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Original poster

Schools admission criteria......

715 replies

LookingforMaryPoppins · 18/10/2025 23:01

So, my youngest has her heart set on the same grammar school as her sister. She has worked hard and successfully passed the 11 plus. Really proud off her, she is dyslexic so no mean feat.... having just checked the admission criteria, having a sibling at the school makes no difference. Passing the 11 plus is the first criteria followed by children in care, pupil premium and then distance - she is bottom of the pile. If she doesn't get a place, which with that criteria is likely., the option is a sink failing school..... how is that fair?

OP posts:
Peridoteage · 18/10/2025 23:34

Fewer and fewer schools have sibling priority now. Too many people abused it to live near by and get DC1 in, then relied on sibling priority for subsequent kids while living miles away. Did you move op? The birthrate has dropped the past couple of years so if you still live in the same property you'd expect to have a better chance at a place

PollyBell · 18/10/2025 23:34

Why didnt you check all the criteria before assuming?

BallerinaRadio · 18/10/2025 23:26

Feels like there's big chunks of missing information here

StrawberryFreckles · 18/10/2025 23:24

I’ve read the OP three times now and I still don’t understand why you think it’s unfair.

DiscoBob · 18/10/2025 23:21

Every child deserves to go to a decent school. If someone has no siblings or siblibgs are much older or not as academic so chose to go elsewhere, why should that child be penalised?

Tiswa · 18/10/2025 23:19

That is fairly normal though to get in on distance? You pass and then it is on where you live. It is the main criteria for most admissions

and I don’t think grammar should or do have sibling rules

Fifty50Fifty · 18/10/2025 23:17

Do you mean that passing the 11+ is a pre-condition to all those criteria, and then in that order?

NerrSnerr · 18/10/2025 23:09

If she passed the 11+ and her sister got in on distance what’s the problem?

Also, do you think it’s fair that all the other children who don’t get into grammar have to go to the other school?

DarkForces · 18/10/2025 23:06

Have you moved?

Lemoncanine · 18/10/2025 23:05

It’s not unfair - she is in exactly the same situation as her sister before her. I can see it’s worrying, but that doesn’t make it unfair…

Littletreefrog · 18/10/2025 23:04

But she passed the 11 plus so she is in category 1 isn't she? And her sister presumably got in on passing and distance. Have you moved?

Bufftailed · 18/10/2025 23:04

Is it fair on anyone going to a sink school?

LIZS · 18/10/2025 23:03

Presumably her sister got in on distance before her, or have you moved since? Grammars often don’t use sibling criteria.

Shutuptrevor · 18/10/2025 23:03

I’m confused. If she passed then she’s surely in Category 1?

I don’t think you can be that surprised that a selective entry school… selects?

MyOlivePanda · 18/10/2025 23:03

Won’t she have the same chance of getting in as her sister did?