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Selected Quote:

“I am writing to tell you how much I appreciate your help for me and my family to win the appeal All I can say is a big thank you (on behalf of my family).
Best wishes
Anna age 11”

Grammar School Applications

  Last year's pass mark for the Kent 11+ was a requirement for the child to reach an aggregate score of 360 across the three tests of VR, NVR and mathematics, with a minimum score of 117 in any one test. Although the mimimum score is up from 115 from last year, this does not mean that the assessement is harder. 21% of children in the 'selective' areas of Kent will still have passed automatically, another 4% being awarded a selective assessment after the headteacher's assessment.

 Application Process for 2011 entry

Once again parents will be able to register for the Kent Test online via www.kent.gov.uk/ola. If they register online and provide an e-mail address, they will receive their child’s assessment decision via e-mail on 18 October 2010. I do recommend this process as each year postal results for some children are delayed. 

When results are sent out on 18th October, they will simply confirm whether the child has passed the Kent tests or not. Further details will be supplied to the primary school headteacher who will be able to give parents the exact scores. Parents will be able to ask their primary school for this information. Those who consider appealing are in for a long wait, as you cannot appeal until you are allocated a school on 1st March. The first appeals are generally heard by the beginning of May. Feel sorry for those given an assessment on 18th October 2010, whose appeal is not heard until the beginning of July 2011!

The pass mark is set  to select 21% of Kent children and may vary from year to year. This variation does not mean that the test varies in standard.

Primary school headteachers are provided with the results at the beginning of October. They have the right to apply for a 'Headteacher Assessment' for children who have not reached the pass standard. This is carried out on a confidential basis without parents being informed.  A Panel of headteachers then considers a selection of work submitted by the primary school, the English Paper taken as part of the Kent Test and a report containing evidence from the Primary headteacher.  This process produces a further 4%  to bring the total of 25% from the Kent selective areas. Children from outside these areas are considered on the same basis but do not count in the statistical exercise. If the child is successful in the headteacher assessment, then the decision is regarded as a pass on an equal footing with those who gained automatic selection through test results. This means that the child is found selective and this decision is recongised at all Kent grammar schools. Importantly, Government has confirmed that this process is an assessment, not a review. The difference in definition is important as new government legislation places severe constraints on applicants applying for a Review in authorities such as  Medway (go to Review).

• PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO REASONS FOR TAKING THE KENT TESTS AFTER THE DUE DATE:
•  1) YOUR CHILD IS ILL FOR ONE OR BOTH TESTS AND THIS IS CONFIRMED BY A DOCTOR'S LETTER;
   2) YOU MOVE INTO KENT AFTER 2 JULY AND BEFORE 14 DECEMBER 2010.
  OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH 29 AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WHO WILL ARRANGE TESTING.

• A total of 26% of boys and 25% of girls out of the whole cohort of children living in "selective areas of Kent" were found selective for 2010 entry. This excludes children living in 'comprehensive' areas or outside Kent who took the tests. The proportion of children in the west of the county taking the tests is lower than in the east, whilst the proportion passing is higher.

• The following schools will offer some or all of their places to the highest scoring applicants. You need to read the oversubscription criteria  to determine the rules:  Chatham House Gramamr School, Dartford Grammar School, Dartford Grammar School for Girls, Gravesend Grammar School, Gravesend Grammar School for Girls, Judd School, Maidstone Grammar School, Rainham Mark Grammar School, Rochester Grammar School (Girls), Skinners School, Tonbridge Grammar School (Girls). You will not know the pass mark before applying, although there is guidance elsewhere on this website. The mark will be determined by the scores of those applying and will become public in March 2009 when decisions are announced.

• Details of Kent Test result statistics for 2010 entry are posted here. Medway Test result and Review statistics for 2010 entry  are here.

 Following my campaign to persuade Medway Council to open up opportunities for children to take the Medway test late, in order to qualify for nearly 100 vacant spaces at Chatham Grammar School for Boys, Chatham Grammar School for Girls and Fort Pitt Grammar School the Council confirmed in May 2009 that: