CAF form done-now the wait (support thread)

@SweetsAndChocolates yes, I'm thinking the school you are referring to is B or C? We are further north.

Glad you've found an alternative school and best of luck. For us, and based on our experience with older DC, we feel the grammar school is the right option. However, I don't think that is a given in every circumstance and there is so much more to choosing a school than whether it is selective or not.

@SweetsAndChocolates I am also in the NW! From the snips you have posted about the wording of the letter you received, I have a feeling your DC might have taken the 11+ at a different school to us...

@Bunnyjo Oh I see, sorry.

@ChildOfFriday I am aware what @admission is saying and I do not disagree. I am saying that the schools in question are doing this right under the nose of the LAs and are making no secret of it. This isn’t a recent change, they have reported the results in the same way for at least 4 years.

@Bunnyjo It is in the admissions code that schools should release the results of selective tests before 31st October, so the schools are doing the correct thing by releasing the scores or whether or not the child has reached the pass mark. I think what @admission meant (apologies if I'm wrong) is that they feel it's a bit off for the school to say in their letter that you're in the top X places and so are effectively guaranteed a place (as that shouldn't be revealed until 1st March), rather than just listing the score and what the cut off score has been for the past few years.

@admission criteria is based solely on 11+ scores. Interestingly the schools I am referring to span two counties and all schools have their admissions criteria on the LA websites, including they report scores. I can only presume that the LAs have not read the criteria before adding to their website, or, because there are so few grammar schools here they are less concerned about this.

@SweetsAndChocolates unless you live near us, it sounds like there are more than the two grammar schools counties that I know of opting to report results this way.

Just a few hours to the deadline. Had a major wobble here as DD has been in floods of tears saying we haven't listened to her because we haven't gone with her choice.

What is the full admission criteria for your preferred school?
Is the criteria based solely on the 11+ scores, with the top X being offered a place or is it a grammar school that has a minimum pass level of the 11+ ?
If it is the latter then the letter from the school is both misleading and wrong, there is absolutely no guarantee of a place at the school.
Even if it is the top X scores, when I suppose what they are saying is correct, then I think it goes against the spirit of the whole admission procedures of not being advised of the outcome of the request till the 1st March. If I was in that area I would definitely be arguing that the LA should stop the schools from making such statement as not being in the spirit of the admission guidance.

Glad to hear they do explain the equal preference system and the importance of ranking the schools in your true preference order. Congratulations @Bunnyjo and well done to your DC!

Previously the grammar schools round here sent out scores, like many grammar areas still do. I have my reservations - the cynic in me says these schools haven't changed the way they report the 11+ results for altruistic reasons.

@TeenMinusTests I agree- I also thought it sounded a bit disingenuous. What they mean in their wording is that you are only guaranteed a place if you put them first because if you don't you may get a school you listed higher instead, as everyone can only get one offer on Offer Day. However, as you said, someone who lists a school they don't get into in first position and the grammar second would definitely not lose their place at the grammar for listing it second (or even for listing it sixth if they didn't get into any of the schools they listed higher) and schools writing things like this that can be misinterpreted can lead to the spread of the 'schools prioritise people who put them first' myth.

stating that the DC have a guaranteed place at the school as long as a valid and on time application, with that school as first preference, is submitted to the Local Authority.

That is a bit disingenuous .
It is partly true, but partly misleading.
If you preferred faraway-hopeless-chance school (FHC) and put it first, and the grammar second, then when you didn't get FHC you would still be guaranteed the grammar even though you had put it second.
Of course if for some reason you did get FHC then you wouldn't get the grammar, but only because you got something you wanted even more.

We are in an enviable position as we know DS will be going to our preferred grammar school, where our DD is already a pupil.

There are very few grammar schools in our area and most have 11+ scores as the initial ranking criteria. A few of those schools, including our preferred choice, send a letter to the top (pan of school) scores stating that the DC have a guaranteed place at the school as long as a valid and on time application, with that school as first preference, is submitted to the Local Authority.

It's a lovely position to be in, but hasn't stopped my putting our catchment comprehensive and an undersubscribed comprehensive in our nearest town as second and third preferences!

1st September
On-line application system goes live, and paper application forms are made available

31st October
Closing date for secondary applications

By 5th November
Primary schools/academies to forward any paper application forms to the School Admissions Team

By 19th November
Preferences to be exchanged with neighboring admissions authorities

By 10th December
Ranked lists from Voluntary Aided schools/ academies to be returned to the School Admissions Team

Week commencing 24th January
Offers to be confirmed with other admissions authorities

Week commencing Monday 14th February
Final lists of allocated students to be sent to all schools and academies

On or by Tuesday 1st March
Email notification will be sent to applicants who applied on-line. Letters will be issued on the previous working day and are likely to arrive after the on-line system notifications

The closing dates and offer dates are national statutory requirements. The dates of exchanges of information may on occasion vary slightly by agreement, to take into account local issues associated with workload and/or specific situations affecting a school/academy.

This is the coordinated scheme near me. Lots of logistics to sort along with late applications, house moves, changes of mind and circumstances to consider. It’s a huge task.

Coming to wait in here too please, March seems like a ridiculously long time to wait. We have 2 grammar schools as top 2 choices, 2 massively over subscribed schools that had aptitude tests for 3 and 4, then our 2 closest schools as 5 and 6, with 5 being the 1 we're technically not catchment for although a mere mile up the road they are. Fully aware that this list makes it look like I've decided to make things as stressful as possible for myself! Results for 11+ and aptitude suggest that we won't need to look outside the top 3 choices but I'm just aware you just don't know officially until March so lots of nail biting to do.

All the research, visits, comparing stats, waiting for test results and sleepless nights agonising over preferences and then just ten minutes to complete the CAF !!! It's a bit of anti-climax - hopefully the relief will wash over soon.

It was the order of the 1st and 2nd choices that was so hard as we are fairly confident we would get either one.

Good luck everyone anyway!

Our council didn’t request anything either. The last borough we lived in - when we were applying for primary places - they wanted all kinds of proof, including evidence that the children lived with us. Which is quite hard to muster if you don’t get benefits and your child doesn’t have regular involvement with NHS services.

I also like the as long as you include a sure fire local comp… there are some parts of London where that really isn’t an option. You might end up with a school in a neighbouring borough, at best…