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Borderline score questions

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 9:46 pm
by Starsailor
What is the experience of other forum members children when they have recieved a borderline score( ie got into the school from the waiting list)?

Has your child struggled compared to kids who have received high scores?

If this has happened has it demotivated them and made them unhappy?

I know this is not such a nice subject but it is a concern for me, my child may score well but I am uncertain as they are weaker in English.

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:13 pm
by KenR
I'm aware of a number of children who got in via the waiting list and who have had outstanding success at grammars or other schools - most teachers will tell you that any child that gets in will have the potential - it's just that some don't always have the necessary work ethic!

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 10:41 pm
by Starsailor
Thank you Ken, it has relieved some fears.

I went to the open evening at Five Ways tonight with my second child. My eldest sat the 11+ and started secondary school this year but not a grammar school. They received a score that would have got them into the northern Birmingham Schools but not Camp Hill or 5Ways and similar to Old Trout we were not willing to set up a long commute.

However they have being on the waiting list and we have thought long & hard what we would decide if they got offered Camp Hill or 5Ways.

I feel more prepared for my second child but I feel we could end up in a similar position in Oct 15 when decisions need to be made and I have still not resolved the waiting list accepting question.

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:55 am
by Happy dad
Ds1got into KEFW from waiting list - offered end of April 2013 so possibly the last one in- and has had no problems at all. Yes there are some exceptionally bright children but the vast majority, as one might expect, are very similar. His end of year report was excellent and he is more than holding his own. Still completely lazy in my book but he has no issues at school.

And let's not forget, the test was taken twelve months before they start school - lots of water flowed under that bridge since then.

Get your children into the best school possible - if it means accepting a waiting list place on the last day of August, hen so be it.

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 2:36 pm
by orianagirl
Hi Starsailor

My DS got into KEA off the waiting list last year (offered place late May). He has settled well into the school and has more than managed to keep up with other pupils, his end of year report was excellent. He is also weaker in English, however this has not been a problem for him and he exceed his target level last year. Knowing he 'only just got in' (his words) has made him appreciate the place he has at the school more than he might have if he had gained the place easily.

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 4:20 pm
by WindowGlass
I always wonder: how well does the test do at determining who is suitable and who i not. There are surely many who fall below or are borderline, but would soar in such schools. In a fairly good secondary (good teaching, ethos, support and pupils) they would also do well, but in any other they'd probably not have to fight harder or have less success.

Any good school will add value and make a success of a willing pupil who has the potential. But the impression I have is the some top-flying, high-level entrant super-selectives will only entertain the most very able pupils.

Borderline score questions

Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:11 pm
by dizzian
Does the new 2015 admissions code for KE schools showing very low PP qualifying marks serve as a score indicating grammar school ability?

It seems hundreds of non-PM children will get higher scores, but not get a place meaning lots of appeals.

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 9:41 am
by Amarstone
dizzian wrote:Does the new 2015 admissions code for KE schools showing very low PP qualifying marks serve as a score indicating grammar school ability?

It seems hundreds of non-PM children will get higher scores, but not get a place meaning lots of appeals.
In my opinion, the score pupil premium children need to obtain isn't particularly low. 209 is a respectable score. I know a couple of children ( bright /middle-class ) who sat the exam last year without any tuition and they gained scores around 209. I am sure that they would have gained higher ones if they had had coaching or had attended prep schools where extensive preparation takes place but this was what they achieved naturally, by simply turning up. I believe that many pupil premium children will also sit the exam having done less prep than the other students and therefore, I believe, the score required of them is reasonable.

I don't think that anyone will have grounds to appeal. The consortium has made it clear from the start that the extra places created are for pupil premium students and therefore noone else is entitled to them. There are exactly the same number of places available for students who are not pupil premium as the year before, and the year before that. Therefore, no child sitting the exam this year will be disadvantaged because of the changes. They have the same chance as the students from the previous year.

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:17 am
by quasimodo
A score of 209 is 4.5 marks above the midway point for each paper if we are talking about scores in the Birmingham consortium. If 5200 children took the exam then 39 per cent approximately 2000 would have scored higher.There are about 1000 places. So a 1000 children not all of whom want to come to Birmingham schools may have missed out on places. There are a lot of potential appeals.
Everyone wants the best for their children. If my dd was coming to a Birmingham school and she had missed out and had a mark above the pupil premium places I would feel justifiably aggrieved.
I am from the generation where should I have taken the exam I would have qualified for a pupil premium place. No one gave us a hand up the school ladder. Now some children for these tutor proof CEM Durham tests don't have a level playing field. Sometimes you wonder why you should instill a work ethic in your children if they are going to have extra obstacles put in front of them

Re: Borderline score questions

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 2:09 am
by rabbie burns
Strange how this has morphed into another thread about PP children getting in on lower scores. Why are people so afraid of a small number of bright children from disadvantaged backgrounds getting into GS in birmingham. They are not an obstacle. All other child needs to do is use all their advantages and get a score high enough for entry. The number of places available was increased last year to take this change into account. In other words children this year not on PP will have the same number of places as those who sat in 2012, 2011 etc. 2013 was the only year the extra places went to everyone. As stated previously this will not be grounds for appeal so you can forget that. Is your appeal going to be my child scored low but it's not fair because a couple of PP children got in on a lower score? In terms of work ethic a PP child who qualifies will have shown a commendable work ethic. Just because you did not get a helping hand up the ladder doesn't mean children today should not. I never had a telephone as a child but I don't grudge people one now.