BRGS Admission Clarification

[Daviessar]

Key to the test is
1)specialist content. Matters such as NVR techniques and some of the maths are not taught in primary, or not taught til year 6
2)exam technique. The format and pace of the exam is highly specialised, with an audio voice communicating timings, multiple sections where different pace is expected, and very tight timescales, with a colour in the lozenge answer sheet where if you misalign, you can lose huge numbers of marks.
So prep on pace, format familiarisation and unique content is key. A good local tutor can help with that. Make sure they specialise in CEM. Or you can use the letts cem mock papers that come with an audio download, and the bond cem books to help acquire some ot the specialist content. In my view, a super bright child who hasn't got experience of a mock, the format and the specialist content will fail, and an average child well briefed on the above and tutored will pass. Not really fair, but the current situation.

[OverEagerDad]

Daviessar,

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to post.

It puts my mind at east knowing that since we are in Catchment 2, then we are really only working against the test rather than other people (assuming that it is not a super bright cohort and all pass ).

I don't really want to get into the whole tutor/no tutor debate, but I have researched the local tutors and this is all set up ready to go if we decide to go ahead with this.

My main concern at the moment is does DD want to do it, at the min she does, next year or the year after who knows!!

Thanks again

OED

[Daviessar]

Absolutely. The key is, that it creates options. If she takes the test and passes, she has more options available than if she doesn't. Also, familiarisation with NVR, verbal reasoning and exam situations and formats will stand her in good stead for the Cat /midyis tests they do at secondary, and for underlying skills in a wide range of subjects, so it isn't wasted whatever the outcome. Savvy parents are just as capable of supporting their kids as many tutors are. The whole 'the exam is designed to not advantage kids who've been taught /tutored' thing is a total myth though.

[abinitio2000]

Hi Everyone,

I am currently looking into preparing my son for the BRGS test and was just wondering if you are able to kindly share your experiences on how places are allocated.

We currently reside within the Rochdale area and the primary school he attends is not in list 1 or 2 schools thus out of catchment.

What is the likelihood he shall be given a place (subject to him passing the test with a reasonable score) given our residential proximity from the school?

I appreciate the comments shared do touch base on some of these points, any further advice would be very much appreciated

Thanks
Abin

[hermanmunster]

Hi Abinitio - looking at the online admissions policy the allocation of places is as follows:

 pupils attending Area 1 primary schools (ranked in order of overall entrance examination
mark)
 pupils attending Area 2 primary schools (ranked in order of overall entrance examination mark)
 pupils not attending Area 1 or 2 primary schools (ranked in order of overall entrance
examination mark).

It sounds from previous posts as though some pupils do get places when OOC (ie not area 1 or 2 primary schools) however it is not clear how many there are - these places are offered on the basis of score in the exam so residence is irrelevant, the pupil could live anywhere

[OverEagerDad]

Hi, go on to YouTube and search for BRGS. They have done some videos from last year including some open day vids. In one of these I think they say around 40/50/60 ish (can’t really remember) usually come from out of catchments

[OverEagerDad]

https://youtu.be/_bX6M2ZK2z0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

70 places usually to area 3, about 8 min 50 secs in.

[hermanmunster]

https://youtu.be/_bX6M2ZK2z0

70 places usually to area 3, about 8 min 50 secs in.

thanks for finding that OED - it is a good number of OOC places, a bit like Ermysteds etc, the children in the local area get priority but there is still a reasonable chance for people outside the area

I see that there are buses from Heywood and Bury so presumably some travel from Rochdale too ?/ https://www.brgs.org.uk/parents-and-stu ... hool-buses" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OverEagerDad]

Double post

[OverEagerDad]

thanks for finding that OED

No worries, I’ve been prepping myself for a good few years on this. DD1 starts Y5 this time and we are in Area 2 so our fate is kinda in our own hands. Happy to help with any questions if I can.

The 999 school bus is the closest that goes close to Rochdale, however the 464 normal bus goes from Rochdale town centre and drops you at the bottom of the school. That bus is every 15 mins or so.

https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/r ... 4-rochdale" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;