I have just been leafing through the booklet given out at crypt open evening this evening and took a look at their selection criteria for next year. Looks like all the qualifying score kids are prioritised:
1. Looked after children
2. PP kids
3. Kids of teachers
4. The rest are ordered according to distance from school!
I had no idea that there would be such a change. Are any other grammars planning to do the same?

Is that a preview of a consultation document for 2020 entry? It's far too late for it to be a change in policy for next September.

Does the school have a lot of problems with selecting school teams etc due to lots having to dash away for private coaches as soon as the dismissal bell goes?

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It is the proposed admissions policy for September 2020. It also says it will be administering its own admission test - does that mean it is completely separating itself from the main grammar selection process?

To be fair there has been a lot of discussion in recent years by Them regarding the fact that they don’t get enough local students. Even to the extent that there have been mentions of Crypt having its own primary to help feed in local children. I’m not educated enough to know exactly how this my pan out, but the intent is admirable. I would suggest this new set of rules is a way to move toward that end. I should add that it is located in what is traditionally considered one of the least desirable areas.

I misread this at first as being oversubscription criteria, but it does look like they will be using distance to fill their places for 2020. Not much hope for us outliers then and a possible future knock effect for the coach and bus companies from further afield.

As for a change to the test, I cannot see a difference to what they state in the 2019 admissions criteria in that it is administering its own admissions test.

http://www.cryptschool.org/pdf/prospectus/school-infobooklet_web.pdf

They don’t particularly have problems filling teams although it’s obviously more difffcult in all the GS due to the distance lots of students travel. They have mentioned many times over the years I’ve been involved that they want to encourage more local students to aspire to getting a place. I think it was last year or the year before, the head said that no children came from the nearest primary schools & how he wanted to change that & tap into the local potential as felt that was the school’s responsibility. As a local parent, I think that’s very admirable.

It is indeed admirable.. I think I actually put that when explaining in my post.

I.agree it is admirable, but frustrating when some.in.the county have the choice and others don't. I'm thinking of those in rural.areas where bus transport is rubbish or non existent compared with those in Cheltenham or Gloucester where there are regular buses all over the city that enable children.to.travel to.other city schools.

From a personal view our catchment school isn't great (previously in special measures) and our next nearest are grammers or schools across the county border. I have two older children in GS and was hoping the third would be able to join one of them.

It would be lovely to.have grammars all over the county and a great public bus service so that all.are able to access the system.

Most grammars are located where they are due to the history of them.

Or even better true comprehensives that provide an excellent education for all local children. Oh and great buses