Continued interest list - Watford Grammar

[mamalocco]

Does anyone have any experience in getting a place at WGGS from the CI list?

No but have you tried looking on the 11 + forum for Herts? There will be a thread on there as to how quickly the waiting list is moving at any given point in time.

Thanks - am on that forum too - a few threads about CI but nothing specific re WGGS. I know its a piece of string type question just wondering what our chances are based on previous years experience. Although based on previous years, dd would have got in on location! Heigh ho. Just have to wait for the first CI allocation run - thanks anyway.

Ah Ok well good luck - really hope your DD gets a place!

mamalocco, where do you live? as so many people seemed to have got in to WGG on distance this year, so surprising that your dd didn't get in this year if you say she would have last year. I even know someone who got in one distance, even though they put it down as their second choice.

They changed the rules this year from distance by road to distance as the crow flies - means some who live nearer but without an easy route by road will have benefitted and vice versa.

Also depends how many siblings they have.

Out of interest, do you find out your scores? My dd got in on exam but they won't tell us scores! which I think is good actually.

But leaves me curious...

We live on Cassiobury (Rickmansworth road end) 0.6 miles (1010 metres) away from the school. Thought the change in the way they measure would have helped us if anything (not that much in it) but apparently we are 11th on the waiting list for distance. According to 11 plus forum, the furthest child offered a place under the distance criteria last year lived 1634 metres away.

DD1 9th on academic waiting list but based on the academic places available for those living in Watford (ie 27 places) not really expecting a third of them to drop out.

Don't know scores although you can request a pupil audit report (haven't asked for dd1's but will). Last couple of years 236-240 required to secure place at WGGS. We've been offered Rickmansworth - which I'm reasonably happy with (dd1 another story!!). Think minimum score for Rickmansworth currently 227 (although obviously will change after various rounds of CI runs).

From reading forums I got the impression lots of people rented v close this year to get places.

If that's true breadandbutterfly then it's pretty disgusting. We did wonder when all the new flats were built immediately around WGSB what the effect would be and whether it would encourage non-genuine renters? mamalocco I'm amazed your DD didn't get in at just over half a mile - surely defeats the object of having community places?

I know the schools are asking for a minimum of a year's rental agreement but not sure how strictly they are enforcing that.

Have to go through all this again in a couple of years for ds - although we are closer to WGSB - 660 metres! This year the cut of point was 704 metres. Maybe I should register my address as a tent in Cassiobury Park just be a little closer!!

Paws - I'm going to ask WGGS what the actual cut off point was for distance this year - we thought we had a decent chance with this. Based on the last couple of years 70 community places were offered. I realise the girls school is located in a highly populated area but there is a fair amount of office/retail space locally as well find it hard to believe that 80 or so 11 year old girls live less than half a mile from the school (on a permanet basis!).

Sounds suspicious to me. My three (all boys) are too young yet to be worrying about senior schools, but we're hoping to move into a grammar catchment within the next year or so. I know Bucks (where we're looking) is apparently majorly cracking down on address fraud. Can't believe just over half a mile isn't close enough for you!

mamalocco, I can well believe that with the new as the crow flies criteria the maximum distances will have halved. I certainly read of people moving to 0.4 miles from the school to get a place - don't know
where though. Seems hard, esp as your dd did well in the exam too.

Try checking the 11+ forum for previous years' discussion re OP - might give you some ideas.

Mamalocco, it would always be touch and go whether your DD got a place at the girls even living where you do in Cassiobury, as the "crow flies" changes mean that more of Central Watford now fall within the distance measurement.

Regards your DS, we live in Cassiobury and our DS got distance place at WBGS in this years allocation without doing the academic test, so have fingers crossed your DS gets a place in the future. In the past there had been examples of boys living on Rickmansworth Road even closer to the school,not getting places.

A word of caution, that now that both schools have academy status, it is highly likely that they may make changes to their admission criteria. They haven't posted their intentions yet, but at the last Open Day, head at WBGS made it clear that changes were likely.

DD1 just been offered a place at WGSG in the second round of allocations! She will be so happy.

Was wondering whether the schools would change admission criteria - I know they weren't happy about dropping the x-sibling rule. This would obviously work in our favour if they decided to reinstate.

Congratulations!

Our dds will be going together - my dd knows no-one and is a bit nervous - maybe we should meet up?

pawsnclaws, is the 11+ forum for herts you mention on MN or on elevenplusexams ?
Thanks.