Camden Secondary School Admissions distances 2019

I think the September 19 and September 20 intakes were quite large at reception level. Maybe the 2021 intake was smaller and that will carry on to the secondary intake.

Last year one of the CSG bands moved to twice its original distance on waiting list. I noted that from MN, I’ve not seen the figures from the school. This year the same band has hardly moved, maybe by about the width of one multi-million pound house!

I see Camden have the dates for 2020. Parli was 1.13 miles..... Acland Burghley increased by the tiniest amount. We'll just have to hope waiting lists work in our favour for next year....
Eggsandwiches your info gives me some hope tho we're a different direction from the school to yourself.

From local parents to me near Fortune Green area, I understand last year was the first year that the Parliament Hill waiting list didn’t reach the area - those a little closer - other side of Finchley Road, got places by early September - one place got offered in error to someone who lived further away though and they were able to take up the place

I would also be interested to know. The papers we got from the open evening at Parli last year suggested a bigger cut off than offer day, I can't remember exactly what but DD would have got a place with the distance.
I haven't seen the 2020 offer day cut offs yet. Haringey have theirs online but nothing for Camden as yet.

I don’t I’m afraid but the schools may?
Acland Burghley admitted more children than its PAN over the last couple of years. I’m assuming this was because they were not full further up the school. I’m also assuming this was after offer day. The head said it was unlikely they could carry on doing this.

Did anyone find out what the cut off distances were by September 2019 (as opposed to those on offer day in March)? I'm interested in those for Parliament Hill and Acland Burghley.

It seems they usually take many more come September than they offer to in March, but it's hard to quantify as only the March figures are published. We would just have got an offer in March last year, but are very on-the-cusp and pupil numbers are increasing so it would be good to know how much the area expanded!

@revmedia I stand by the comment that you can improve a bit in non verbal reasoning but not a huge amount. It’s like an iq test and you can get a bit better but there is a ceiling to how well you do. So for example I know of a tutored child who is really good at verbal reasoning but not at non verbal - and with tutoring got a bit better at both - but was still much better at verbal because that was her strength. So I’m not saying don’t tutor - my point was more around the non verbal reasoning and why some very bright children who got outstanding SATS results (SATS do not test NVR) were not Band A in the NVR test at CSG - I don’t know if it’s a fact that there were no tutored girls in band D but it wouldn’t surprise me because as I said, it is possible to get a bit better at NVR, just not loads.

@Mumfortheroad
Saying that kids are either good at non-verbal reasoning or not is incorrect. Non-verbal reasoning can be learnt, this is why it is taught in private schools (why would private school's even bother with it if it only helped at little!) Comprehensive school children are at a disadvantage because non-verbal reasoning is not on the curriculum (unless you have been tutored). To suggest that tutored kids 'may get a little better' is misleading. Tutored and privately educated children are at a significant advantage this is why the majority of CSG Band A pupils attended private school's whereas there are no (none at all!) privately educated children in Band D. It's all about privilege.

Have been reading this with interest as we are thinking about CSG for sixth-form. Haven’t been to see it yet though as it’s a bit early still. Interested to read all the comments about entries from the private sector at sixth-form. I only know one boy who attended and he came from another state school. Does anyone know if CSG publish any data on their sixth-form new entries, i.e. in terms of schools they previously attended?

I only have reservations about CSG in that it socially and academically engineers and that’s not “fair” or equal oh, and I’m not sure about single sex!
DD isn’t likely to get managed out but that doesn’t make it right.
I’ve looked round Parli a few times but I didn’t feel the love. Others rave about it.
But yes you’re right-we have great schools and some choice-nice problem to have.

I'm intrigued - if you have reservations about CSG, surely Parli is the obvious alternative? I live too far from either to get a place, but it does seem that if you're in NW1 or NW5 your are essentially spoiled for choice (certainly for girls). GSG might be socially engineered, but clearly the teaching is top-notch.

And I should say I don’t know that for certain. I don’t know anyone it’s happened to personally. I’ve been told by two separate sources whom I consider to be reliable. Maybe it’s not true or there is more behind what these people consider to be the truth.

You’re child isn’t happy here-there’s a place at X which would suit them more.

Your child has needs that would be better met at x as they have y provision. Shall we see if there is a place?

I am intrigued. How do you manage children out of a school they are attending, beyond exclusions.

I’d be interested in hearing anything about CSG. We are in same position as Vin. DD unlikely to get a place but it’s worth a look and a space on the form.

One of the things that puts me off is the boys in the 6th form bring so much part of the life of the school. If I want a single sex school, I don’t want it with a huge dose of over privileged boys at the top of the hierarchy.

I know they ask girls to leave for 6th form, which is why I’ve not taken much notice of the 6 form results.

I’m also aware that children are managed out very quickly within the first few terms. The children aren’t fitting in very well and another school would be a better match. Tends to happen to families who can’t advocate for themselves. Another reason, apart from the banding, why I suppose there are no low achievers.

Is this right?no. Do I care? Yes. Would I want my DD there anyway? Maybe.

I have heard a few things recently that have put me off CSG.
Chances of DD getting a place are low but we may go and have a look around before ruling it out completely....

FYI - When thinking of choosing Camden School for Girls be mindful that if your daughter does not meet the high bar at GCSE they will be be turfed out without a second thought and their place filled by a child from the private sector. Other state options in the area work hard to support their pupils all the way through their education. Perhaps because they are real community schools with an ethos that reflects that.

Also agree that it’s not really a good way of getting a comprehensive intake

@huffthemagicdragon that was exactly my point - they are very different tests testing very different things - even the CSG website says that their tests which are based on non verbal and numerical reasoning, aren’t an indication of how well a child will do in school - so what I said is exactly what you said, that’s why a child can totally do well in sats but be band b at CSG or not do well in sats while being band a - in any case they will be reassessed once they are in the school so won’t matter much going forward.

I think the poster who said that VR is different from SATs is rather missing the point. There are girls with SATs in the range of 117-120 who are apparently not in the top 25% at CSG. I think it's only about 10% nationally who get greater depth across all subjects so those sort of scores must be in the top 5% or less surely? If banding is supposed to be getting a comprehensive range of abilities then it's not working at CSG evidently.

[FWIW my band A daughter got less good SATs results than that].

The fact CSG had 2/3 high and 1/3 middle (and precisely 0 low) prior attainers in the last GCSE cohort rather speaks for itself.

Admissions don’t close for the summer. I’ve spoken to them all through the summer when I was waiting for a reception place.

Maybe they were busy today with people trying to get in touch before schools close?

I’m not convinced about CSG being a comp if their band B girls get too marks on the Y7 SAYS.CSG do a maths test too, as well as the NVR.

I've been trying them today as well - had been hoping for one last waiting list update before the holidays! They told me the other week that the lists would be handed back to schools at the end of term, which is technically next week although of course many will be finishing tomorrow in practice.

On another note, does anyone know if the Camden admissions team are away for the summer now? No one answering the phone there today so wondered if the rounds of offers will stop for a while now?

Moverofpaper that’s because they are testing very different things. CSG only test non verbal reasoning which is very specific. Kids are either good at it or not and those who’ve been prepped may get a little better at it but it doesn’t improve greatly. SATS test what they’ve learnt over the years in primary school, so maths, grammar and comprehension. It’s a completely different test. I imagine some band A kids from CSG didn’t do well in sats if they aren’t good at comprehension for example.