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CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 4:14 am
by PinkLady
Hi all
This is my first posting so very new to all of this.
My DS got his 11+ results = 346.635. We are outside catchment for Westcliff and a Southerd Boys but in catchment for Kegs.

As he is in the yellow zone for Kegs and Colchester but in the green zone for Southens and Westcliff. Our first choice if Kegs which is very close to our home.

What are chances that he gets a place at Kegs next March?

Should I put down Westcliff as first choice to be sure if a definite grammer school place or do I putting kegs first but run risk that he might not get a place?

Also I do not understand if the order of preference affects allocation of a place.
Ie if I put down Westcliff as 2nd or 3rd choice and DS fail to get 1st and 2nd choice -- will the fact that I have Westcliff as third choice to against us? Ie could someone who puts Westcliff as first choice with score of 340 get a place before DS if he has score of 346 but 3rd choice?

Also does anyone know what are chances with him getting an offer at Colchester Royal Grammar?

My son goes to small state primary and I don't know anyone who took 11+ to ask so would really appreciate some help.

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me. Feel rather lost as don't know what to do.

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 8:26 am
by KB
Ok, so the order of preference you place schools on your form makes no difference to whether they offer you a place or not. Whether you put KEGS first or second choice for example does not influence whether you are offered are place there - it is (with a few complications if scores are level) decided by your score.

What is important is that your order of ranking does determine how you are allocated a school. The admissions team will look at your first choice and see if you have a high enough score to be offered a place there and if so then the place will be offered and none of your other choices will be considered.

For example - you have a score of 370 - cut off for 1st choice school is at 330, cut off for second choice is at 350.
Even though you qualify for both schools you would only be offered the 1st choice school as having been offered your first choice the process stops.

Thus - make sure you place schools in your real order of preference NOT the order you think you are mostly likely to get a place.


If you have a look at the top of the Essex section there is a thread about collated cut offs from last year that might also give you an idea of scores required last year.

As the guidance sheet says, in each of the previous four years your DS would have gained a place at both KEGS and CRGS so there is no reason to think he won't be offered this year.

It might be helpful for you to go the information day at KEGS as they might be able to clarify some of you concerns as well.

Hope this helps.

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 8:46 am
by Blitz
You will almost certainly get kegs with that score. 341 was offered on 1st March last year with the last place off the waiting list being 339.7.

If I were you I would go to both information afternoon/evenings, listen to the head teachers, have another tour of the schools, check out the actual logistics of getting to both schools and make an informed decision as to which should be your number one school on the caf.

That school will almost certainly be allocated on 1st march....what a lovely position to be in!

Well done to you DS.

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:21 am
by talea51
Blitz wrote:If I were you I would go to both information afternoon/evenings, listen to the head teachers, have another tour of the schools, check out the actual logistics of getting to both schools and make an informed decision as to which should be your number one school on the caf.
Is it possible to have another tour of the schools? We did the tours last year but now that my dd knows her score is well into the green zone, she is not certain which school she wants to put down as her first choice. Will they let us have another look around? Is that done as part of the information afternoon?

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:48 am
by mikedellfarm
talea51

Yes its possible to tour the schools again http://www.csse.org.uk/guidance%20sheet%204-10-13.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the schools with an asterik do not require an appointment but the others do.

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:55 am
by talea51
mikedellfarm wrote:talea51

Yes its possible to tour the schools again http://www.csse.org.uk/guidance%20sheet%204-10-13.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the schools with an asterik do not require an appointment but the others do.
Thank you mikedellfarm, I thought those visits were just to hear the head teacher speak, I didn't realise they provided an opportunity to view the schools again. I shall call on Monday and make an appointment.

Thanks!

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:53 am
by mikedellfarm
I am going to go.. then it might actually start to feel real !

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:57 am
by bravado
talea51 wrote:
mikedellfarm wrote:talea51

Yes its possible to tour the schools again http://www.csse.org.uk/guidance%20sheet%204-10-13.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Note the schools with an asterik do not require an appointment but the others do.
Thank you mikedellfarm, I thought those visits were just to hear the head teacher speak, I didn't realise they provided an opportunity to view the schools again. I shall call on Monday and make an appointment.

Thanks!
I though it important to mention that to my knowledge, Colchester County High School did not offer a tour on the October post-results consultation last year. Knowing how things can alter from year-to-year, I checked the wording on the CSSE Guidance from last year, in case it's changed and it's exactly the same as this year's. :D

I would recommend calling your chosen school/schools to check if they offer a tour :D

Re: CSSE results for 2014 - advice requested

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 1:16 pm
by Blitz
Both SHSB and kegs had tours of the school as part of their information afternoon. It was good to speak to some boys at the school and see each school in action on a normal afternoon again. We took DS and it made it all seem very real.

At least when you have your results you can tour your top two choices. You know the one you put first is very likely to be your allocated school.