Watford Grammar School cross siblings admission

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Magoo
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:09 pm

Watford Grammar School cross siblings admission

Post by Magoo »

Hi all

I have heard a couple of people say that admission to WBGS as a result of the cross siblings rule is by no means a sure thing - and goes on distance if oversubscribed. We live in Pinner. Our DS is in Yr 5 and whilst he is extremely bright and will sit both the academic and music exams for the Consortium, we assumed he would be admitted anyway on cross siblings rule (as his sister is in an eligible year at WGGS). The historical stats tables on this forum state that in nearly every year that a cross siblings rule has been in effect that "ALL" were submitted (I assume that means all that applied got in). The only year this was not the case (of recorded data) was 2007 when the furtherest to be offered a place was near 10km away.

http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... 18&t=10227" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My question is whether anyone can shed any insight into this - or better still do any of you know of cross siblings that were admitted to WBGS this year from Pinner/Hatch End etc? It has kind of spooked us a little.

Thanks in advance
Hera
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School Cross Siblings admission

Post by Hera »

All cross siblings were admitted this year. The years that they weren't the schools had a 10% higher percentage of academic places offered. However I don't think it is safe to assume a cross sibling place is assured. I have a year 4 child and I am viewing it as another option to get it, but treating her in exactly the same way as I treated the child who took the tests for entry in September.
Magoo
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:09 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School Cross Siblings admission

Post by Magoo »

Yes that is our approach too. There is always a chance of a perfect storm of an increase in looked after, teacher's DS and same sex siblings which would squeeze xsibs. On historical data that seems unlikely though.

Thanks for the response.
Daogroupie
Posts: 11099
Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:01 pm
Location: Herts

Re: Watford Grammar School Cross Siblings admission

Post by Daogroupie »

DAO had 109 siblings this year that took them over PAN to 211. They just go over PAN and would not turn away a sibling. I would hope the Watfords would do the same. DG
Magoo
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:09 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School Cross Siblings admission

Post by Magoo »

Thanks Daogroupie - interesting. I think the difference here though may be that WBGS make a point of advising all xsibs to sit the exams for the Specialist places in case of over subscription (suggesting they would turn away rather than increase PAN), whilst my understanding is that DOA actually request siblings do not even sit the tests. I might be wrong here though.
Hera
Posts: 856
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School Cross Siblings admission

Post by Hera »

Magoo you are right. It clearly states in their admission rules that if there are not enough places to offer all cross siblings, allocations will be decided on distance, so they advise cross siblings take the tests. All same sex siblings are guaranteed a place.
3b1g
Posts: 403
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2012 3:11 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School Cross Siblings admission

Post by 3b1g »

I believe that on 1 March 2013, by the time WBGS had finished offering the cross-sibling places, there was only one 'community' place left to be allocated by distance (not including the 19 boys living closest to the school who had already been offered a place under a higher criterion). The current Y6 is nationally a low birth-rate cohort, so in future years I think it's quite possible that there won't be enough places for all of the cross-siblings who apply. Presumably unsuccessful applicants would be near the top of the continuing interest list for the community places.
mon786
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu May 16, 2013 4:00 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School cross siblings admission

Post by mon786 »

Has anyone any idea of the % of siblings who live outside of Watford and local areas e.g. Pinner etc so whether any likelihood that cross siblings would get in?
Mgnmum
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:34 pm

Re: Watford Grammar School cross siblings admission

Post by Mgnmum »

if they were same sex sibling then wherever they live they take priority over cross sibling. There will be at a minimum the cross siblings of those who got in academically from the outer catchment area which is 40% of the 20% academic admission. But I presume there will also be an additional number who lived or moved into the inner area who by the time siblings apply will have moved out of any catchment area at all. Hence my belief that any sibling should only get a place if they meet the catchment area/ distance criteria or which the older sibling got in.
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