Tier 4 January entrance exams going ahead?

St Alban's boys sending out papers by post and parents invigilating and NO online invigilation!!!!

I can't understand why

@annahavana expect you are right and poverty is relative in these cases. I just knew it is part of the ethos of some schools and the way that some schools justify charitable status.

Sadly, I think the number of families with this degree of disadvantage who apply for private school bursaries is extremely small. In such a situation, I suspect a primary might help if it could. But yes, there could be some in this situation. I would also hope the private school would help if it could (eg allowing an individual child to take the test on site?).

Not a parent. I presume some private schools have full scholarships so that bright children with poor parents (state primary attending) can benefit. These families may not have access to be able to allow child to do online exams, including printers and steady WiFi. I doubt the state primary will facilitate so how will that work?

Good Morning ladies, does anyone know if SPGS cancelled the exam for overseas students as well or not?

Thank you @OptimysticMom. Difficult to imagine schools actually re-opening on the 18th with these case numbers so I really hope they go for remote exams for 11+ too. It would be a tough call to make if the choice was between foregoing a potential school place or risking catching Covid at an in-person exam. Also very unfair on the child to put such a responsibility on them: what if they went to sit the exam, caught Covid and then gave it to a parent or sibling, who became very ill a result?

WUS is having their own boys take the Great School Test on location on 16th. They have sent correspondence re: 7+ & 8+, now being conducted at home next week. Guess they are waiting for further guidance to determine plan for external candidates for 11+/13+. You should hear from them possibly by next Friday. From last correspondence yesterday, school resumes in person on 18th, so do hope the exam is administered on site/sports hall. Though w the expected numbers, WUS may need to reassess plans.

Does anyone know whether WUS will go ahead with in-person tests in mid-Jan as planned? I would expect not, since there would be many kids from so many schools...

We have had an email from Hampton today (DS sat the ISEB in November and has been invited for interview) to confirm that they will go ahead with face to face interviews, albeit with strict health and safety measures put in place.

I am surprised tbh, as I really was expecting them to revert to Zoom, but as other schools have also confirmed, apparently 'travel to these assessments is considered to be essential travel'...

Which does make you wonder why some schools seem able to go ahead with exams whilst others have cancelled, but I guess it depends on candidate application numbers, and how easily they can accommodate those numbers on site. St Georges Weybridge for example would not, I am guessing, have as many applications as many of the central London schools, and they have a big site with plenty of space. So frustrating for those with cancelled exams though.

Our exam set for Monday has been confirmed today. Senior schools are using the opportunity to host exams without the wider school to juggle and remaining empty the past 3 weeks.

@realitybites1 Sevenoaks. They're increasing the social distancing for the first paper and then bringing in a shortlisting cut before the next set of papers/interview. Quite sensible I think - reduce the numbers as much as possible while still keeping testing in place.

Pato I'm sorry you've been disappointed by the exam cancellation but I would like to reassure you that in my experience it's usually perfectly obvious from a conversation with a child when they're very bright, even if they're quite shy. It's usually a better indicator than exam results. I acknowledge Zoom makes it a little more awkward but I'm sure your daughters intellect will show through.

Disclaimer, I don't work in admissions but do work in the classroom at a secondary school.

St George’s is going ahead with on-site exams. Apparently it’s considered essential travel by the government! Although they do ask anyone who feels concerned to contact them.

@warfinch, what school is it? I have to say i'm very surprised!

@warfinch I think many will be unhappy about the situation but doubt many will voice it to the schools and expect some may withdraw as a result but that won’t bother them much particularly if high number of applicants. Still waiting on news from Emanuel re: onsite exams planned 9/15th Jan and expect they won’t surprise me if they carry on as planned with exams on site :(( as the school will be empty of their secondary pupils delay returning back.

Wow, just found out ours is going ahead in person in school (with some changes) despite being in a Tier 4 contingency area. Not sure how I feel about that yet .

I am so confused/manic/frustrated and angry! My daughter was due to sit two exams , one of which is now cancelled as part of the consortium....RMS...which has not communicated any information by email or website. I'm so going crazy with the idea of online invigilation. Would anyone mind pm me their schools online invigilation process. I know all may be different but I just can't sit 9n my hands the unknown is really worrying me. My daughter strength was writing so already moving to CEM with the consortium was hard. To add to the fun and games my son has three exams....yes lucky me! Again NO communication.in my tiny one cell brain the on site shouldn't take place even if the school is open because you are asking primary school boys to move from an area where their primary is closed due to high cases. Bothy children go to state and have not sat iseb so even if the school's decide to buy data as i have read on this forum my children won't be covered. I know i sound crazy the fact is i am...and I wish i could run two hours but i can't hahahah instead a slab of chocolate had to do. I understand that maybe instructions might not be able to go on the thread but would appreciate it through pm.

I don’t see the government as seeing private schools entrance exams as being that important...I mean putting this into perspective covid has prevented people from saying goodby to loved ones in hospital....

I can’t see them letting kids from the ‘hotspots’ travel to the schools though. It’s all so uncertain!

@After8itsgrownuptime @NoToMisogyny

I posted on the Indie girls thread:

^^Just thinking as it says:

“ Secondary schools and colleges will continue with a staggered return but with one week’s delay, providing face-to-face education for exam year groups from 11 January and the return of all students on 18 January. Vocational exams scheduled for the first weeks of January will go ahead as planned.”

This might mean that the schools will still accommodate the exams as planned if they are not affected and won’t be closed as such...

@NoToMisogyny - I agree. Very weird about Kingston.
I reckon we will all have emails within a few hours from the schools involved . This is the announcement the schools have been waiting for

Not Kingston, bizarrely, which has higher rates than Richmond!

All the SW London boroughs seem to be in the 'contingency plan' area, so expect new guidance soon!

Much sympathy to those grappling with this

Popping over from the girls indie thread to offer a hug and a hand hold.

I reckon a bunch of schools have their emails written and are waiting to push the ‘send’ button after today’s announcement is announced..

@TheExtraGuineaPig we are waiting to hear from st Georges and Halliford school as well. Our other school, St. John’s , sent out an email last week saying they have a plan B and they will let us know by 31st December . It’s the not knowing that is a nightmare