11 Plus Exams Forum

My add is considering Sutton Coldfield school, would anyone know if chance with 212 score. Not much said on website. Is it a good school? We live in Nortfield so could take train from Selly Oak to Wylde Green, is anybody familiar with this journey? Advice appreciated

I can't help with the transport, but as for it being a good school, we took a long time to look around and find out about a few schools and were really impressed with Sutton. As you would expect results were good but what impressed us most was the confidence/ politeness/ positivity of the pupils we met there and most of all the feedback from parents of pupils/ ex pupils that we knew or spoke to. They were all positive and all pointed out that they felt the school supported the girls in a very rounded way and developed them in many ways and wasn't just an 'exam factory'. We put it down as first choice.

Thank you, very helpful

It's perfectly do-able from Northfield and I've seen some girls from Sutton getting on and off there as i use that station in the morning. I think you'll struggle to get a place on 212 though, based on prior years.

It's possible that a place may come up in the first term, between Sept and Christmas. People offered a place after year 7 has started tend to be more reluctant to move their children so offers then get made to lower scores. I think you should focus on your back up plan but put Sutton first so that your daughter is on the waiting list.

Would anyone know, is it possible to be on waiting list for more than one school?

List the schools you want in your order of preference. So, for example if you like Sutton best of all put that at number 1 and put your second choice school at number 2 and so on. If you do not get a place at Sutton because your score is too low, they will look at your second choice, as if it was your first choice, and see if you meet the criteria for that one. You will be placed on the waiting list for Sutton because you listed it higher but could not be offered a place there. If you do not meet the criteria for your second school, they will look at your third choice and place you on the waiting list for your second choice school as well as Sutton.

So, yes, you will automaticlly be put on the waiting list for any school(s) you listed above the school you are allocated on your CAF.

that journey is perfectly fine

we live in south birmingham as well and my daughter does the selly oak-wylde green run every day as does quite a few girls - the school is a 10 minute walk from wylde green station through a nice area, although given the gassing that probably goes on with the group of girls that walk up there probably 15 minutes!

Thank you very much for advice

malgok wrote:My add is considering Sutton Coldfield school, would anyone know if chance with 212 score. Not much said on website. Is it a good school? We live in Nortfield so could take train from Selly Oak to Wylde Green, is anybody familiar with this journey? Advice appreciated

Hi Malgok

I and my DD went to the open morning to Sutton girls this morning. It is a lovely school.
I did ask them what was the lowest score taken from the waiting list last academic year. I was surprised to hear 212. That's great news if you are on the borderline.

We just have to hope the cut off on 1st March is similar to last year.
If you read the forums here a lot are saying the cut off's could be more. Lets hope they are wrong.

Thank you, let’s hope.
DD was disappointed, she got much better score ar Queen Mary HS at 347 but looking at travel from Northfield too far I think