2013 Admissions Consultations

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Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Sally-Anne »

I am gradually working my way round the Bucks GS websites to check for proposed changes to their admission arrangements. I will post any significant changes here. Please note that I have stuck to major changes to entry for Y7 - Y11, and drawn the line on changes to 6th form admissions. You will need to check the schools' own websites for those.

So far only 3 grammars have posted their draft policies for consultation.

Aylesbury High School

Summary: http://www.ahsonline.co.uk/Admissions" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Full Draft Policy: http://www.ahsonline.co.uk/Mainfolder/A ... r-2013.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Main changes:
- Increasing the Planned Admission Number (PAN) from 180 to 186 in Years 10 and 11

- Creating a PAN for Years 12 and 13 of 206, with a minimum admission number for external students of 20

- Taking on responsibility for testing of students under the Late Transfer procedure from the January of Year 7 onwards

- Introducing a new oversubscription rule of having a sibling who is on roll at Aylesbury Grammar School to help ensure that parents who have children of both sexes are more likely to be able to send them to schools which are nearest to one another
Dr Challoners Grammar

Full Draft Policy: http://www.challoners.com/documents/con ... on2013.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Very minor changes to the procedure for waiting lists, highlighted in yellow on the draft policy.

Dr Challoners High

Full Draft Policy: http://www.challonershigh.com/_files/us ... 3EBB05.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Introducing their own Late Transfer tests, mirroring word-for-word the procedure at the boys' school:
In Year Procedure
Admission to Years 8, 9 and 10 (and to Year 7 from 1st January each academic year), up to the admission number of 150, will be handled in accordance with the school’s In Year Procedure.

3.1 Testing Criteria
The academic suitability of candidates seeking admission under the school’s In Year Procedure will be assessed through curriculum based tests in English and Mathematics. Candidates will be required to achieve a minimum standard in each of the tests in order to qualify for admission.
Candidates will only be tested if they can demonstrate that they achieved Level 5s in Key Stage 2 SATs. Girls who attended schools which did not participate in the national tests will be required to submit alternative evidence to demonstrate that they have achieved an equivalent standard. This evidence will be reviewed by a panel of Subject Leaders chaired by the Head.

3.2 September Admission
Girls seeking admission to Years 8, 9 and 10 at the start of the next academic year and who meet the Testing Criteria will be invited to sit tests in the Annual Testing Round. This is organised by the school and will take place in the March of the year in which admission is sought in September. The deadline for registration for the tests will be the second Monday in January of the same year. Evidence of residence will be required.

3.3 Immediate Admission
Girls who have moved into the local area since the last Annual Testing Round may apply for immediate admission to Years 7, 8 or 9 and will be tested as soon as possible provided that they meet the Testing Criteria outlined above. Evidence of residence will be required.
They are also introducing catchment and score in the late tests as the primary admission criteria (after the usual special criteria, of course).
Marylou
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:21 am

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Marylou »

Interesting to note that AHS consider eligible siblings as being in years 8-12, but DCHS still only years 8-10! (Sorry - sore point! :roll: :lol: )
Marylou
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Sally-Anne »

I will keep an eye out for sibling policies as they all start to post, and put a summary of them on here.
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Bucks Admissions Consultation 2013 - critical information

Post by Sally-Anne »

The consultation documents for 2013 admissions are now available on the BCC website: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/schools/a ... _2013.page" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

I have not had time to study it all in any detail, but the key proposal is NO CHANGE to the current 11+ timeline: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/assets/conten ... tation.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The stated reason is:
On 14 December 2011 the Cabinet Member agreed to the use of the Local Government Act Power of well-being to maintain the LA’s role in relation to the academic selection process (11+) for a 2 year period. The use of this power is then reviewed. Full details can be viewed here: http://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/ieDecis ... px?ID=2553" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For 2013 the timeline is expected to be broadly as set out above, but for 2014 it is expected the timeline will be adapted to comply with paragraph 1.32 of the Draft Admissions Code which required all selective admission authorities to take all reasonable steps to inform parents of the outcomes of selection tests before the 31 October closing date.
The proposed timeline for 2013 is as follows:
7 September 2012
Deadline for registration for the 11+ tests to be tested in a timely manner and for test results to be released on the main publication date

21 September
Final deadline to register for the 11+ tests unless the family is moving into the area

4 October
Test 1 (earliest date for children to be tested in LA schools)

10 October
Test 2 (earliest date for children to be tested in LA schools)

Autumn Half term
Test sessions for non-school testing (these are the ONLY dates for timely applications).

30 November
Publication of results of selection testing for timely applicants.
The other key change is, of course, the move to straight line distance measurement for allocations.

Any comments from eagled-eyed folk with more time to spare are welcome, as always!
Marylou
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:21 am

Re: Bucks Admissions Consultation 2013 - critical informatio

Post by Marylou »

Being as eagle-eyed as possible...but still can't work out if the two-year period during which the admissions will operate under the "well-being" powers includes the selection process for 2014 entry. Whilst it seems unlikely that the actual content of the tests will change for 2013 entry, what are the chances that this could happen the following year along with the timeline adjustments? :?
Marylou
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Sally-Anne »

RGS consultation here: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/assets/conten ... ed_RGS.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AGS consultation here, mainly mirroring the AHS policy: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/assets/conten ... ed_AGS.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But this is new ... :
5. Siblings of boys who have attended Aylesbury Grammar School previously.
Marylou
Posts: 2164
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2006 2:21 am

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Marylou »

Sally-Anne wrote:
But this is new ... :
5. Siblings of boys who have attended Aylesbury Grammar School previously.
I'm sure I read somewhere that siblings of former pupils (as opposed to current pupils) can no longer be given priority? :? I don't have a problem with it but somebody is bound to challenge it at some point.
Marylou
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Sally-Anne »

You may be thinking of this excerpt from the draft Code? (The words in italics are mine.)
in designated grammar schools that rank all children according to a pre-determined pass mark and then allocate places to those who score highest, (must not) give priority to siblings of current or former pupils;
This is the main statement in the draft Code concerning siblings - although I hope someone spotted the typo at the end!
Siblings at the school
1.9 Admission authorities must state clearly in their arrangements what they mean by ‘sibling’ (i.e. whether this includes step siblings, foster siblings, adopted siblings and other children living permanently at the same address or siblings who are former pupils of the school).
Sally-Anne
Posts: 9235
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: Buckinghamshire

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Sally-Anne »

SWB consultation here http://www.swbgs.com/Resources/Admissio ... orlase.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Creating 25 additional places in each of Ys 9 - 11, and also introducing their own Late Transfer test, with places allocated by catchment, then score then siblings:
3.1 Testing Criteria
The academic suitability of candidates seeking admission under the school’s Late
Transfer Procedure will be assessed through curriculum based tests in English and
Mathematics and a Modern Foreign Language.. Candidates will be required to
achieve a minimum standard in each of the tests in order to qualify for admission.
Candidates will only be tested if they can demonstrate that they achieved Level 5s in
Key Stage 2 SATs. Students who attended schools which did not participate in the
national tests will be required to submit alternative evidence to demonstrate that they
have achieved an equivalent standard. This evidence will be reviewed by a panel of
Curriculum Area Team Leaders chaired by the Headmaster.
7 schools still to post their consultations - I hope they aren't cutting it too fine, because the last possible date for consultations to be published is Tuesday 3rd Jan. (The BCC website is wrong in stating that the consultations must be published by 1st January - the statutory consultation period is 8 weeks, not 2 months.)

Wakey, wakey, GS Heads in Bucks - first job on Tuesday morning! :lol:
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: 2013 Admissions Consultations

Post by Guest55 »

That's very interesting!

When they (SWBGS) went over PAN a few years back by quite a few they made some children stay at home every day so they only had the 'correct' number on the school site. A friend had a child who had one day in every ten at home for a while!
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