Clarification on catchment

[optimistic]

Hi Can one of you clarify whether selection in Bexley Grammar School is based on catchment or by the rank order based on the entrance?

Thanks

[hermanmunster]

Hi Optimistic

The allocation criteria are here:

1. Looked After Children
Top priority is given to children who are, or have been, in public care.
2. Guaranteed Grammar School Place
Those students identified by Bexley Council as achieving one of the highest 180 scores in the
selection tests who choose Bexley Grammar School as their preferred school.
3. Medical
This is given where a child, a sibling or a parent has a medical condition, which would cause
significant hardship if the child could not attend the school of parental preference. In such cases the Governors will require confirmation that it is essential, on medical grounds, for the
child to attend Bexley Grammar School.
4. Sibling
Those students with a brother, sister or step/half brother or sister living at the same address
who are currently attending Bexley Grammar School in Years 7 – 11 at the time of
application.
5. Distance
Students will be admitted on the basis of proximity to the school measured in a straight line
from the home address. The distance will be measured by the Local Authority’s computerised
measuring system from the gate of the home address to the middle gate entrance approved by
the Governors as the official entrance to the school.
6. Test Score
Where distance is identical to an accuracy of 0.001 of a mile then the scores in the selection tests will be used as a tie-breaker with priority given to the higher score.

[optimistic]

Thanks hermanmunster for the quick response.

On point 2 when they say top 180 determined by the Bexley authority, does that mean any student appeared irrespective of local authority and places will be offered for the on the order of rank or top 180 in the order of the catchment.

[hermanmunster]

Thanks hermanmunster for the quick response.

On point 2 when they say top 180 determined by the Bexley authority, does that mean any student appeared irrespective of local authority and places will be offered for the on the order of rank or top 180 in the order of the catchment.

If a DC ends up as a top 180, regardless of where they live, they will be guaranteed a GS place (they do have to put it on the CAF though) - the rest of the places are on distance etc etc

[mystery]

Yes, that is how I read it too. It's a fantastic mish-mash of a policy. I presume that the 180 places given on the basis of score are the majority of places. It therefore seems a little naughty to be able to sneak in a sibling irrespective of score.

By the time places are given to top 180, and to siblings, how many places are likely to be left to be allocated according to distance?

Sounds like one needs to aim to be in the top 180 or get an older sibling at the school.

And what's that bit in clause two "who choose Bexley as their preferred school". It can't mean that you have to have put them first. That's not correct. So what does it mean?

[silverysea]

The preferred school line must mean that if you have out any other school above Bexley, and qualify for one of your choices higher up the list, You will be offered the higher one. Bexley will never know you were on their list.

So you put GS x (or comp y!) higher, Bexley 2nd, qualify for x, you get x. Don't qualify for x, do qualify for Bexley, get Bexley.

I think that's how it works.

[Mich895]

Yes Silverysea, you are correct. As all those that get top 180 scores are given a place at their chosen Grammar School regardless of distance, you will be given your 1st choice school. Therefore if you put a school above Bexley, you will be give a place at that school.

[optimistic]

Thanks for the clarification and valuable suggestions. We are not in catchment hence it is only the possibility based on top 180

[christmasbonus]

Hi. Not sure if I misunderstood you, Mystery, but they can't sneak in siblings irrespective of score. The siblings still have to pass. And the top 180 is for all the grammar schools in the borough, and those top 180 will not all be putting down the same school as their first choice (and may even decide they do not want a Bexley school).

[mystery]

It is a funny old mish mash of a policy, part super selective based on score and part not. Yes I agree that siblings have to pass, but you have got children living a long way away who will have to get a high score to get in, and then a few years on along pops their sibling who only has to pass.

How many children usually gain a place by being in the bexley test top 180? I was confused here by the wording in clause 2. It is very carelessly worded.

I thought that it meant that 180 places would be filled by te highest scoring applicants, but you are correct in pointing out it may not mean this.