can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

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mum23*
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Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:28 pm

can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by mum23* »

Can anyone give me some advice please? My nephew hasn't been allocated the school he wants. They live in Brighton so no grammars but he wanted a place at a comp that specialises in the arts (he esp wants drama). I'm not 100% sure but I think it is an academy. I had a vague idea that these schools could select a small % of pupils with talent in the subject the schools have as their specialism. If he could prove he was gifted/talented would this be a grounds to appeal for a place in this school?

Seems silly to me...another boy has been allocated the school my nephew would like but would rather go to the one my nephew has got...shame they can't swop!

Is it worth my brother trying to appeal or is it just not going to make any difference? Anyone have experience of the system there?

Thanks, I have tried looking online but I tend to find the advice here quicker and better!! :D
T12ACY
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by T12ACY »

There can be this kind of thing. For example, a school local to us fills 20% of it's spaces based on the highest performers in an entrance test. I am not an expert on types of schools but it isn't a fully 'selective' school.
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mike1880
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by mike1880 »

Some schools have the option to select by aptitude (I think it's up to 10% of pupils) but very few have any appetite for doing so. The lack of appetite is because selection does have to be by aptitude, not by acquired learning, and it's very difficult to find any test that will pass the Schools Adjudicator's scrutiny in that respect.

Mike
hermanmunster
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by hermanmunster »

Hi - I think I have found the school in question and although it has specialist arts status it does not use that in its admission process:
these are the criteria fro oversub:
Children in the care of the local authority (looked after children);
Children with strong medical or other exceptional reasons for attending the school;
Children who in September 2011 will have an elder brother or sister at the school;
Children living within the catchment area for the school;
Other children.
However when it comes to appealing for oversubscription the important things is to say why they want that school and why it would suit your nephew - that is when you mention the arts interest etc
mum23*
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by mum23* »

Thanks all. Hermann do you think there is any chance at all for them on appeal? I am not sure of the appeal system, is it the same everywhere or specific to LAs? I suppose their next step would be to contact their local admissons would it? They would need evidence to support (not academic evidence for this occasion although he would pass the 11+ in a flash) it would have to be evidence that the school would suit him best. It sounds rather a difficult one to win I think..shame. Makes the grammar system seem straight forward!!
mum23*
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by mum23* »

My brother has since found that some people seem to have got the school they wanted by working the system this way....put school/s you are very unlikely to get (eg the very over-sub catholic school) then the school you actually want further down your list. Could that actually be the case, would it work or urban myth?
tense
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by tense »

Urban myth. You get the highest ranked school for which you qualify.
mum23*
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by mum23* »

But if you do not qualify for a faith school (eg not a catholic but list it as a top choice) but you are allowed to list it on your CAF you would get your 2nd then possibly 3rd option which in this case would actually be your real 1st choice (the comp you really want) if that makes sense.
hermanmunster
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by hermanmunster »

All the people for whom this school is the HIGHEST that they would qualify for are treated the same, then the oversubscription criteria come into play.

So:

Child 1) CAF choices
1: Grammar School (does not reach qualifying level)
2: Faith school (does not meet faith criteria)
3: Comprehensive specialist school (eligible for this school which will be treated as first school on CAF)

Child 2) CAF choices
1: Comprehensive (as in 3 above - will be treated as equal to child above )

not playing the system as child 1 has lost their first 2 choices and is being treated equally with child 2 when it comes to the comprehensive


If you are in catchment and not given a place or even out of catchment it is worth asking if there is waiting list, and if so, where he is on the list.
Snowdrops
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Re: can a comp/academy select a % of pupils by ability?

Post by Snowdrops »

You also have to bear in mind that, even if you don't meet the faith criteria, if the school has places and you put it on your caf you will be given a place. So, if you place the faith school 1st and your real choice 2nd (3rd, 4th or whatever) and the faith school has a spare place going, after allocating all those who meet the criteria, they WILL offer you a place (admittedly it's highly unlikely, but it COULD happen).
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