What is this business about 'assured places' in from primary to secondary schools?

[Mrshighandmighty]

I have a friend who is convinced she has found a way to circumvent the entrance exam system by shelling out thousands for her son to transfer in a few weeks from a state primary (yr5) to Denmead, a prep school feeder for Hampton. She is absolutely certain that because he has passed the entrance assessment for joining the school, that her 'assured place' that Denmead have told her is what her son now has is her 'golden ticket' for Hampton and she can sit back and relax for the rest of yr 5 and 6.

Does anyone know about these systems? Have I missed a trick here? I have four boys, two of whom have failed to pass the Hampton exam, so I know how intellectually rigorous the school is. I have another two chances with the next two, so I should appreciate any insight if I have missed a trick ...

It would appear to be possible:

www.hamptonschool.org.uk/The-School/Overview/Denmead.aspx

BUT just getting into Denmead isn't enough, she's wrong about that, although he may have already done enough to get the assured place as well of course.

She's right. Denmead offers 'guaranteed places' for Hampton School from year 3, for boys with the right academic potential. Transferring a bright boy into year 5 is a savvy thing to do!

I don't know about this particular school, but I have 2 friends who have transferred their children in Y5 for exactly the same reasons at two different independent schools, so it must be fairly common practice.

Emy72 - could you say which schools they are? And what if she only transferred her son because she was afraid he wouldn't pass the entrance exam?

Cannot really say, but they are both academically selective and not in London.

I know that it is a fairly common practice though as children seem to leave our local primary in droves come year 4 and 5 (to different private schools).

Of course they will test the children anyway, but competition for secondary places is so fierce that the children will stand a much better chance.

Hope this helps!!!!

MrsH - it isn't about 'passing' the entrance exam. Schools like Hampton are so over-subscribed they probably turn down a large number of bright boys who would have done well at the school.

The feeder prep school route gives an already good candidate a better chance. Denmead just formalise this for some of their brighter boys.

But as there is a lack of selective schools for boys in your area- there are no other tricks, that I know about, that could help you - sorry.

It is well known here that for one of the girls schools it is much easier to get into the senior school from their own junior school (even the girls at the junior school know this). Another girls school created a huge fuss a few years ago when a new headmistress made it non-automatic to get into the senior school from the junior school.

In both cases girls who had slipped through the entrance proceedure at 4 but were obviously unsuited were/are still encouraged to "find a more suitable school" before 11.

Generally the assessment for Year 5 admission will be different from the 11+ or 13+ admission requirements. Ds1 has moved school in Year 5 and is now guaranteed admission to the associated senior school. He'll still sit the scholarship exam, but even if he flunks it he is in. The advantage for us was that the assessment for Year 5 is done on the basis of CAT-type tests, so closer to IQ tests rather than the traditional maths/English verbal reasoning. Ds1 has always performed significantly better in the CAT tests that in his usual end school exams, so this was a no-brainer for us.

Given that I was geared up for 11+ prep (have loads of books and past papers), I've found the change in outlook quite odd.

Well thanks everyone - I must say I thought I was jemmed up on the whole 11+ process, but this passed me by!

The thing that still puzzles though, is what happens if the child with the 'assured place' struggles to achieve the required grade to ensure that when they join yr 7 they aren't at a huge disadvantage to everyone who passed the 11+ ...?

Is it a way in for those who can pay but can't pass?

MrsH - I assume they only offer assured places because they consider they are good at picking boys who will be fine at the secondary school.

As I posted earlier, schools like Hampton reject many 'suitable' boy's at 10+ or 11+. They just need to be fairly sure that the ones they get are right for the school. A boy scoring very highly at 8+ or 9+ and interviewing well, is a likely to continue to do well. And with the added benefit of two years or so, 'prep school' education.

It also keeps the prep full .

Is it a way in for those who can pay but can't pass?

No, not at all. One of our local school gets 1000 applications for 60 places, so only the super tutored or super bright pass.

Year 5 on the other hand is not oversubscribed, so if a child is bright enough they will get in without all the stress. Sounds like a no-brainer to me....