A personal view ...

I have just had two years of 11+.  My daughter is now in Year 8 and my son, like thousands of others, will find out his grade on Saturday.  We're not making much of a fuss, but we're well aware that for him, Saturday's result is a very big deal.  My son is 10, and thinks if he doesn't get an A or B1 grade, then he has 'failed'.  

This is one of the reasons I was delighted the 11+ was on the way out.  These children are too young for this pressure and don't understand that this exam does not determine their future. Far from escaping the pressure however, my 9 year old is probably even more concerned, because she has heard that the new exams are going to be even harder ... that's the exams that as far as I know, I'm supposed to be paying for.  

I am very frustrated as a parent trying to support my children at a time that is difficult enough for them.  I believed that this would be something of a priority for our elected representatives. The current situation is a complete mess - and despite looking for some kind of clarification,  no-one can give clear answers because no-one has clear answers. 

I agree entirely with Patricia Lewsley on this ... if ever there was a case for child-centred policy making this is it - yet there is little evidence of it.  There's a mountain of work to be done and 7 months before the new P7 children start their final year.  Unbelievable.