Catchment rule

[avraje]

Hi

New to this forum and 11+ , everyone seems to be helpful and friendly I have a query about 11+, hopefully someone can help?

Basically we live in Lancashire. Just over a year ago we started a business. Since there is a lot of commuting to Midlands and London for business purposes, we are looking to move to Buckinghamshire although buying a property (or getting mortgage) may not possible for sometime as the business is new and we have our house to sell. We have a daughter who will be in Year 4 in Sep '12 and we'd be interested in applying for grammar schools in Bucks. She will be taking the test in Autumn 2014.

My question is is there a catchment rule for Bucks grammar schools? If so, should we have lived in Bucks for a certain period of time before the 11+ test. I heard in some places it is 2 years, if it is same for Bucks schools we should rush and start letting our house and renting a place in Bucks by end of this month, oops! Also is it ok to show rental papers and council tax as residence proof?

Thanks in advance

[Guest55]

Hi - places are allocated on distance so it depends which schools you favour.

If you look on here at historic allocation profile:

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/school ... re-11-plus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

you will see some less popular (but still good!) schools are 'all offered'. This means that all who qualified and named the school got a place - this is the only 'safe' way to get a GS place without living in Bucks.

Do post any questions you have - the 11+ is changing in September 2013 (for 2014 entry) so there is an element of uncertainty.

[Sally-Anne]

Hello avraje, and welcome!

You have plenty of time to sort this out.

With the exception of one of the boys' schools (not applicable to you) all the Bucks Grammars currently operate the same system.

When schools are over-subscribed, priority is indeed given to catchment children. Proof of residence is required around a week before the 11+ results are published, so around mid-November at present. That is likely to move to a date in September in coming years. You therefore have 2 years in which to sort out your move.

A Council Tax bill is usually perfectly OK as evidence, but other evidence such as Child Benefit letters, rental agreements, etc can be requested.

There are a few Bucks Grammars that are not always over-subscribed, and in that situation your DD would even be allocated a place from your current address! There isn't much point in going into that option yet though, simply because the popularity of schools changes from year to year.

Obviously much else could change as well, so keep an eye on this section and check back with us before you commit to a move. You need to be particularly careful about the alternative school that would be allocated in the event that your DD did not qualify in the 11+ - some of the Upper Schools are great, but others are perhaps less so.

Sally-Anne

[avraje]

Hi - places are allocated on distance so it depends which schools you favour.

If you look on here at historic allocation profile:

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/school ... re-11-plus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

you will see some less popular (but still good!) schools are 'all offered'. This means that all who qualified and named the school got a place - this is the only 'safe' way to get a GS place without living in Bucks.

Do post any questions you have - the 11+ is changing in September 2013 (for 2014 entry) so there is an element of uncertainty.

Thanks a lot guest55.

That link gave an idea about the schools, very useful especially we will be making our move mostly based of info from the internet.

Yeah I read on here about some possible changes, will keep an eye on them.

[avraje]

Hello avraje, and welcome!

You have plenty of time to sort this out.

With the exception of one of the boys' schools (not applicable to you) all the Bucks Grammars currently operate the same system.

When schools are over-subscribed, priority is indeed given to catchment children. Proof of residence is required around a week before the 11+ results are published, so around mid-November at present. That is likely to move to a date in September in coming years. You therefore have 2 years in which to sort out your move.

A Council Tax bill is usually perfectly OK as evidence, but other evidence such as Child Benefit letters, rental agreements, etc can be requested.

There are a few Bucks Grammars that are not always over-subscribed, and in that situation your DD would even be allocated a place from your current address! There isn't much point in going into that option yet though, simply because the popularity of schools changes from year to year.

Obviously much else could change as well, so keep an eye on this section and check back with us before you commit to a move. You need to be particularly careful about the alternative school that would be allocated in the event that your DD did not qualify in the 11+ - some of the Upper Schools are great, but others are perhaps less so.

Sally-Anne

Thank you so much for all the info Sally Anne, that's a relief!

[avraje]

Can anyone recommend any good primary and upper schools please? We are looking at Amersham as a choice of areas to move to.

[Guest55]

Will PM you.

Your option for a GS will need to be Chesham Grammar (nearest 'all offered' to Amersham) as you need to be living in the catchment to get Dr Challoner's High School.

[Sally-Anne]

Will PM you.

Your option for a GS will need to be Chesham Grammar (nearest 'all offered' to Amersham) as you need to be living in the catchment to get Dr Challoner's High School.

A very rare occasion when I need to correct you, Guest55. The girls' school doesn't require the lengthier period of residence that the boys' school has imposed. As avraje's daughter is only moving into Y4 this September, they have plenty of time to move to catchment for the girls' school.

avraje, both DCHS and Chesham Grammar would be options from Amersham but they are very different schools. You need to visit them both before deciding on your order of preferences.

The alternative Upper School is the Amersham School. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, and one or two people on here have said that they are pleased with it.

[Guest55]

Yes but there is no idea in the original post of WHEN they plan to move - it needs to be before 11+ results are out to have a chance of getting DCHS.

[avraje]

Will PM you.

Your option for a GS will need to be Chesham Grammar (nearest 'all offered' to Amersham) as you need to be living in the catchment to get Dr Challoner's High School.

Hi Guess55

Thanks for your pm with suggestions, much appreciated.

We are hoping to move to the area soon as we can. Met a few mortgage advisors today, seems promising.

Finding house far away from where we are now, a buyer for our house, mortgage, primary school places for my two girls - seems daunting but I think we'll get there eventually Thankfully, as per Sally Anne's post as there as is no certain time limit to have lived in the catchment area.