Your suggestions required please

Eleven Plus (11+) in Berkshire (Berks)

Moderators: Section Moderators, Forum Moderators

11 Plus Mocks - Practise the real exam experience - Book Now
mum's question

Your suggestions required please

Post by mum's question »

I've post this query in the Bucks section but not sure if thats the right place so posting it again in Berks....
I am new to this wonderful site. I need your valuable suggestions/advice…………
We are staying at Taplow under two Grammar school’s catchment area. My daughter now in year 5 would be appearing for 11+ exam this year. My husband’s work place recently moved to Berkshire and eventually we’ld move there by the end of this year. My query is staying in Taplow, Bucks can we put Kendrick Girls, Reading as our first option (presently 15 miles away)? By doing so do I lower the chances of getting places in my catchment area grammar schools in case she doesn’t get a chance in Kendrick? I would definitely prefer Kendrick as that would make our life easy once we move. We don’t want to move now because in case she doesn’t succeed in Kendrick’s exam, we don’t want to lose the Bucks chances. If Bucks schools are put as 2nd/3rd preferences, what are her chances in getting places at the Bucks schools if she qualifies the Bucks exam ?
chad
Posts: 1647
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2005 1:49 pm
Location: berkshire

Post by chad »

This was posted on a previous thread by Catherine

I also live in Bucks on the border with Slough. My son took both tests last year and is now going to Slough Grammar.
If your son passes both tests and you place a Bucks school first on the CAF, if he satisfies the distance criteria, he will be offered a place. But in addition, if he passes the Slough test, he may be offered a place in a Slough school. This is because the grammars in Slough are foundation, and they send their own offers.
If you place a Slough school first and get a place, you won't get a second offer from Bucks.


I believe you need to put Kendrick first on your CAF but I don't know how this would affect your chances with Bucks......

I think we need a bucks specialist for that.... there should be one popping in sometime tonight. :)
stevew61
Posts: 1786
Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:54 pm
Location: caversham

Post by stevew61 »

I think you must place Kendrick first.

Admission is handled by Reading Borough LEA and as others have posted you can pass Kendrick with top score but if you receive an offer from a higher ranked school on your CAF then Reading will not make an offer on behalf of Kendrick.

This happens to several kids each year. :( .

Some people misunderstand the system others change their mind when they get a good Kendrick result and then want to change Kendrick to first on CAF.


stevew61
mum's question

Post by mum's question »

Thanks to Chad & stevew61.

Yes, i think I need to put Kendrick as first preference if I want a place there. But my fear is, kendrick's exam is quite tough (i've heard so) rather competition is very high there, so in case my daughter doesn't pass the Kendrick test, do I loose the chance of getting a place at the nearest Bucks grammar school (assuming she passes Bucks 11+), just because I've put Bucks schools as 2nd/3rd preference................

like for Slough schools (as rightly said by Chad/Catherine), it doesn't matter as they are foundation schools, but do Bucks as well would give preference to "first preference first" as in Reading LEA. Even though the new admission code says "no first preference" from now onwards.......I'm really confused......

Another query : am I at all eligible to apply for Kendricks being presently located at 15 miles away. Do Kendrick offer places to their catchment area first and then go to out of catchment or its offer is purely on ability basis (like Slough school)? Is anybody aware of this rule of Kendricks?
stevew61
Posts: 1786
Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:54 pm
Location: caversham

Post by stevew61 »

stevew61
Posts: 1786
Joined: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:54 pm
Location: caversham

Post by stevew61 »

mum's question,

Yes Kendrick is competitive but going for it should not affect your chances elsewhere as LEA's operate an equal preference scheme. Some schools still operate a first pref. first but not many but double check. Putting Kendrick down will use up one of your three? choices.

Kendrick do not operate a catchment ( Reading School do list postcodes that are considered first i.e. catchment ) however I believe Kendrick do make a statement about reasonable travel time. Once procedures are confirmed, the link is to draft two, then you can email Reading Borough or Kendrick admissions to seek clarification they are very helpful and friendly.

You are doing the right thing by considering these issues now but not all the final rules for 2008 have been decided.

If your a bit over eager like me then you will download all the info. as it becomes available, we ended up for Reading last year as candidate number one, it was lucky. :oops:

stevew61
mum's question

Post by mum's question »

Thanks stevew61, your help is very much appreciated......
If your a bit over eager like me then you will download all the info. as it becomes available, we ended up for Reading last year as candidate number one, it was lucky.
:wink:

Honestly I admit, ...........I'm over eager............ :oops: :P :lol:
WOBW

Post by WOBW »

Yes, I decided to change my name from 'worried' to 'working on being worried'. thanks for that suggestion.
Back to the topic,

Are you saying that if you put Kendrick as first and and one of the slough or bucks school as second, you will get two offers?
I know someone this year, put Kendrick as first and St.Bernard as second Slough as third and Herschel as 4th but only got offer from Kendrick.

The child passed both tests with good score, parents were hoping that they will get two offers and then they can decide whether they want to send the 11 year old by train to Reading everyday (especially when there are 3/4 good grammar schools so close to home). They didn't get the choice. They really liked the 'Kendrick' and decided to take that offer without worrying too much about the journey. I am just not sure how this two offers are working. I know that they do exist but don't understand how.Why didn't this child get two offers?
Bewildered
Posts: 1806
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:29 pm
Location: Berkshire

Post by Bewildered »

Are you saying that if you put Kendrick as first and and one of the slough or bucks school as second, you will get two offers?
A guest named ARK mentions, in a previous post, that his son received two offers; one for Reading and one for Herschel.

Perhaps he could advise how this was achieved, or Catherine may be aware of Slough Grammar Admissions policy.
mum's question

Post by mum's question »

Hello everybody,
thanks to all for contributing...........
Re. Slough schools admission , yes, Catherine is the best person to advice, yet in one of the folloing post Catherine explained the Slough policy:
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... php?t=1823
Slough school offers are only dependent on which of the Slough schools (out of the 4) are named in order, their offer is not dependent on the other LEA school's listed names, somewhat like offers from Independent schools (sort of) as they are foundation schools. But it matters which of the Slough schools you put in preference.........
WOBW, No I dont want offers from two schools, its just my first preference would be Kendricks as we'ld like to move towards Reading eventually as our workplaces are relocated. But in case she doesn't get a chance in Kendricks (as competition is very high) I dont want to loose the Bucks schools ......I understand if she passes all three 11+ exams for Kendricks, Slough & Bucks, and if Kendrick is listed at top, she would get two offers, one from Kendrick and other from my preferred Slough schools (if she gets the particular preferred school's qualified marks). And thats exactly what I wish for..........But if she fails the Kendricks, probably she would still get offers from the nearest catchment Buck school and the Slough school.........
Hope that helps and hope I'm right as well in my understanding..........its really complicated..........I believe Catherine could confirm my above views..........
Post Reply