Henrietta Barnet and Sutton Test on same day

[Caring_mum]

This is really restricting us!! The system is difficult enough without addition hurdles such as these!

[Daogroupie]

It is because all selective schools in the country now have to use the same Saturdays in September. Mill Hill County were smart moving to June. I wonder what would happen if Tiffin Girls and HBS clashed. HBS might change their attitude then! DG

[berks_mum]

Would be nice to have the same exam on a same day nationally and a different set of papers for the late sitters (genuine illness). Parents can then put the priority order on the CAFs which is handled by a system similar to UCAS. Individual schools can then do a second round for stage 2 exams if they want to.
It would make preparation, exam administration, waiting list processing much easier. It may even save money.

[Daogroupie]

This would not be possible because the schools use different test formats. DAO, HBS, Latymer , St M's and QE all have different formats in our area. DG

[mystery]

Yes. In Kent we have a tutor-proof knitting test as most tutors can't knit.

Clashing days is so silly and annoying. At least we don't have that in Kent (yet!). You have my sympathy.

Anyhow, I am sure you could enter both tests and get a doctor's note saying child felt ill that day. I would feel ill after an 11plus test and the note doesn't have to say what time the child felt ill, and you certainly won't be getting an out of hours doctor looking at the child to prove they were ill on a Saturday. Fat chance of that. So it will be the liars with accommodating GPs who bag the most selective school places this year.

Sometimes schools and LEAs do not look beyond the end of their noses. If HBS could do an alternative day before why can't they now? National offer day has not moved.

[berks_mum]

In theory, all schools teach the same national curriculum so why can't they have the same entrance tests ? At least the first round can be same. The superselctives can then add extra layers according to their needs.

[southbucks3]

it will be the liars with accommodating GPs who bag the most selective school places this year.

The private doctors who can bash out ten pro forma sick notes and sign them for £25 a pop can have a nice meal out too, or if she or he is part of the extended family then I am sure bartering of services would be more than welcomed!

[mystery]

Oh yes - you could offer to tutor the doctor's child for the untutorable test!

[Daogroupie]

Berksmum, Unfortunately there is no longer any time for two rounds. They are supposed to hold their exams in September and give results in time for fillling out the CAF form at the end of October. If exams were really based on the NC then state school students would do better than preps as they dont have to follow the NC. As it is the preps do past papers while the states are doing the NC and so are better prepared. Schools have evolved their own brand of exam that gets them the type of students who does best in their school environment. Even the CEM exams are not the same with HBS taking out NVR. Year after year in our area top table students fail to win a selective place while their more average colleagues who prepare through rehearsing the exam format do. Knowing the NC does not get you the place if you don't pay close attention to the exam format DG

[loopylou]

Tiffin Girls School and Sutton Grammar School both have 2 rounds.
One round is before the CAF deadline and the other is after the CAF deadline in November.
The parents are told the results of stage 1 in time for the CAF but do not know the results of round 2.