11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi

Not posted here since DD was on the TGS waiting list a few years ago. Now going through the whole trauma again with DS and just had this in an email from Tiffin Boys:

Please be aware that we have had over 2000 applications, so some applicants will have to sit the tests on Wednesday 9 October.

Gulp!

Sherwood

Oh my word! It really is a bumper boys year!

Wow, I wonder what the numbers are for QE. How does this number compare to last year?

tests in
2010: 1367
2011: 1685
2012: 1644

2013: 2000 plus.

Ouch! Me thinks it can only get worse by the time DS sits. Do n't the bulge years start from next year?

Hopefully, Tiffins would get wiser and sort out the Admission Arrangements.

If the test is on two separate days, hopefully TS has put the plans to avoid leaks?

The current Year 7 and Year 8 are considered the last of the small year groups.
People who planned an independent education for secondary school are also still feeling financially squeezed so opting for grammar schools instead. I suppose this may explain the sudden leap in application numbers. It is a worry though that they cannot have all applicants sit the test on the same day and ensure none of the contents are leaked.

Do you think the increase could also be due to the fact that the exams are sat prior to CAF forms being submitted, so some who may not have considered it before as they didnt want to take the chance are trying now. At my DS' s school in north London there are also 2000 applicants. So competition for places has increased a lot.

Looks like combination of
increasing birth rate,
more awareness about perceived to be good schools,
test results before CAF date,
the number of preference have been increased to 6 in most regions,
all preferences are equally considered so that one can put the name of even the most unlikely choice at top and not loose on the realistic one etc.