Hi,
We are OOC and looking to put one of Kent schools on our CAF form. We are new to UK and our DS has got a score of 405 and want to put one out of Dartford, Judd or Skinner as our choice. We will be relocating to Kent after Y6. We like all three schools but need help to decide. Any reviews, feedback, pros and cons of selecting one over another? This will really help us decide and make the right choice for our son? I have seen a preference of Judd's over other schools but don't know the reasons.
Thanks in advance!

You're not likely to get a place at Skinners unless you're already living in Kent or very close to the school in East Sussex; the admissions system changed last year.

DGS and Judd are both excellent schools, in different parts of Kent. We'll have Judd higher on our form than Dartford because it's easier to get to from us. Where do you want to move to?

Other major differences: Judd does A Levels, Dartford International Baccalaureate. At Dartford everyone learns Mandarin or Japanese to GCSE level. Dartford is very diverse with lots of pupils travelling from S London; Judd is by no means all white but like Skinners less diverse than the grammars close to London.

Have a look at the websites, ideally try to visit and see what you prefer.

Thanks so much Sorrel. Much appreciated! The last year cut off for Judd was 402 so it may be a touch and go. Waiting eagerly for Kent sheet for 2019 to understand where does the score stand. Do you think we have a good chance?

My guess would be you have a very good chance of getting it first round (and there is usually some waiting list movement). But really no-one can say until March when the allocations are made. Even if you know how many OOC boys scored 400+, you don't know where they live, if they will opt for an independent or a grammar outside the Kent system, or which they prefer within Kent.

Genuinely the best thing to do is just put the schools on your form in the order you would prefer them and then forget about it as much as possible till March. If you need to house hunt and don't want to take any chances, I'd say you're virtually certain of Dartford with that score.

The other main difference being that Dartford has 90 places available to out of county children while Judd has only 20; that's why its required scores for them are high but not so stratospherically high.

Thanks so much!

KCC has published the stats:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/e ... eport.xlsx

Thanks for the link. Any predictions of OOC cutoffs?

It has become more difficult to predict any cut offs. It looks like the cut offs are up quite significantly.