11 plus Beths Grammar

[lovexmaslove]

So I have a question.

I think in 2018 or 2019 Beths accepted all selective qualified students and some other Bexley school's has wider catchments.

So I have heard that the 2020 Bexley test has been described as "not that difficult" but when it was more difficult it mean the catchments would move out. I am not speaking about specific content rather what people have said to me.

Does that mean if the test is easier then there is less chance the catchments will move out a long way?

My child lives in Blackheath.

We will know soon enough but I am wondering if the difficulty of the test affects the catchment.

The catchment distances seem to vary so much each year.

I realise it is all conjecture but I would be interested in what people think.

You can find the selective score for each year and compare it with the catchment distance. There’s probably someone on the elevenplus forum who’s done that already so I’d ask the same question there. Any chance your ds has a top 180 score so you don’t have to worry about distance?

Thank you

I can't seem to get onto that forum. It does seem a really intense forum too.

Not sure about the top 180.

I am starting to become more and more aware that we did way less work than others, even though I thought we did well.

And that is a good idea too. I will see if I can find something out along those lines.

I should just wait until the results now as I have no control.

the test results are standardised so an 'easy' test won't see a higher pass rate.

Also 10 year olds are notoriously bad at knowing whether an exam was easy or hard - so wouldn't read too much into that?

The key variable with Bexley has been how many kids sit the exam - and suspect this year there may be a higher take up of grammar places than normal -both those factors will impact catchment.

That said, pretty sure Blackheath ends up with a Beths/Chis and Sid place by the end of August every year -if you're prepared to be patient?

(and think you'd know if your kid was on track for a top 180 finish...)

Thank you so much for the response.

My child did not find it easy but others keep saying how easy it was.

And when how the catchment works was explained I thought we would be less likely - as surely if the test is easier then more people in Bexley will get in ? Which is probably the point but now you have explained standardisation I suppose it does not come into play as it is a ranking.

And my child is not top 180 at all. So we will hope that it goes well but don't realistically expect a place.