Question about secondary school entry

[Yorkpud]

You know how all the schools seem to have specialist areas, eg sport or IT etc. If your catchment school's specialism is not of interest to your child but a nearby school's one is, can you apply on those grounds or does it not mean anything in the grand scheme of things?

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

Don't think it matters much. If it's not oversubscribed, you could put in your 'reasons' bit that your child has strong interest in dance/drama/languages, but the specialisms aren't that specialist IME! I can't even remember what ours is!

[KitKatGirl1]

Look at the school in question's admissions criteria. I think the law was that schools with 'academic' specialisms are not allowed to admit anyone especially under 'academic aptitude criteria' but non-academic specialist schools are (eg drama/art/PE/tech etc) - for up to 10% max, but not all of them do, of course.

In our area there are at least 2 Perf Arts specialist schools which will admit 10% by aptitude (you play an instrument/belong to a drama group etc) and one technology one and one sports one which also do. Obviously the science/maths ones etc are not allowed. And if it's a grammar you have to pass the normal entrance test as well.

It really will vary from school to school.

[Yorkpud]

Thanks for your replies. It is pretty much what I thought. I think my non-sporty son will end up at a sports academy, then again second son is very sporty!!