IC places for SHSB and WHSB

[Ash128]

Hi All,

Unfortunately I missed the open days for SHSB and WHSB due to work commitments. For those that attended, did either headteacher mention whether enough kids in catchment passed to take all of the IC allocated places? If not, were any numbers mentioned?

Many thanks

[leighmum]

I did not attend the WHSB open day but did attend the SHSB one last week. Dr Bevan did not specify exact numbers this year but did say that any boy IC with a score of 303 or above will be guaranteed a space at either school providing those 2 schools are put as first and second choice. Basically there are fewer IC boys who achieved 303+ than the total number of IC spaces across the 2 schools but more than the spaces 1 school could offer. Hope that is clear.

[ToadMum]

Hi All,

Unfortunately I missed the open days for SHSB and WHSB due to work commitments. For those that attended, did either headteacher mention whether enough kids in catchment passed to take all of the IC allocated places? If not, were any numbers mentioned?

Many thanks

Are you IC but worried that too many qualified IC, or OOC and worried that there might not be enough places in addition to the ringfenced OOC ones (the Southend borough grammars may unique in their admissions policy in this respect, I think?) for your DS to get in?

[Ash128]

Thanks LeighMum. Find it a bit gutting that we can’t meet the quota locally. So many local schools don’t push the brighter kids to take the 11+ and just push them towards the feeder secondary school. Only six kids took the 11+ at my ds’s school, there was no good luck to the kids in the weekly school newsletter and no congrats to the kids who passed. My son’s teacher has yet to acknowledge my son passing the test.

[ToadMum]

Thanks LeighMum. Find it a bit gutting that we can’t meet the quota locally. So many local schools don’t push the brighter kids to take the 11+ and just push them towards the feeder secondary school. Only six kids took the 11+ at my ds’s school, there was no good luck to the kids in the weekly school newsletter and no congrats to the kids who passed. My son’s teacher has yet to acknowledge my son passing the test.

I guess that answers my question

[Ash128]

Hi Toadmum, as a an ex Southend Grammar school child myself, I struggle with the whole OOC concept. When I was there is was a school for local kids and my friends lived within a small radius. From a selfish perspective, I would have liked to have seen as many IC kids pass as possible!!

DS passed comfortably so he will gain his place thankfully.

[Sarmum]

Thanks for your post, it hints that more OOC places may be available this year, which might help some anxious parents.

By the way, the schools that the OOC children come from don’t push them to take the 11 plus either, it’s the parents who do it. Even in this part, schools/teachers don’t praise them for passing the 11 plus.

As long as your son has scored comfortably, I don’t understand why you struggle with OOC. It is important to understand the effect of demographic and population changes since your time of education. When I visited the schools last year during open days and review days, I could see all boys working together and had a sense of belonging. This is what pushes them to achieve the best results.

I hope your comments don’t put off some OOC parents thinking their child might not fit in. Every child who has worked hard IC or OOC deserves a place.

[Ash128]

Thanks for your post, it hints that more OOC places may be available this year, which might help some anxious parents.

By the way, the schools that the OOC children come from don’t push them to take the 11 plus either, it’s the parents who do it. Even in this part, schools/teachers don’t praise them for passing the 11 plus.

As long as your son has scored comfortably, I don’t understand why you struggle with OOC. It is important to understand the effect of demographic and population changes since your time of education. When I visited the schools last year during open days and review days, I could see all boys working together and had a sense of belonging. This is what pushes them to achieve the best results.

I hope your comments don’t put off some OOC parents thinking their child might not fit in. Every child who has worked hard IC or OOC deserves a place.

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Hi Sarmum

My comments were not meant to put anyone off applying to the schools at all. However, Dr Bevan has also been very clear in pointing out on numerous occasions that if your child is travelling more than an hour each way to school every day, parents should seriously consider whether sending the child is in their best interests. I’m sure all the children work well together at the schools, my concern is more the social aspects out of school. I am still great friends with my grammar school friends even now. That’s because we could pop round each other’s houses after school or at a weekends because we all lived relatively close. If your child’s friends are living an hour away it does cause issues.

[Chelsmuna]

Thanks for your post, it hints that more OOC places may be available this year, which might help some anxious parents.

By the way, the schools that the OOC children come from don’t push them to take the 11 plus either, it’s the parents who do it. Even in this part, schools/teachers don’t praise them for passing the 11 plus.

As long as your son has scored comfortably, I don’t understand why you struggle with OOC. It is important to understand the effect of demographic and population changes since your time of education. When I visited the schools last year during open days and review days, I could see all boys working together and had a sense of belonging. This is what pushes them to achieve the best results.

I hope your comments don’t put off some OOC parents thinking their child might not fit in. Every child who has worked hard IC or OOC deserves a place.

Thanks for this Sarmum, I have been wanting to say this for a long time. There is always a continuous bashing of OOC parents, IMHO, grammar schools shouldn’t have a catchment, that is what your local comprehensives are there for. Anyone who takes the test and passes should be admitted irrespective of where they live.

I read comments about the travel time, socialisation outside school, all of that can be achieved. Some comments are so disparaging that I wonder if the intention is to to discourage OOC applicants so as to create more chances for the IC.

Let the OOC parents worry about their ‘situation’

[kenyancowgirl]

I think many of the comments are to dissuade what can amount to child abuse, where parents think nothing of requiring a just 11 year old to travel up to 2 hours one way, daily for 7 years, for a school place. A school place where they cannot possibly contribute to the full life of the school because they live "irrespective of distance" and their parents don't fully think through "their situation"....

It is one reason that GS heads implore parents to consider that just because you can apply doesn't mean you should apply, and is the reason that catchments or priority areas in the main have been brought in. It is also one of the major factors in children dropping out of school places in y7/8/9 as they suddenly realise they cannot handle the workload and the travel.

There are a few parents who do move "properly" for a school place to minimise travel time and allow their child to fully participate in the school the parent has targetted, but many more actually just attempt to game the system, with no thought for the local child who loses out on a place as they do it. I think these are who many experienced forumites are trying to put off....

And, yes, most do rightly think that children who live in the area, contribute to the local community, whose families have possibly lived there since the children were born, should get priority over those who fly in from, in some cases, other countries or the other end of this country - no real surprise there! Ths is not trying to create more chances for IC it is just being sympathetic and aware of their situation.