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West Kirby Grammar as second preference/birthday points 11+

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:10 am
by Guest
Out of interest, have people who put West Kirby Grammar school down as a second preference been offered places this year or does it fill up on first preferences?

Also, can anyone tell me how birthday points are worked out and added in to the eleven plus score?

Thanks

Lily

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:12 am
by Newbie But Stressed
Hi Lily,

I'd be surprised if ANY Grammar School on Wirral this year was accepting second preference. Or very few anyway.

In fact I don't understand why people put second preference down as a Grammar. As most first Choices are accepted anyway.

Surely it would be better putting the preferred Grammar as First Choice and a decent Comp as second choice.

If your child fails the 11+ then you have a good chance of a decent local comp putting second choice.

NBS

Putting Grammar Schools as second preference

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:21 am
by wirral_wombat
There are some important issues here.

Not all the Grammar Schools are identical in this respect.

For the Girls Grammar Schools (West Kirby and Wirral Grammar), which are community schools, the school allocation is done by the LEA. If you put one of these schools first choice, you will be offered a place if you “pass” the 11+ i.e get more than 236 or get less than 236 but are recommended by the Independent Assessment Board (and provided of course that there aren’t too many people passing – if there are then it goes on all the other criteria like distance).

If you put one of these schools second choice, then you won’t be offered a place even if you have passed the 11+, if you meet the criteria for your first choice school. So if you have been panicked into putting your local comp. first because e.g the school said “you must put us first or you won’t get a place if you fail the 11+”, you will get offered the comp if it isn’t oversubscribed e.g if you live close enough. Because the LEA handle all the admissions, the grammar school won’t even know you exist, or it might know people like you exist but it won’t know who you are.

I understand this may have happened this year for some applicants e.g people living in Cheshire. If you know of anyone in this situation i.e someone who has put a Girls’ grammar SECOND choice, been offered their first choice non-grammar school, but whose 11+ score is a pass, they should definitely be encouraged to contact their LEA or indeed the grammar school direct to find out what their options are.

The Boys’ schools are a bit different because they are Foundation Schools and have more control over their own admissions, so although they let the LEA handle the administration of the 11+, they know who the applicants are and what number preference they are. So e.g if there is someone who applies to Wirral Boys’, puts it second choice and passes the 11+, they might be offered their first choice school by the LEA but the Boys’ school can write to them direct and say “You’ve passed – we have places – do you want to reconsider?” This certainly happened years ago at Wirral Boys’, where people were told they might well get away with putting it second to avoid losing their first choice if they didn’t pass. The Wirral admissions system has since changed slightly so people should not lose their other choice anyway if they don’t pass but rumours continue….

So do encourage anyone you know who thinks they have passed with a second preference to check whether the schools still have places up for grabs…they could be in for a pleasant surprise.

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:39 am
by Newbie But Stressed
Hi Wirral Wombat.

Explained perfectly...

However any person hedging their bets by putting ANY Grammar School Down as second preference and local Comp as first is asking for trouble this year due to oversubscription.

I suspect you will have to go to appeal to resolve this. And won't be as easy as calling the School Directly..

I was also told by a Head that Second preference is used as first IF the Child put a Grammar School Down and failed the test. How true that is I don't know.

Just not worth the Risk....

This would kill me if after all the effort and stress of passing the 11+ my child was refused because I put it second choice and it was full.

NBS

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:05 pm
by wirral_wombat
It is actually true this year that some of the Grammar schools are undersubscribed.....i.e less offers have been made than they have places...so the rumours voiced elsewhere on the forum do have foundation...

It is also true that there are people who have passed but not been offered places though putting the school second preference.....

So if they are still interested in a grammar place they do need to take action.

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 2:38 pm
by Guest
Newbie But Stressed wrote: In fact I don't understand why people put second preference down as a Grammar. As most first Choices are accepted anyway.
NBS
I did.

It was the only way we would get a place offered in our prefered all ability school.


Having passed the eleven plus, my child has not been offered a place at grammar school as apparently it is over subscribed.
In previous years, second prefs have also been offered a place at the grammar school so I guess we have been unlucky.

By the way, this is not West Kirby grammar, my child is a boy and I was just trying to find out if it was the same for the girls this year.

Thank you

Lily

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:34 pm
by Newbie But Stressed
Hi Lily,

I think this approach of putting Grammar schools down second just in case is a bit risky. Particulary this year as no one knows for sure if the Schools are undersubscribed or oversubscribed.

One things For Sure Caldy is Oversubscribed this year. I doubt few if anyone who put it down second will get a place...

Not sure about Wirral Grammar for Boys, Don't know many boys who are going there. But seem to know at least 5 who are going to Caldy which is strange this year,

Have you spoke to LEA or the school and see where you stand on this ?

Good Luck..

NBS

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:55 pm
by Guest
Newbie But Stressed wrote:Hi Lily,

I think this approach of putting Grammar schools down second just in case is a bit risky. Particulary this year
NBS
Yes but unfortunately I did not have a crystal ball :roll: and this was what I was advised to do and with good reason.

Thought I might get some support on this site but instead have been judged :( :roll:

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:26 pm
by Newbie But Stressed
Anonymous wrote: Thought I might get some support on this site but instead have been judged :( :roll:

No one is judging you, but hindsight is a wonderful thing as we know.

I just hope that people taking the 11+ exam this year think again about what they put as first and second choice. As more and more people take the 11+ I think it will get worse.



Now For my supporting question!!

have you spoke to the LEA or School and got their advice of what you need to do to reverse this Preference of choice, what was the reply ?

Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:36 pm
by Guest
Thank you, the school is oversubscribed and I will be appealing for a place there.