QUESTION AND ANSWER
"What scores should my son get in the Kent 11+ if he is to pass?".The scores vary from year to year, as they are designed to select 21% of the Kent population (the next 4% are selected through headteacher appeals). Last year the scores were 120, 120, 115 allowing children to drop a few points on one test, but previous years have seen many different variations. Standardised tests bought from the NFER, WH Smiths, or elsewhere should always have a standardisation chart, taking into account your child's age. The 21st percentile comes out at a score of 113, which is an indicator he is in the right area if he has not been prepared, the higher scores in the Kent tests being down to a number of factors.
"We live in West Kent and our daughter should pass the 11+. What happens if we just put grammar schools on her list".
If she passes the 11+ and you are eligible for one or more of the schools, by distance or in the case of TOGS by score, you will be offered a place at the highest one on your CAF. If you live in a selective area and are offered none of these, you will be offered a place at a grammar school in another area, probably Maidstone or Gravesend if they have vacancies. Last year some West Kent boys were offered Norton Knatchbull, Ashford. If you have just grammar schools on your list and she does not pass the eleven plus, she will be offered a place at a West Kent non-selective school with vacancies. Last year there was just one of these! If you put a non-selective school as third choice and she does not get into her first choice grammar schools, she will be offered this if eligible for a place, rather than another grammar schoool. Otherwise, she will be offered a grammar school place somewhere there are vacancies. Yes, this is complicated - that's the reality!
"Last year Simon Langton Boys Grammar was heavily oversubscribed. We live in a village a few miles out and local boys weren't offered places. Will this happen this year"
I have no answer and don't know anyone who has. The level of oversubscription took everyone by surprise. The headmaster positively encouraged very high scoring boys who had not been offered places to appeal and, surprise, surprise these were the ones who tended to be successful on appeal rather than those who lived nearest! Canterbury is a very difficult town with three succcessful oversubscribed non-selective schools and one unpopular, although it is turning into an academy. With three choices, you need to weigh decisions carefully.
"Although we live in Kent, we are on the border of Medway and so are looking to apply for Highsted Grammar and a Medway grammar school. We have already registered to take the Medway 11+. Have you any advice?"
Whilst Medway parents will know the results of the 11+ before they make their applications, you will not. As you only have three choices (Medway parents have six), you need to think carefully. The different nature of the tests (see main page) means that some children will pass one and not the other, so taking both tests is worthwhile if you are not confident she will pass. Two Sittingbourne non-selective schools are oversubscribed, the third is likely to be, so consider the choice of non-selective school well, as some parents whose children are unsuccessful in the 11+ are allocated schools in Faversham or Maidstone areas if they don't qualify for gramamr school. Your nearest grammar school is likely to be Rainham Mark. Whilst this selects highest scorers, in each of the past two years it has taken all children who passed the Medway tests, so there is unlikely to be concern there, unless the new admissions system changes application patterns. Some other children get in on appeal. If you want to be certain, try Fort Pitt, which has a large theoretical intake but, with falling rolls is certain to take all who pass and have applied. Appeals in Medway are consdierably harder than in Kent, so if you don't succeed at Highsted, always consider an appeal, I am happy to advise on chances of success.
"I have been told by a school I visited that I must put them first if I am to be offered a place. Is this true?"
No. Schemes allowing this have been abolished in both Kent and Medway, and it is now illegal. No school knows where it is on your CAF, so it can't offer first preferences anyway. You are simply offered the highest score on your CAF for which you are eligible.
"Why don't you give advice on Independent Schools".
Independent schools are precisely that. They follow their own rules and select who they wish. Some are highly academic; others in Kent & Medway specialise in picking up pupils who have just failed the eleven plus. Some are very good, others are not. If your child goes to an independent school the relationship is governed by a commercial contract. It's another world that I don't have the time or inclination to get involved with.
"Which Kent grammar schools will be oversubscribed this year?
None of the following is an indication of the quality of the school - mcuh depends on local population demands.
The following is my best estimate based on last year's pattern: all West Kent grammar schools: Tonbridge Grammar, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Girls, Weald of Kent Grammar School; Judd School, Skinners School, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, Dartford Grammar School, Dartford Grammar School for Girls. Also Maidstone Grammar School and Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys (both heavily oversubscribed last year, although neither has been completely full in previous years - reasons not clear), Dover Grammar School for Girls (others got in on appeal), Norton Knatchbull (not completely full last year, but Ashford is still growing), Highworth Grammar School, Rochester Grammar School, Chatham Grammar School for Girls (although this has not been full in previous years).
Many of these schools admitted extra pupils on appeal.
“We have purchased 11+ practice papers (multiple choice) and would like to know how many questions out of each pack our son needs to get to pass the Kent test.”
You need to have purchased tests
which contain standardisation tables, as your son should be in the top
25% of the population for his age group. If there are no tables, the
papers are merely for practice and you cannot work out from the score
how he might perform in the 11+.
You will find plenty of information at the NFER website. NFER
"If my daughter passes the Dover test for Dover Grammar School for Girls, will she be accepted at another Kent Grammar School".
The Dover tests for both Dover Grammar School for Boys and the Grammar School for Girls are designed for those schools only. As well as tests similar to those used by Kent - VR, NVR and Mathematics, they also take into account an English assessment. The Dover tests use the normal NFER cut off point for 25% of the population, which is lower than that applied for the Kent tests, and so more children are found suitable for a grammar school education in the first place. You will not be offered a place at another Kent grammar school on the strength of the Dover tests alone. You can use this as the basis of an appeal, but KCC will strongly resist any suggestion the Dover test is equivalent to the KCC test.
"What is the pass score for Tonbridge Grammar School".
This question also applies to Judd and Skinners. The pass score varies a little from year to year, and is the score necessary to recruit the required number of children. For this reason it changes from year to year and will not be known until places are offered on 3 March. Last year the score was 410 - maximum 420.