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Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 8:50 pm
by Glos_Mum
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Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Fri Oct 04, 2013 8:59 pm
by hermanmunster
I don't think there is specifically a preference form for the 6th forms. (at least oop north :oops: )

You just apply where you want - including making sure that you do all that is needed for his current school. Schools make conditional offers and then you decide where you are going after GCSEs.. Fortunately in areas where the schools all have sixth forms they don't tend to get too many moving - otherwise would be chaos.

At DD's school, they were expecting to "lose" some girls to the local colleges etc but they turned up on day 1 at the sixth form - the move had been all talk, depsite being offered places.

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:11 am
by Warks mum
In Warwickshire this year DD made a final decision, accepted the conditional offer of her new school and told her current school she was moving, but the GCSE school didn't seem to believe her! Most of her friends, however, held at least two conditional offers and only decided on the day the GCSE results came out. In fact, at least one made the decision to move and reversed it after a few days at the 'new' school. Her 'old school' took her back!

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 1:44 pm
by Amber
I've sent you a PM

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 4:52 pm
by KB
It seems to be different according to your LEA / school but now is the time for open evenings and in some cases deadlines for applications are quite soon.

Most schools/colleges have admissions info on their web sites.

Our local highly selective GS gives preference to current students - provided they haven't blotted their copy book then they just need to meet the GCSE grade requirements (which are relatively low imo). For external applicants there is an application form and then interviews as the additional places are hugely over subscribed.

In our area you can hold as many offers as you like as each institution acts independently.

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:58 pm
by Rob Clark
Our local highly selective GS gives preference to current students
Just as a point of interest – and apologies for the diversion – but I thought it was illegal to set different standards for existing students and new applicants…

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:19 pm
by Etienne
Rob Clark wrote:
Our local highly selective GS gives preference to current students
Just as a point of interest – and apologies for the diversion – but I thought it was illegal to set different standards for existing students and new applicants…
The Code states:
    • Applying for places at Sixth Form - Children and their parents applying for sixth form places may use the CAF, although if they are already on the roll they are not required to do so in order to transfer into year 12.
      Admission authorities can, however, set academic entry criteria for their sixth forms, which must be the same for both external and internal places.

      [Admissions Code]
It would also be unlawful to interview if that were to be part of the selection process:
    • In the case of sixth form applications, a meeting may be held to discuss options and academic entry requirements for particular courses, but this meeting cannot form part of the decision making process on whether to offer a place.
      [Admissions Code]

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:21 pm
by Amber
Rob Clark wrote:
Our local highly selective GS gives preference to current students
Just as a point of interest – and apologies for the diversion – but I thought it was illegal to set different standards for existing students and new applicants…
Yes and no. What schools do is to set minimum standards which existing students must meet. They then set these out as the minimum requirements for external students. However, the devil is in the detail- in this case the oversubscription criteria. For any decent school is likely to be flooded with applications at sixth form- and that is when they can start upping the ante. So while the requirements of candidates offered a place must remain the same as those for existing students, which candidates get offered a conditional place is likely to depend on other stated oversubscription criteria. Namely, whoever has the highest grade predictions gets the offer. But the offer itself must reflect the same requirements as those laid down for existing students. So in this way, existing students only have to meet the required standard, but new ones are likely to have been offered a place based on their potential to exceed those minimum requirements. Otherwise the school would be far too full at sixth form.

Does that make sense?

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 8:55 pm
by moved
To get into DS' grammar for VIth form as an external candidate requires approximately 9A* as it is so competitive. To get in as an internal candidate requires the standard entry reuirement of a points score equivalent to 5A and 3B.

Re: How does the system work if considering changing schools

Posted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 9:04 pm
by Amber
The only alternative to this,though, would be essentially to make all current students re apply for their places and compete with external ones. I can't imagine too many parents of students who had gone though the 11+ being too delighted at this prospect. Imagine the repercussions of 120 GS students being booted out on their ears in mid August if they were out-GCSEd by external candidates. It could quickly bring a school system to its knees.