The effect of being in/out of catchment

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spark
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:16 pm

The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by spark »

I've searched existing posts but can't find the answer to my question so I hope it's ok to post it here for some advice please?

My daughter sat the consortium exam and scored 352. We're currently in the catchment area for Newport GHS and received the letter saying we strongly urge you to apply etc. I see from posts here that it is likely she'll get a place and we've submitted the form to the admissions office and put Newport girls as our first choice.

There is a possibility that we are going to move out of the catchment area - not by much but the admissions office has confirmed that it's definitely out of the catchment area. Can anyone explain to me what the effect would be of moving out of catchment - how does that affect the standardised score, how does the system work etc. Is it that all catchment area girls above a certain score get a place (if so, what score?) and then just the highest scoring girls that are out of catchment get the remaining places?

I would really appreciate any advice, even if it's just an educated 'guess' - I don't want to jeopardise her chances of a place and we will remain in our current house if there's any risk that she wouldn't get in as a result of moving out of catchment.

Thanks in advance
Happy dad
Posts: 482
Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:10 am

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by Happy dad »

Having read the admissions policy it would appear that they review the standardised scores of those in the catchment area and pay particular attention to those on the borderline. If the panel decides that 84 catchment girls are suitable for grammar education then no places will be offered to those from outside the catchment area.

If there are any places they will be offered based on the standardised scores of those who took the test.
spark
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:16 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by spark »

Thanks very much happy dad - I think I read in the prospectus that the in area girls are 1/4 to 1/3 of the intake each year, which only adds to my confusion...it seems that lots of girls from out of the catchment area do get places but would an out of area girl need a much higher score than my daughter's??!! The million dollar question....
vza
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:35 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by vza »

Hi Spark

Congratulation on your DD achieving a place at Newport school. I have a DD in year 8 and 2nd DD will take the test next July.

SD Score of 352 is very high (within the top 12.44% of the candidates) and your DD definitely will be offered a place at Newport, regardless of in/out of catchment’s area criteria.

I have some historical data, which I have collected last year:

Newport High School Selection Process for September 2012
There were 300 candidates for 56 available places, 80 of these candidate were from within the attendance area and 220 from outside the attendance area.
The selection panel decided that 30 candidates (out of 80 who took the test) from within the Newport attendance area were of Grammar School ability. These girls have been offered places.

The remaining 26 places were allocated to the 26 girls considered most able of the 220 candidates. The selection panel also draw up a reserve list of 26 candidates entirely from the out of area girls.

Historical Data for Newport:

In Area Candidates
Year - Total Applicants -In area No. - Offer (%)
2006 231 68 33 48.5%
2007 258 67 32 47.8%
2008 211 52 20 38.5%
2009 265 70 31 44.3%
2010 291 88 39 44.3%
2011 260 68 21 30.9%
2012 300 80 30 37.5% (SD Score 315)
Average: 259 70 29 41.8% (SD score 309)


For candidates within the attendance area, calculated score of 315 or more is needed for offer of a place.
The SD score of 315 may not be very accurate and possibly the average SD score of 309 is a better guide. Nevertheless, the odds for in area applicants are quite good and on average 41.8 % of the girls who take the test are offered a place at NGHS.

Out of Area Candidates
Year-Applicants - Out of Area - Offer
2006 231 163 23
2007 258 191 24
2008 211 159 36
2009 265 195 25
2010 291 203 17
2011 260 192 35
2012 300 220 26 (SD score 339)
Average: 259 189 27 (SD score 334)

For 2012 intake, the last offer was made to the candidate with rank of 42 (out of area from 220). Assuming a normal distribution with average score of 100 and standard deviation of 15, the aggregate SD score for this candidate is 334.

For 2013 the intake was increased to 84 places, which effectively means lower SD scores for being offered a place. From what was posted in the forum, 417 candidates took the test with 300 as 1st preference and last offer was made to the candidate rank 124 ( i.e. SD score of 324 ).

VZA
Last edited by vza on Sun Sep 22, 2013 5:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Professor Yaffle
Posts: 148
Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:18 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by Professor Yaffle »

Hi vza

your information is really helpful.

From this year's admission booklet from Telford council it states that there were 121 first preferences for NGHS- 77 in area and 44 out of area and that as at 1st March 2013 23 in area girls were allocated a place and 55 out of area so only a total of 78 places allocated. I had heard anecdotally that girls ranked around 150 had been offered places.
spark
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:16 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by spark »

Wow vza, thanks so much for that information and your reassurances. Where is that information from as I couldn't find anything like it anywhere when I was searching? It definitely makes things so much clearer for us and I'm so very grateful to you for taking the time to answer my query. Thank you
vza
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:35 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by vza »

No problem at all, glad to be helpful. I posted this info last year and just dig it up again.

VZA
vza
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:35 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by vza »

Hi Professor Yaffle

The data you have posted agrees with the data posted previously for 2013 intake (2012 exam). The confusion arises from in/out area allocation. My educated guess is that for in area girls 309 (103) is the cut off point and for out of area candidates the cut off is 316 (105).

For 2013 intake
Total candidates 417
In area candidates 77, with 23 places allocated
Out of area candidates 340, with 61 places allocated with rank of about 150/417 ( within top 36%)- calculated SD score of 316 (105.4)
Out of area candidates 340, with 61 places allocated with rank of about 124/340 (within top 36.5%)- calculated SD score of 316 (105.2)

Both set of data give the same cut off point of 316 for out of area candidates.

For 2014 intake (2013 exam) numbers were boosted due to some candidates taking the exam as a practice paper for Birmingham or Warwickshire. However, this does not affect the cut off score significantly.

VZA
mummmy
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:44 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by mummmy »

Thanks VZA for your helpful post. Do you have similar information about Adams Grammar please?
vza
Posts: 63
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:35 pm

Re: The effect of being in/out of catchment

Post by vza »

Hi Mummmy

Unfortunately, I have little data on Adams. What I know is that, normally 400 to 500 boys take the test. School admission booklets from Telford council gives the following info:

2010 intake - 300 applicants with 1st preference - 90 places allocated
2011 intake - 302 applicants with 1st preference - 90 places allocated
2012 intake - 312 applicants with 1st preference - 90 places allocated
2013 intake - 138 applicants with 1st preference - 97 places allocated - This figure (138) is probably inaccurate.

VZA
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