approach longer pieces of writing, we spend a large amount of time on the planning process. We may also get them to redraft and improve the quality of certain sections.
It is not easy to turn an English hater into an English lover. However with the right encouragement and preparation, we can develop a grudging tolerance for the subject and help these children achieve academic success.
Finger Counting
A number of primary school children come to Satchel because they are struggling with maths. At their free Starting Satchel meeting, it is clear that a high proportion of these children rely on their fingers to help with even simple calculations such as 4 + 3 or 8 – 5.
Finger counting is encouraged in many schools as a way of helping calculate additions and subtractions. However many children continue to rely on this method for years to come.
Finger counting is inefficient because if causes children to continually calculate the answers to questions. It slows them down, means they make mistakes if they miss a finger and hinders their ability to see patterns in numbers. If uncorrected, it creates problems for the future. How many calculations will they have to do on their fingers when they tackle column subtraction or two digit multiplication?
Just as children learn their times tables, we believe it is vital that children know all their additions and subtractions by rote. At Satchel we first show them techniques such as reversing the question (8 + 2, rather than 2 + 8), using times tables (7 x 2 = 14, therefore 8 + 7 is one more) and inverse operations (If 3 + 5 = 8, then 8 – 5 = 3), but also ensure they receive sufficient practice on additions and subtractions to break the (bad) habit of finger counting.
Generally, the longer a child has relied on finger counting, the harder it is to break the habit. However with the right commitment and encouragement, children of all ages can overcome it. Once they do, it can quickly restore their confidence in maths and set them on the road to long term success.
- Published in Maths
Young Learners
Many parents with young children ask us when is the best time to start in Satchel.
The answer depends very much on the concentration levels of the children and the commitment of their parents. The First level in Satchel maths and English uses special comic-style booklets that are designed to be completed with an adult helper. Children on these levels will not be expected to read instructions or have the concentration to work independently. You cannot learn to read by staring at a page; it is important that words are sounded out loud.
Younger children place unique demands on teachers and their parents. One day they may concentrate superbly, at other times all they want to do is play. At a Satchel class they will receive one to one support from an assistant. At home they will need to work with a parent or adult helper. It is important to be flexible in the approach. If they are not in the mood to concentrate, do not force them to work. Try to find a time of day when they are receptive to learning. Don’t try to ask them to complete a booklet if they didn’t sleep well the night before. Always try to make they learning relaxed and fun.
A pre-school child may be able to start Satchel if they are regularly able to concentrate and their parents have the time (and patience) to work with them at home. Alternatively a child in reception or year 1 may struggle to complete their work if they are tired from school or other activities. Please contact us if you would like to discuss any aspect of starting young children in Satchel.