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Secondary education

academy 10% places reserved for sport

32 replies

3asAbird · 23/10/2016 10:46

I know it's quite common for academies to specialise and some reserve 10% so specific specialism and many have aptitude tests for music /languages/sport ect.

We interested in 1 Co ed comp that reserves places for sport.
But it's not an aptitude test it's based on out of school sports record.

It's says sporting excellence must have reference from sports coach and play sport at national level.

My Dd is very sporty seems good at most sports.
She's been doing 1 specific individual sport since age 3 and reached high level but she's not competitive so therefore cannot be national.
Her coach said he write a reference.

I said to a freind national level is pretty high threshold for a fairly big standard comp.
I would imagine sports people at national try for scholarships at independent or try get into more prestigious schools.

So I messaged admissions officer of the schools clarifying if this strict rules on national always applies if reference and can prove she's talented , reached a high level and is dedicated but she's non competitive.
The reply was there's no specific rules that they have to be competitive but can't see how anyone can be national without competing .

So found last year's allocation statement .
No sports places given.
Does this mean the threshold too high and no one applied or people tried and failed?

Also on the allocation list next to 0 places given to sports it says child performs beyond age range in that particular sport which my dd does and British gymnastics association confirm that advanced proficiency gyms is 11plus secondary level yet we half way through bronze in year 6.

I thourght 10% had be reserved for specialisms and rest distance.
But last year was all distance.
Obviously they can't help it if no implies .
But 2 schools with sporting specialisms are very vague on exact criteria just say national level.

I think sports aptitude test be fairer.
Seems a pointless category to have if not used.

Can't find allocation statement for 2014 or 15 but guess I could ring admissions.
The admissions officer at schools new to position and has not really given me much detail.

Thinking chancing applying under sports criteria worst they can do is reject it and we go on distance which also affords us good chance based on last 2 years furthest distances.

But feel a sports place boost my dd confidence as she's not overly academic.
Not sure if there's such a thing as gifted and talented list anymore although seen it mentioned on mumsnet.

Whilst it has a lovely new sports hall and plays lots matches against local schools and does well dident seem overly better than other schools sports facilities.

Would they tell us which criteria was accepted before March 1st so we had some idea or will it be total surprise in march.

We have done a music aptitude test and languages test for other schools and will be informed by October 31st.

Anyone else applied for similar criteria?

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SaltyMyDear · 23/10/2016 13:43

My DD got accepted to a school on the 10% sports aptitude thingy.

You had to provide a reference from your coach etc, and also do an assessment at school.

All places were filled, and I know a lot of children missed out. But not all children who were accepted were competing nationally!

It's always worth applying for these things. I think they normally tell you if you got in on the selective place before the application deadline? I know DDs school did. So if you don't get selected you don't need to apply for it if you don't want to.

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 14:21

Thanks salty and assessment sounds fair enough .
But this school doesn't assess
National seems like very high threshold even for team sports .
Website doesn't make it clear if we find out before March 1sr
Won't find out before 31st as need hand in supplementary evidence form and reference in on 31st 1st day back.
Will hand deliver it just to be sure .

I imagine after deadline they then sit round a room have a meeting and go through the sports pile then they inform local authority to put her down as sports or distance criteria.

Just seems odd no one under sports last year at all another nearby school had 4 but could take 12 national standard athletes.

I was hoping there be few sporty people there not my dd be only 1.

It's a 2nd preference and last 2 years we woukd have got in on distance it's just sports be boost to daughter and possibly indicate we have a place as march seems like such a long wait to stress.

We know no 1 is long shot.
This is a reasonable school out if catchment but easy commute so much better fit than our 6 nearest state schools.
Based on distance we stand good chance and put nearer school as 3rd.

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admission · 23/10/2016 19:52

It is not unusual to have an admission criteria which has a percentage against it but as in this one, they only have to take up to that level providing that there are suitable applicants.
This is where the concerns start because the admission code is quite clear in para 1.31 that the tests applied to choosing such pupils must be clear, objective and give an accurate reflection of the child's ability or aptitude, irrespective of sex, race or disability. Para 1.32 then says that admission authorities must ensure that tests for aptitude in a particular subject are designed to test only for aptitude and not for ability.
To me asking for sports at a national level seems much more ability than aptitude. Another interesting question is whether someone who is disable but competing at a national level would be given a place or not?

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Ta1kinpeece · 23/10/2016 20:13

I know it's quite common for academies to specialise and some reserve 10% so specific specialism
link please ?

Specialist schools were never about admission and the funding went years ago

selective schools are rare .... links to those that do would be useful as none round here do in any way

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 20:59

Thanks guys.

Says sporting excellence not sporting aptitude guess it's all in the wording but seems bit high threshold that people have be sporting athletes have be national level would require quite a well off family with plenty not time I imagine.

Many bath schools have a sports categories.

2 oversubscribed bristol schools have 10% musical aptitudes test and foreign language as aptitude tests not prior experience so thought 10% selection must be common amongst some academies.

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Ta1kinpeece · 23/10/2016 21:03

Many bath schools - so that is about 5
2 oversubscribed bristol schools
still under ten schools

it is highly unusual .... does not happen in most of the country as its frankly silly

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SaltyMyDear · 23/10/2016 21:06

10% selection category is common. Lots and lots of London schools have it. They select on sport or Football or music or MFL or Art.

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:07

www.beechencliff.org.uk/admissions/lower-school-admissions/

Under admissions year 7 12 places sporting excellence

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:09

www.hayesfield.com/index.php/information/admissions/

Same 12 places sporting excellence .

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:12
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Ta1kinpeece · 23/10/2016 21:14

Lots and lots of London schools have it.
list them, if its under 100 then its not lots
seriously
its is NOT a common system

none in Cornwall, none in Devon, none in Dorset, none in Hampshire, none in Wiltshire, none in Surrey, none in Sussex, none in Kent, none in Essex, none in Suffolk, none in Norfolk, none in Lincolnshire etc etc

partial selection can only ever work in urban areas where there are more than three secondary schools within any 5 mile radius

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:15

Cathdral is musical aptitude test.

Colstons girls is 14 places languages.

www.colstonsgirls.bristol.sch.uk/information/admissions/

Don't Harris academies select 10 percent certain specialisms within London?

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altik · 23/10/2016 21:17

If it's gymnastics, and you only need to be able to show that she's at National levels - why not look at the national or compulsory grades for her age?

If she's at that skill level, then you know whether to go down that route or not. So depending on her age... she'll be national 4 or 3. Look at her skills see how many of them she can complete.

www.british-gymnastics.org/technical-information/discipline-updates/womens-artistic/5304-ndp-grades-provisional-overview-19-june-2014/file

If she's nowhere near that standard, you might need to consider taking a different route...

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:18

Well if course bath and bristol are cities so lots if secondary schools.
Hundreds people sit the tests for so ww places.

Bath seems different with its sporting excellence and no actual aptitude tests.
The independent sector locally offers 50% off fees for sports scholarships

I don't know if last year's figure of 0 sports meant no one applied or lots got rejected under that criteria.

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Ta1kinpeece · 23/10/2016 21:20

3as
it is NOT normal .... most schools do not select . full stop

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Ollycat · 23/10/2016 21:27

As a state school they must have a clear / open / non subjective policy which states how they select. Have you asked the school for details

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:28

Thanks altik will go through it with dd tommorow

Found another schools south east 20% sport.

As quite a few locally just assumed was common

www.theharefieldacademy.org/page/?title=Admissions%2FAppeals&pid=182

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:31
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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:35

se22pianoschool.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/which-state-secondary-schools-use-the-music-aptitude-test/

List state schools who have % intake based on musical aptitude test.

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:40
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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 21:44
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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 22:13

My daughters quite good at many things not

www.theguardian.com/education/2014/nov/24/london-school-select-pupils-rowing-admissions-mossbourne




Seems academies must have the rights to some how partially select on specific areas.
Aptitude I guess is fairer than ability as ability is an advantage.
We don't live in grammar county so it's only selection we get.

2 schools in bristol not only have verbal reasoning to fair band.
But also random allocation /lottery

It's all quite long winded and complex.

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3asAbird · 23/10/2016 22:47

www.birkenheadhigh.gdst.net/admissions/year-7-admissions

10% musical aptitude and fair banded does make it bit more selective than comprehensive.

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Me2017 · 24/10/2016 12:53

3 of mine won music scholarships at 12+ and they had grades 7 and 8 in AB exams much younger than most people so that was achievement as much as aptitude. However all the schools say even if you have not done any exams at all but are good you can sit for music scholarships which is fair enough.

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