SW Herts consortium schools: admission statistics
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SW Herts consortium schools: admission statistics
I have obtained some statistics on admissions from the seven schools in southwest Hertfordshire that use common admissions tests. (Bushey Meads is not selective, but until 2018 used the tests for banding.) All of the schools except Bushey Meads also share music auditions. This needs to be read together with the admission rules for the various schools, which can be found on the admissions pages published by Herts County Council, and on the websites of the individual schools. There have been changes to the criteria over time.
Distance
Here is the distance in metres from the school of the furtherest child offered a place under each distance criterion. Distances are measured in a straight line, and here rounded to the nearest metre.
Herts provide a tool you can use to find the distance in metres from your home to the ten closest schools.
Here are the number of places offered by distance in each case:
The Watford Grammar Schools re-introduced places for cross-siblings (children with a sibling at the other school) from the 2013 intake.
In 2016, Rickmansworth and St Clement Danes respectively allocated 26 and 30 places over PAN (by distance) as an interim measure due to the delayed opening of a new school at Croxley Green.
Academic
The proportion of the intake selected on the academic criterion at each school is:
Candidates sit tests in mathematics and verbal reasoning, which are then standardized and added. (NFER has a partial account of standardization.) Here are the lowest standardized scores allocated places under the academic criterion at each point:
The scores dropped by about 25 in 2016, after the consortium switched from Moray VR to CEM.
I am informed by Rickmansworth School, who administered the tests, that about 2500 children were tested in 2008. (According to their submission in the county response to the new admissions code, it was 2300 in 2006.) The relationship between the test population and the age group is affected by a number of factors, including
Music audition
Parmiter's, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes and the Watford Grammars select 10% of their intake by musical aptitude; Queens' select 5% (and another 5% for aptitude for sport).
Applicants under the music criterion first take an aural test, marked out of 60. Those who score sufficiently highly are invited to an audition, which is marked out of 45. Here are the lowest audition scores allocated places under the music criterion at each point.
Distance
Here is the distance in metres from the school of the furtherest child offered a place under each distance criterion. Distances are measured in a straight line, and here rounded to the nearest metre.
Herts provide a tool you can use to find the distance in metres from your home to the ten closest schools.
Code: Select all
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
-----------+------------+------------+-------------+-----------+------------+-----------+----------------------
6546 6850 | 8936 11628 | 7437 11655 | 10448 11215 | 7504 8867 | 6465 14154 | 6709 9882 | Bushey Meads (band A)
3292 4678 | 3517 10941 | 4056 8110 | 4177 4249 | 3628 4554 | 3714 5630 | 2485 3613 | Bushey Meads (band B)
3005 3242 | 3559 4008 | 2092 5436 | 3503 3686 | 1697 3369 | 2385 2527 | 1249 2156 | Bushey Meads (band C)
2096 2400 | 1412 1412 | 1578 5918 | 3206 3206 | 1227 1971 | 1315 1315 | 537 537 | Bushey Meads (band D)
1319 1452 | 1217 1237 | 1025 1054 | 883 912 | 968 ? | 1230 1221 | 1101 1120 | Parmiter's
1387 1387 | 1750 2658 | 1380 1384 | 1637 1920 | 1414 2132 | 1430 1745 | 1063 2148 | Queens'
1240 1581 | 1415 2484 | 1416 1474 | 1172 1254 | 1342 1498 | 1509 3329 | 1151 1375 | Rickmansworth
3373 3717 | 3061 3545 | 2809 3227 | 2536 2846 | 3706 5148 | 2580 3701 | 2517 ? | St Clement Danes
822 889 | 326 329 | 225 225 | 289 317 | 332 382 | 486 522 | 912 915 | Watford Boys
n/a n/a | all all | 6123 6123 | all all | all all | all all | all all | Watford Boys (x-sibs)
997 1009 | 478 478 | 250 250 | 247 247 | 727 794 | 614 619 | 791 846 | Watford Girls
n/a n/a | all all | all all | 5794 6762 | all all | all all | all all | Watford Girls (x-sibs)
Code: Select all
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
----------+----------+----------+----------+-------------+----------+----------+----------------------
46 48 | 39 39 | 38 36 | 24 24 | 29 ? | 41 41 | 45 45 | Parmiter's
34 31 | 49 51 | 27 27 | 40 42 | 39 40 | 36 45 | 28 34 | Queens'
42 44 | 53 63 | 46 50 | 45 44 | 38+26 32+26 | 44 52 | 37 39 | Rickmansworth
83 83 | 79 80 | 66 67 | 65 ? | 74+30 74+30 | 84 ? | 74 ? | St Clement Danes
71 70 | 20 20 | 19 19 | 19 21 | 34 34 | 38 40 | 56 55 | Watford Boys
n/a n/a | 39 38 | 42 41 | 31 29 | 41 43 | 34 32 | 26 26 | Watford Boys (x-sibs)
79 79 | 44 44 | 24 24 | 18 18 | 48 48 | 30 30 | 55 55 | Watford Girls
n/a n/a | 32 32 | 41 41 | 34 34 | 28 28 | 36 36 | 25 24 | Watford Girls (x-sibs)
In 2016, Rickmansworth and St Clement Danes respectively allocated 26 and 30 places over PAN (by distance) as an interim measure due to the delayed opening of a new school at Croxley Green.
Academic
The proportion of the intake selected on the academic criterion at each school is:
- Queens': 35%
- St Clement Danes: 10%
- Rickmansworth: 25%
- Parmiter's and the Watford Grammars: 25%
Candidates sit tests in mathematics and verbal reasoning, which are then standardized and added. (NFER has a partial account of standardization.) Here are the lowest standardized scores allocated places under the academic criterion at each point:
Code: Select all
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------------------
217 | 218 | 223 | 222 | 197 | 197 | 201 | Bushey Meads band A
197 | 200 | 202 | 201 | 179 | 177 | 181 | Bushey Meads band B
180 | 179 | 181 | 182 | 162 | 158 | 161 | Bushey Meads band C
247 242 | 246 240 | 255 252 | 253 243 | 224 221 | 228 217 | 228 222 | Parmiter's
217 213 | 218 208 | 226 218 | 224 214 | 197 186 | 191 187 | 200 191 | Queens'
222 220 | 227 220 | 239 232 | 234 224 | 207 200 | 204 148 | 207 200 | Rickmansworth
240 230 | 243 235 | 252 243 | 248 238 | 219 215 | 225 209 | 227 ? | St Clement Danes
240 238 | 242 239 | 255 253 | 247 243 | 220 216 | 216 213 | 221 221 | Watford Boys (inner)
253 248 | 252 250 | 260 256 | 256 254 | 228 220 | 228 212 | 233 228 | Watford Boys (outer)
242 241 | 242 239 | 252 251 | 250 246 | 215 215 | 216 212 | 221 217 | Watford Girls (inner)
254 247 | 252 250 | 259 254 | 257 251 | 227 212 | 230 225 | 232 220 | Watford Girls (outer)
I am informed by Rickmansworth School, who administered the tests, that about 2500 children were tested in 2008. (According to their submission in the county response to the new admissions code, it was 2300 in 2006.) The relationship between the test population and the age group is affected by a number of factors, including
- All applicants to Bushey Meads and Queens' are required to take the tests.
- Applicants relying on a sibling place at other schools need not take the tests.
- More distant Herts applicants would probably apply only if they expected to score highly.
- Applicants from Bucks and neighbouring London boroughs have 6 preferences, and might use one or more of them on SW Herts schools as an alternative plan.
Music audition
Parmiter's, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes and the Watford Grammars select 10% of their intake by musical aptitude; Queens' select 5% (and another 5% for aptitude for sport).
Applicants under the music criterion first take an aural test, marked out of 60. Those who score sufficiently highly are invited to an audition, which is marked out of 45. Here are the lowest audition scores allocated places under the music criterion at each point.
Code: Select all
2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--------------------
37 36 | 38 34 | 36 34 | 37 ? | 37 ? | 38 36 | 40 39 | Parmiter's
21 18 | 24 10 | 23 12 | 26 18 | 12 12 | 25 10 | 21 17 | Queens'
32 28 | 27 13 | 26 21 | 32 24 | 27 19 | 33 24 | 29 21 | Rickmansworth
32 21 | 33 17 | 33 25 | 36 32 | 36 34 | 36 34 | 38 ? | St Clement Danes
29 28 | 33 33 | 37 37 | 39 35 | 39 31 | 37 37 | 32 32 | Watford Boys (inner)
37 36 | 38 35 | 35 35 | 38 38 | 31 22 | 37 37 | 40 36 | Watford Boys (outer)
38 35 | 36 35 | 40 39 | 37 36 | 40 39 | 37 36 | 33 30 | Watford Girls (inner)
39 35 | 40 37 | 43 41 | 40 38 | 40 22 | 37 35 | 40 40 | Watford Girls (outer)
Last edited by WP on Wed Oct 10, 2018 10:04 am, edited 122 times in total.
Reason: Sep 2018 data for BM
Reason: Sep 2018 data for BM
SW Herts consortium schools: admission statistics
These are the statistics for 2011 and earlier.
The meaning of various marks in the tables:
Distance
Here is the distance in metres from the school of the furtherest child offered a place under each distance criterion. Distances are rounded to the nearest metre except for Bushey Meads prior to 2008 (rounded to the nearest 25 metres), Rickmansworth (some rounded up to the nearest 50 metres), and Watford Girls (some rounded to the nearest 50 metres). Distances are measured in a straight line by all schools from 2011, by Bushey Meads prior to 2008, and by Rickmansworth. Other distances (starred in the table) follow roads and paths. Parmiter's used their own calculation before 2008.
I have omitted some data I've received because it seems dubious:
The Watford Grammar Schools offered places to cross-siblings (children with a sibling at the other school) up to 2008, and re-introduced the criterion from the 2013 intake.
In 2016, Rickmansworth and St Clement Danes respectively allocated 26 and 30 places over PAN (by distance) as an interim measure due to the delayed opening of a new school at Croxley Green.
Academic
The proportion of the intake selected on the academic criterion at each school is:
Candidates sit tests in mathematics and verbal reasoning, which are then standardized and added. (NFER has a partial account of standardization.) Here are the lowest standardized scores allocated places under the academic criterion at each point:
The March 2009 figure for Parmiter's may actually be the position in June of that year.
I am informed by Rickmansworth School, who administered the tests, that about 2500 children were tested in 2008. (According to their submission in the county response to the new admissions code, it was 2300 in 2006.) The relationship between the test population and the age group is affected by a number of factors, including
Music audition
Parmiter's, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes and the Watford Grammars select 10% of their intake by musical aptitude; Queens' select 5% (and another 5% for aptitude for sport).
Applicants under the music criterion first take an aural test, marked out of 60. Those who score sufficiently highly are invited to an audition, which is marked out of 45. Here are the lowest audition scores allocated places under the music criterion at each point.
Before 2012, Parmiter's and Queens' used the sum of the aural test score and the audition score, and thus cannot be compared with the above:
The meaning of various marks in the tables:
- ?: data not yet available
- ??: I have some data, but cannot interpret it
- -: the school says the data is not held
Distance
Here is the distance in metres from the school of the furtherest child offered a place under each distance criterion. Distances are rounded to the nearest metre except for Bushey Meads prior to 2008 (rounded to the nearest 25 metres), Rickmansworth (some rounded up to the nearest 50 metres), and Watford Girls (some rounded to the nearest 50 metres). Distances are measured in a straight line by all schools from 2011, by Bushey Meads prior to 2008, and by Rickmansworth. Other distances (starred in the table) follow roads and paths. Parmiter's used their own calculation before 2008.
Code: Select all
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
------------+---------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-----------+----------------------
5375 8100 | 10150 10150 | 6625 7275 | 8348* 8348* | 5842* all |17258* all | 5132 all | Bushey Meads (band A)
3875 7500 | 3475 5000 | 3325 3875 | 4679* 4926* | 2917* 3409* | 2652* 4204* | 2657 3299 | Bushey Meads (band B)
2375 3250 | 3875 3950 | 3400 3400 | 1192* 3769* | 1743* 1815* | 3919* 3938* | 3317 3317 | Bushey Meads (band C)
1650 2225 | 3175 3875 | 1125 1125 | 1357* 1357* | 3189* 3189* | 1385* 1540* | 1123 1512 | Bushey Meads (band D)
- 1854* | - 1655* | - 1472* | 1402* 1408* | 1687* 1687* | 1749* 1749* | 1214 1214 | Parmiter's
? ?? | ? ?? | ? 2514* | 1507* 2043? | 1357* ?? | 2130* 2638* | 1459 1502 | Queens'
550 550 | 600 1050 | 550 700 | 1110 1200 | 333 350 | 1440 1670 | 1470 1600 | Rickmansworth
- - | - - | 3333* ? | 3628* ? | 2250* ? | 2397* ? | 3124 3388 | St Clement Danes
- - | - - | 486* ? | 680* 690* | 1087* ?? | 981* 1061* | 704 729 | Watford Boys
all all | - - | 9665* 9876* | all all | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | Watford Boys (x-sibs)
- 850* | - 750* | - 600* | 704* 900* | 1433* 1450* | 1634* 1655* | 1083 1083 | Watford Girls
5700* 6550* | all all |10850*10850* | all all | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | Watford Girls (x-sibs)
- Queens' gave the September 2009 distance as 1041m.
- Watford Boys gave the September 2009 distance as 1995m.
Code: Select all
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
---------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------------------
18 18 | 20 20 | 18 18 | 23 24 | 38 36 | 33 33 | 30 31 | Parmiter's
25 15 | 17 30 | 30 31 | 23 ? | 27 28 | 50 50 | 43 44 | Queens'
- 13 | 31 35 | 18 18 | 44 44 | 18 18 | 47 49 | 42 43 | Rickmansworth
78 ? | 61 ? | 79 ? | 71 ? | 59 ? | 59 ? | 83 83 | St Clement Danes
27 34 | 18 18 | 18 18 | 30 33 | 61 62 | 71 72 | 67 67 | Watford Boys
42 37 | 35 36 | 30 32 | 41 38 | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | Watford Boys (x-sibs)
18 18 | 20 20 | 19 19 | 40 40 | 70 70 | 73 73 | 77 77 | Watford Girls
22 22 | 37 37 | 32 32 | 27 27 | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | n/a n/a | Watford Girls (x-sibs)
In 2016, Rickmansworth and St Clement Danes respectively allocated 26 and 30 places over PAN (by distance) as an interim measure due to the delayed opening of a new school at Croxley Green.
Academic
The proportion of the intake selected on the academic criterion at each school is:
- Queens': 35%
- St Clement Danes: 10%
- Rickmansworth: 25% in 2005 and 2006; 35% in 2007; 25% since 2008
- Parmiter's and the Watford Grammars: 35% in 2005, 2006 and 2007; 25% since 2008
Candidates sit tests in mathematics and verbal reasoning, which are then standardized and added. (NFER has a partial account of standardization.) Here are the lowest standardized scores allocated places under the academic criterion at each point:
Code: Select all
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+-----------+----------------------
204 | 212 | 209 | 213 | 215 | 213 | 211 | Bushey Meads band A
185 | 194 | 190 | 198 | 196 | 194 | 193 | Bushey Meads band B
168 | 176 | 173 | 178 | 178 | 176 | 175 | Bushey Meads band C
- 225 | - 238 | - 237 | 243 241 | 246? 244 | 250 245 | 247 241 | Parmiter's
? 197 | ? 206 | ? 204 | 210 ? | 222 216 | 214 208 | 215 209 | Queens'
- - | 226 216 | 220 212 | 224 219 | 228 222 | 222 215 | 224 217 | Rickmansworth
- - | - - | 223 ? | 229 ? | 237 ? | 242 ? | 243 233?| St Clement Danes
221 219 | 231 229 | 240 234 | 239 238 | 247 246 | 244 239 | 243 239 | Watford Boys (inner)
241 234 | 251 242 | 250 241 | 257 247 | 257 249 | 253 252 | 254 247 | Watford Boys (outer)
- 217 | - 230 | - 228 | 240 240 | 242 237 | 236 234 | 239 235 | Watford Girls (inner)
- 229 | - 241 | - 239 | 244 244 | 256 255 | 256 254 | 253 245 | Watford Girls (outer)
I am informed by Rickmansworth School, who administered the tests, that about 2500 children were tested in 2008. (According to their submission in the county response to the new admissions code, it was 2300 in 2006.) The relationship between the test population and the age group is affected by a number of factors, including
- All applicants to Bushey Meads and Queens' are required to take the tests.
- Applicants relying on a sibling place at other schools need not take the tests.
- More distant Herts applicants would probably apply only if they expected to score highly.
- Applicants from Bucks and neighbouring London boroughs have 6 preferences, and might use one or more of them on SW Herts schools as an alternative plan.
Music audition
Parmiter's, Rickmansworth, St Clement Danes and the Watford Grammars select 10% of their intake by musical aptitude; Queens' select 5% (and another 5% for aptitude for sport).
Applicants under the music criterion first take an aural test, marked out of 60. Those who score sufficiently highly are invited to an audition, which is marked out of 45. Here are the lowest audition scores allocated places under the music criterion at each point.
Code: Select all
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
---------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+--------------------
- - | 22 17 | 20 15 | 22 18 | 29 21 | 22 15 | 25 18 | Rickmansworth
27 ? | 28 ? | 24 ? | 29 ? | 33 ? | 31 ? | 34 28 | St Clement Danes
- - | 36 35 | 35 35 | 35 33 | 32 31 | 35 35 | 38 33 | Watford Boys (inner)
- - | 33 33 | 39 37 | 37 36 | 40 39 | 39 37 | 38 38 | Watford Boys (outer)
- 33 | - 27 | - 31 | 24 24 | 39 36 | 36 34 | 33 33 | Watford Girls (inner)
- 33 | - 36 | - 30 | 22 22 | 41 39 | 40 39 | 41 39 | Watford Girls (outer)
Code: Select all
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep | Mar Sep |
---------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+----------+-----------
- 80 | - 75 | - 81 | 83 83 | 80 80 | 81 78 | 86 86 | Parmiter's
? 57 | ? 60 | ? 46 | 42 ? | 64 64 | 78 64 | 77 72 | Queens'
Last edited by WP on Fri Mar 02, 2018 6:15 pm, edited 110 times in total.
Reason: split out old stats
Reason: split out old stats
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- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:55 pm
Wow WP !!!
Thank you for taking the time out to resource and to publish such interesting information.
This does bring to mind one question though ...
How do I know EXACTLY how far I live from each school?
I contacted Herts County, after a meeting at my child's school, with the Admissions Officer, who had indicated that Herts use their own computer mapping system to work out exact distances from pupil's homes to the schools. I provided my address and postcode, and waited, and waited and waited, for an answer. When I did receive a reply, I was told that they could not provide the answer !!!
Do you have any idea, how I can work out the exact distances from my house, to the schools that I/my child are interested in, bearing in mind that Herts seem to use their own mapping system.
I know I could google it, but would this be an indicative enough distance measurement, or just a guess?
Any ideas would be most welcome.
Thanks WP
Thank you for taking the time out to resource and to publish such interesting information.
This does bring to mind one question though ...
How do I know EXACTLY how far I live from each school?
I contacted Herts County, after a meeting at my child's school, with the Admissions Officer, who had indicated that Herts use their own computer mapping system to work out exact distances from pupil's homes to the schools. I provided my address and postcode, and waited, and waited and waited, for an answer. When I did receive a reply, I was told that they could not provide the answer !!!
Do you have any idea, how I can work out the exact distances from my house, to the schools that I/my child are interested in, bearing in mind that Herts seem to use their own mapping system.
I know I could google it, but would this be an indicative enough distance measurement, or just a guess?
Any ideas would be most welcome.
Thanks WP
-
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:55 pm
WP
Can you tell me if I am reading your figures correctly. Did the distance criterea increase from 1087 to 1995 from March 09 to September 09 for the Boys Grammar School, or am I reading the wrong line. This seems like an enormous increase, and surprising, as this would mean that the distance is now further than it is for the Girls Grammar School which has not been the case for past year.
Can you tell me if I am reading your figures correctly. Did the distance criterea increase from 1087 to 1995 from March 09 to September 09 for the Boys Grammar School, or am I reading the wrong line. This seems like an enormous increase, and surprising, as this would mean that the distance is now further than it is for the Girls Grammar School which has not been the case for past year.
I've checked the letters again, and those are the figures the schools gave me. The March 2009 distance figures are also in the county Moving On booklet. Note that the 1450 figure from Watford Girls is rounded to the nearest 50m, so it might represent anything from no change at all to an increase of 57m.JP wrote:Can you tell me if I am reading your figures correctly. Did the distance criterea increase from 1087 to 1995 from March 09 to September 09 for the Boys Grammar School, or am I reading the wrong line. This seems like an enormous increase, and surprising, as this would mean that the distance is now further than it is for the Girls Grammar School which has not been the case for past year.
Thanks WP for the response. I would be very happy if the distance had extended out that far as my DS will be sitting the exam in 2010 and does not stand a chance of getting in academically, but that distance easily puts me within the distance zone. Saying that what happens one year does not necessarily influence the following year. I will look with interest to the figures for 2010. We were one of the people caught out on the X Sibling rule. The only reason I can think of for the huge increase is Cassiobury Park getting in the way.
And yet in the other direction you have West Watford, which is fairly high-density housing. I'm afraid I agree with your original skepticism: that seems an extraordinary increase, and I begin to suspect it is a typo in the letter they sent me. (The September 2009 distance figure for Queens' also looks wrong.) Sorry that's bad news in your situation.JP wrote:I would be very happy if the distance had extended out that far as my DS will be sitting the exam in 2010 and does not stand a chance of getting in academically, but that distance easily puts me within the distance zone. Saying that what happens one year does not necessarily influence the following year. I will look with interest to the figures for 2010. We were one of the people caught out on the X Sibling rule. The only reason I can think of for the huge increase is Cassiobury Park getting in the way.
Maybe it's meant to be 1095 as the 0 key is next to the 9 key on the keyboard. That would be more of a realistic increase. Is it worth me writing to the school to ask the question as it would be good to have data on here that we are comfortable with? If I do write do I need to cite the Freedom of information Act or are they normally fairly happy to provide this information.