Change to Slough Grammar's admission criteria.

[chad]

Excerpt from Slough Grammer's Addmissions Policy 2011-2012

Where the number of pupils gaining 111 or more in the
tests exceeds the number of places available, places
will be allocated according to the following
oversubscription criteria in this order of priority.
(i) Looked After Children who have reached the
required standard
(ii) Pupils with special educational needs (where
written evidence is supplied from a recognised
authority specialising in the particular needs of the
pupil) who have or in the view of Governors should
have reached the required standard.
(iii) The next 100 Pupils in rank order of performance
in the tests.
(iv) Proximity to the school. Nearest first, measured ‘as
the crow flies’ from the main entrance of the
school to the front door of the child’s home
address (house or flat), using Slough’s
Geographical Information System (GIS), with those
closer to the school receiving higher priority

[sweetviolet]

What does that mean for children outside the area? How many places?

Looks like it is going to get tougher? Will this be the same for the others once Slough joins the consortium?

[chad]

Hershel already has a catchment policy ( along the same lines) that was brought in for 2010 entry.

(i) Looked After Children who have reached the required standard;

(ii) pupils with special educational needs (where written evidence is supplied from a recognised authority specialising in the particular needs of the pupil) who have or in the view of Governors should have reached the required standard;

(iii) the next 70 pupils in rank order of performance in the tests;

(iv) proximity to the school. Distance will be measured in a straight line from the front door of the child’s home address (including flats) to the main entrance gate of the school, using Slough’s Geographical Information System (GIS), with those closer to the school receiving the higher priority.

so for herschel it is the first 70 (excluding looked after/SEN) in rank order then distance.

for Slough Grammar it is the first 100 (excl Looked after/ Sen) in rank order then distance.

[fleximum]

quite right too I think! I have long wondered why the people of Slough have put up with a system that serves their children so badly and simply encourages mass tutoring across West London! Hopefully they will all move to full catchment and get rid of ranking altogether.

[sweetviolet]

If that happens then they should not be considered a grammar as this defeats the point of choice for parents. All children are considered on the merits of the result whether they are from Slough or outside, that's a fairer system.

[chad]

There are many 'grammars' that have a catchment or distance criteria. In Bucks (as the county has a full grammar system), I believe they have a distance criteria within the county and then all other applicants are OOC (out of county).

With the 'Slough' grammars there is one that is in Langley...... therefore some Slough applicants would be at a further distance than Datchet or Colnbrook. Given the location of Slough Grammar & St Bernards there may be 'nearer as the crow flies' applicants in Windsor, Datchet, Langley areas than in areas of Slough. So having a distance criteria may not benefit all Slough children.

[drummer]

If that happens then they should not be considered a grammar as this defeats the point of choice for parents. All children are considered on the merits of the result whether they are from Slough or outside, that's a fairer system.

better not come to Bucks then, you may find our so called Grammar Schools are not up to your standards

Super selection just leads to super tutoring

[onthego]

Chad, I think there are links between the Slough education authority and the education authority for Windsor and Maidenhead in terms of school placements.

I know many children from Slough who go to Churchmead School in Datchet, without these children I doubt whether children from Datchet and Colnbrook would be able to fill all the places in that school.

As you quite rightly point out many of the villages surrounding Slough are actually closer to the grammar schools than large parts of Slough itself.

Personally I am against the postcode allotment of school places and therefore for me the only way to allocate places is for the same test for all applicants, sure tutoring goes on but generally everybody knows that this happens now and therefore everybody can make the same informed choice about how to tutor their children.

The real shame is when parent's of bright children believe that their child's natural ability will see them through and the child fails to secure a place. Parent's who place their children for these test sacrifice a great of time and energy for their children and that can only be applauded.

[drummer]

Personally I am against the postcode allotment of school places and therefore for me the only way to allocate places is for the same test for all applicants, sure tutoring goes on but generally everybody knows that this happens now and therefore everybody can make the same informed choice about how to tutor their children.

The real shame is when parent's of bright children believe that their child's natural ability will see them through and the child fails to secure a place. Parent's who place their children for these test sacrifice a great of time and energy for their children and that can only be applauded.

Personally I would much rather that my child were going to school with the 'naturally bright' children with naive or uninformed or simply uninterested parents than the children who have been relentlessly tutored since Y4 or longer.

And really, wouldn't you? It seems everyones views depends on where they live. Would sweetviolet feel the same if Ealing was like Bucks?

[chad]

Chad, I think there are links between the Slough education authority and the education authority for Windsor and Maidenhead in terms of school placements.

There are links but only the same as any other bordering Lea's. A parent can place any school on their CAF including those in neighbouring Lea's. This doesn't mean they will get a place but some school's catchment area cover more than 1 LEA.