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Original poster

11+ admissions for outside catchments

30 replies

DavyJane · 28/06/2023 12:50

Hello,
I am a mum of a 7 year old child and have just started thinking about whether to move houses keeping in mind secondary school options or not.

I understand most schools have catchment areas, which mean that the children wihtin those areas need less marks than others to get a seat in the school.

In the case of children who live outside the catchment area and score really well, I understand the school will still offer a place if they score above the required level.
In this scenario, when the child accepts a place at their school, is the child expected to move into the catchment for the school to accept the application?

I am looking at schools the following schools in particular -

  1. Henrietta Barnett School
  2. The Tiffin Girls' School
  3. Nonsuch High School
  4. Wallington High School for Girls

It would be great if you could shed any light on this. I am outside the catchment for all of these.

My worry is that, if my child were to write and get into any of these schools (by some stroke of luck) whether we would need to move houses when she is in her Year 5/6 to just be able to accept admissions into the secondary schools.

Kind Regards
Davy Jane

OP posts:
BiscuitsandPuffin · 28/06/2023 15:00

No you don't need to move at all. Schools don't give you a place conditional on moving house. If you're in the 100 that score high enough, you have a school place even if you live in Cornwall for the next 30 years, but it's down to you to sort out how to get your child to the school.

Original poster
DavyJane · 28/06/2023 14:58

Thank you @LIZS . So it means that while the application will get accepted while the child is in Y5 going on Y6, there is enough time to scout out for houses and move before Y7 starts at any rate right?
I thought these schools expected you to move at the time the application is picked up itself :))

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/06/2023 14:51

Those 100 irrespective of address include non catchment and no you do not need to move. Bear in mind logistics of school day and travel though, for extra curricular and social activities.

Original poster
DavyJane · 28/06/2023 14:30

Thank you @PreplexJ

I am confused with the wordings of some of these school policies which is why I sought help in the forum. Please could you let me know if the below policy (Wallington's) states anywhere that an application from a child outside of the catchment and satistfying the scores will not be accepted cos of the address?

Because this is what I've heard but I cannot see the wording in the document, really sorry for the super long post ....

"4. THE ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE FOR A PLACE IN YEAR 7
4.1 In order to be eligible for entry to Year 7 (subject to the other provisions of this Policy), all
girls must sit and pass all parts of the two stage Entrance Test. The first stage is the
Selective Eligibility Test (hereafter the ‘SET’) and the second stage is the Nonsuch and
Wallington Second Stage Entrance Examination (hereafter the ‘NWSSEE’ and, together
with the SET, the ‘Entrance Test’).

4.2 The SET comprises two multiple choice tests: a Mathematics test and an English test.

4.3 Those girls who meet or exceed the pass mark in the SET will be invited back to sit the
NWSSEE, which comprises two tests: one in Mathematics and one in English, neither of
which is multiple choice.

4.4 Candidates must pass both parts of the NWSSEE to be eligible for a place.

4.5 The marks in the NWSSEE will then be added to half of the aggregate mark achieved in
the SET, with each part carrying equal weight, to create a total score in the Entrance Test.

4.6 The total scores will be used to create ranked lists.

4.7 In the event of the number of eligible applications exceeding the number of places
available in Year 7, the School’s selection criteria will be applied (see Section 5).

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR YEAR 7 ADMISSION
5.1 The selection criteria for admission to Year 7 described in this section will apply until 31
December in the year of entry.

5.2 In the event of the number of eligible applications exceeding the number of places
available in Year 7, places will be allocated in the order set out below:
5.2.1 Children who are Looked After Children who achieve the minimum qualifying threshold or above in the entrance test or whose score
is up to 10% lower than the standardised pass mark for the SET and the minimum standardised
pass marks in the NWSSEE Maths and NWSSEE English.
5.2.2 100 places on the basis of the score in the Entrance Test in order of highest score,
irrespective of home address.
5.2.3 Up to 35 places will be available for Children in receipt of Pupil Premium.
5.2.4 Up to 110 places linked to our catchment area. This will be in order of highest score
to those whose permanent place of residence on 31 October 2023 (the deadline for
submission of the Common Application Form) is within a 6.7km radius of the main entrance
to the School building. (Distances are verified by the London Borough of Sutton using a
Geographical Information System (GIS) computer program). The number of places allocated
under this criterion will be reduced by the number of places offered under the criteria in
sections 3.4, 5.2.1 and 5.2.3.
If parents/carers plan to move house after the Common Application Form (CAF) has been submitted, they will need to check
with the local authority they are moving into as to the latest date they can make a change to
their CAF in order for the new address to be used for the allocation of places. Documentary
evidence will be required by the Local Authority.
"

OP posts:
PreplexJ · 28/06/2023 13:10

You just list newly all the girls grammar school in London rank by their exam results. (maybe just missing Newstead in SE London).

With such kind of dedicated interest from age 7 I think it is worth spend extra time go to individual school to check the admission policies in details.

Also noted that these admission policy will change from year to year so you probably won't be certain it is the same in 3 years time.

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