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Independent Schools as an alternative to Grammar

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surfcrazy
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Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 11:17 pm

scores not ranked

Post by surfcrazy »

I don't really understand the answer given to me when phoning for exam results.. I asked if interviews were based upon ranking and was informed no ranking existed. Interviews are based upon the ability to "flourish" as identified in the entrance exam with no minimum pass mark and most definitely no ranking. Can anyone please explain exactly what this means as I have no clue!
katel
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Post by katel »

I suspect it means that they choose the families they want at the school regardless of test results.
yoyo123
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Location: East Kent

Post by yoyo123 »

They just use the test to choose potential candidates and then interviews etc to choose which pupils they want from that, so --as Katel says really!
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mad?
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Post by mad? »

My DDs have now done 5 interviews. Neither of them has ever been asked anything about our family and in only one instance was I asked any questions (I was certainly not interviewed...). It seemed to me that they were 'having a chat' to establish whether they were suited to the environment offered, not just the academically but in terms of what else the school offers. Mainly this seemed to involved seeing whether they were actually enthusiastic and positive about life in general. I imagine they were also trying to weed out any child they thought might be 'difficult' in terms of behaviour/attitude.
mad?
yoyo123
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Location: East Kent

Post by yoyo123 »

I suppose it is much like university interviews or job interviews. The academic level is just part of the whole process. They choose children who they feel would fit in with the ethos of the school. Independents have the luxury of being able to do that..
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KB
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Post by KB »

Unlike 11+ I think they do look at the exam papers carefully to spot potential as well as performance. So if a child has made silly mistakes on maths paper but shown promise in the way they tackled a more complex problem;spelling not great but imaginative ideas in a piece of writing ...

Sure the coments above about enthusiasm, interest in the music,games, drama (or whatever the school specialises in ) are also true at interview stage.
SunlampVexesEel
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Re: scores not ranked

Post by SunlampVexesEel »

surfcrazy wrote:...was informed no ranking existed....
This is not unusual. Of course there is an internal ranking based on performance in the sense that a minimum standard is set and you will need to score over that level to be offered a place. "with no minimum pass mark" might suggest a certain amount of subjective marking where one area shows potential but currently is somewhat lacking.

I think what they are eluding to is that no full ranking is ever made. i.e. The candidates will never know how they compare to each other.

I think this is a good thing... it means they start school on an even footing rather than peer comparison on the basis of one day's exam results, some of which may have been heavily prepared for.

Regards
SVE
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