Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

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mitasol
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Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by mitasol »

Admission information for September 2012

The North Halifax Grammar School
The Crossley Heath School

The Calderdale GS last admission consultation was for admission in September 2011.

Calderdale LEA
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/education/ ... index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Open Evening:
Tuesday 4 October 2011 5:30pm-7:45pm - Open Evening at North Halifax Grammar School
Thursday 6th October 2011 4.45pm-8.45pm - Open Evening at The Crossley Heath School

The Pre-Test is on Saturday 8th October 2011

The Pre-test is organised by the Parents' Associations' of The North Halifax Grammar School and The Crossley Heath School. The Pre-Test is a mock test and as such is not part of the selection process. The Pre-Test exam date for entry in September 2012 is Saturday 8th October 2011. You may apply online or by post from 1st September to 23rd September. http://www.nhgs.co.uk/pretest/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Entrance Exam is on Saturday 11th December 2011.

Both schools have expressed an interest in Academy Status. NHGS have confirmed they are aiming to convert to an Academy on June 1st 2011.

You can find additional information in the Yorkshire Schools Section

NEW INFORMATION
In anticipation of the requirements of the new Admissions Code, North Halifax and Crossley Heath have announced earlier test dates in 2012 for admission in September 2013.

New test date for admission
For Admission in 2013 the test will be on 6th October 2012. The results will be made available before submission of the CAF. http://www.nhgs.co.uk/pdfs/Policies/Pre ... 202013.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

OPEN EVENINGS
Crossley Heath School on Tuesday 26 June 2012
North Halifax Grammar School on Thursday 28 June 2012
mitasol
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Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by mitasol »

Pre-test is now open for registration. http://www.nhgs.co.uk/pretest/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Closes Midnight 23/09/2011
Gogi
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Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:41 am

Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by Gogi »

Dear Mitasol,

Am i right in thinking that admission is on academic ability and catchment wouldnt apply...im sure this info is in all the links you supplied but i had a quick look and its gets very criptic... Also NHGS specify that they should be first on the CAF but then the CAF treats every application as an individual choice...AAhhh too much conflicting information...can you explain please.

Q
x
mitasol
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Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by mitasol »

Hi Gogi,

Yes, the only selection criteria is ability. There is no distance or catchment criteria for NHGS and Crossley Heath.
Also NHGS specify that they should be first on the CAF but then the CAF treats every application as an individual choice...AAhhh too much conflicting information...can you explain please.
You must list the schools in the order of your true preference. The school you want most should be at the top and the school you want least at the bottom. You are quite right, each school is treated as an individual application. The reason you need to list them in your preference order, is that if you qualify for more than one school the LEA will allocate you the school you listed highest. http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/education/ ... cheme.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There is further information here Equal Preference System and CAF
Gogi
Posts: 181
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:41 am

Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by Gogi »

Thanks Mitasol, why then do NHGS insist that if you want to apply for the school it has to go first on the CAF? Could i put it down as a second choice for example but that it would be considered if 1st choice was not an option..but then would the 2nd choice (NHGS) be treated as my first choice and would NHGS be none the wiser?

I'm new to calderdale schools but whats the big difference between NHGS and Crossley Heath?

Do you have experience of the schools? do the children come from quite far/wide catchment..is there a good transport system?

Many thanks for the advice

Q
mad?
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Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by mad? »

Gogi wrote:Thanks Mitasol, why then do NHGS insist that if you want to apply for the school it has to go first on the CAF?
Lots of schools say this but their reasons are varied. Gallingly some still simply don't understand the admissions system, some are just desperate to look good when the LA brochure comes out and shows how many first preferences they had, but most are just careless about the language they use. What they mean is 'if you want to apply to this school and it is your first choice it has to go first on the CAF'. They are keen not to imply that there could be any reason why you would not want to go to their school over and above any other in the land! :D
Gogi wrote: Could I put it down as a second choice for example but that it would be considered if 1st choice was not an option..but then would the 2nd choice (NHGS) be treated as my first choice and would NHGS be none the wiser?
Q
Yes, that is precisely how it works. :D
mad?
mitasol
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Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by mitasol »

As Mad has already said, I believe the strong emphasis on placing the school first is because so many people still don't understand the equal preference system. Prior to the equal preference system, many local secondary schools used a first preference system. This effectively meant you could lose your catchment school, if you placed the the GS first. Even though the equal preference system has now been in place since 2006, the myth of the first preference still holds sway in the locality.

NHGS Admission page - penultimate sentence. http://www.nhgs.co.uk/admissions/admission_11.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This is what NHGS actually say, they've emphasised "FIRST" but I've underlined the second half of the sentence.
NHGS wrote: Parents are strongly advised to place NHGS FIRST if it is their preferred school.
Gogi wrote:I'm new to calderdale schools but whats the big difference between NHGS and Crossley Heath?
I don't think there is a huge difference. Both are selective GS, they have different specialisms. I think most people choose the school that is either closest or has the easiest access. As there is no catchment the children come from far and wide. The school transport system within Calderdale is fairly comprehensive but you would have to look at the transport options that are available from your location.

All I can suggest is that you visit both schools, the open evenings are listed at the beginning of the thread and if you sit the pre-test you should get a good idea if your DC will meet the required standard.
Gogi
Posts: 181
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:41 am

Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by Gogi »

Can you recommend what prep we can do for the Maths or practice papers..which ones? What board do they use for both Maths and VR? We have been practicing VR and NVR for local GS so its quite nice to drop one...but haven't practiced Maths and Eng at home....are we too late? He is on track for level 5 sats so not too worried...or should i be?
DC is prepped for VR, done bond, GL assessment, AFN to death!!!!...what do you recommend for the nect few weeks?
Am i right in thinking that NHGS use NFer? Is that old GL assessment?

Can i get hold of spare MC answer sheets? there is a link on a forum some where but doesn't work...

Is the VR multiple choice? Is it one test, how long? how many questions?

Do they practice the english test on practice day?..Aaaahhh


Thanks

Q
x
mitasol
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Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:59 am

Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by mitasol »

Is the VR multiple choice? Is it one test, how long? how many questions?
If you've been working for the North Yorks test then the VR should be the same - In the past they've used Nfer/GL multiple choice 80Q and 50 mins. If you're looking for additional papers not mentioned above -try these S Daughtrey Bright Sparks 1 and Bright Sparks 2. The maths paper is written by one of the schools and should contain only KS2 material. However, work on it being the whole KS2 syllabus, which may not have been covered this early in year 6. From memory, 40Q in 30 mins. I used How to do 11+ Maths The English is an essay.
Do they practice the english test on practice day?..Aaaahhh
No the pre-test only contains Maths and VR. Even in the real test - only some of the essays will get marked. Those who rank below 232- approx.400 will have the essay marked and the results from all three tests will be used to select the final places.
He is on track for level 5 sats so not too worried...or should i be?
You don't need to be worried but you should be cautious. A lot of children obtain a level 5 and there are simply not enough places to accommodate all of them.

The percentages of pupils achieving Level 5 in the 2011 Key Stage 2 tests by subject are as follows:

English 29% (35% for girls, 23% for boys)
Reading 42% (48% for girls, 37% for boys)
Writing 20% (25% for girls, 15% for boys)
Mathematics 35% (33% for girls, 37% for boys).
Gogi
Posts: 181
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 12:41 am

Re: Calderdale Admissions for September 2012

Post by Gogi »

DS passed pre test !!!!!, scores above 160 likely to be offered a place if pretest used as a guide.

feels like hes been prepping for a long time and still a couple of months to go - i think we are all tired..... if we decide that he sits the actual test, its an issue with tpt really and the logistics of getting him there and back. im in a dilema.

Q
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