Essex 11+ 2012 - Anyone else doing it?

[piggywigwig]

I was wondering if there's any other MN'ers on the countdown to the 22nd September?
How's everyone feeling? How's everyone's DC's feeling? Does anyone want a hand-holding session, support and even a rant?
I'd love to hear from fellow Essex parents

and thanks for mentioning the ranking - I thought that was what we were told? Where they ranked out of 500 or whatever? But haven;t seen that anywhere.

I mean, if DS1 was ranked 150th for CRGS, at least I'd KNOW that he wouldn't get in from the waiting list.

Without a ranking, what I can see from the frankly useless table from the CSSE is that the lowest mark admitted to CRGS in the last 4 years was 333, the lowest mark that has got in EVERY year in the last 4 is 343 and the 'safe' mark is 353.

DS1's mark is slap bang in the middle between the lowest mark admitted in the last 4 years, and the mark that has got in (in the end) every year in the last 4 years.

So in some years, DS1 would have got in, either in allocations day or from the waiting list, and in others he wouldn't.

About as borderline as you can be...

They can't give us a ranking now, because they don't know what schools people are applying to.

I think, as before, we will get a ranking on allocations day, which will give us more of a clue whether we will get through from the waiting lists or not.

Thing is, if someone applies to both CRGS and KEGS, it will depend on their scores where they rank for each school.

So an overall ranking would be of little use, if it was out of the 5000 people that took the test, or out of 3000 girls, or 2000 boys, because you could be ranked 300th boy, and still get into CRGS because some of those 300 will be wanting KEGS, some SHSB, some WHSB.

So the ranking will come out on allocations day, IF you have put a Grammar as your first (or first and second) choice.

It's why I said that I think it worked better the way they used to do it!

Laluna. Let me peruse the girls bit on the chart and I'll get back to you.

Laluna - if your DD's score is 330+, then go for it - that score has been admitted in ALL of the past 4 years. And you would be in a better position than I am, and I'm definitely applying.

And I would still apply even if your score is 327/328/329 - that's such a small 'spread' between the lowest mark admitted at all, and the mark that has got in EVERY year, that it is negligible, and anyone over about 322 should put it on their CAF form as their first choice.

If you are in the yellow zone, then given that the Chelmsford catchment will free up extra spaces, I'd say your DD is a safe bet for a place on 1st March.

Unlike DS1, who may have to do purgatory on the waiting list.

I guess I'll be buying uniform very late then...

Thanks.

Her score was 334.312.

I have an appointment at the enquiry evening although not sure what they can tell me. Amazed at how how some of the scores have been.

I am wondering now how Essex CC will allocate the places for March. There must be a ranking list somewhere - not necessarily school unique but how else can they allocate??

Couthy, I know how well your DS has done considering he was so poorly. The whole thing is such a misrepresentation. Never again. I am so delighted that DS (age 6) has decided that he doesn't fancy the school where they have purple coats! Thank God! We are lucky to have two fab comprehensives locally.

I am lucky that my closest Secondary is 'G', (you will know if you are Colchester), and he has a guaranteed place there with a sibling link to my DD who is currently in Y10 there.

However, having lurked over on the forum (waves to you both), particularly in the appeals section, there are very compelling reasons for me to take it to appeal.

One) his long illness.

Two) The issues I have documented on MN with his SM, and the fact that as of mid August, his contact with his dad that had been 45% of the year from age 2-10 has dropped to 6 hours every few weeks, which is understandably causing him emotional issues.

Three) that as CRGS takes 4 extra pupils in Y9, there is a precedent that the school can cope with an additional pupil. Y9, Y10 & Y11 have 100 pupils each, and due to successful appeals two years in a row, Y7 & Y8 are running at 97 each.

Four) I can prove his academic ability with a wealth of information.

Five) He is at a disadvantage as he is a Young Carer, as he is the only one in a household of 5 without a diagnosed disability, which obviously puts him under more strain than your average 10yo.

Six) The HT and the Deputy HT (who was also DS1's Y5 teacher) are offering their help should I need to appeal.

I'm going to whole hog, and starting to prepare an appeal now, so I have got it sorted over a longer time period, with the stress spread out a bit more!

There are 599 Girls CSSE places, 542 Boys CSSE places, and 56 Co-ed CSSE places.

Which is complicated by the fact that the Southend scores have the minimum in catchment pass mark of 303, but also have out of catchment higher scores. The Westcliff schools say they will take everyone with a mark over 303. Chelmsford schools now have a catchment, which they didn't last year.

How on earth would they tell who wants where yet, especially as some will be able to apply for more than one selective school?

They can't do the rankings until they have all the CAF forms back.

If your DC was 1,000th out of the girls, you know you have no chance of getting a place at any Grammar, I guess, but a score of 588 wouldn't tell you how close you were for, say, CoCHS, because 500 of the people ahead of you might have picked one of the other 4 Girls schools, or one if the two Co-Eds.

See, just too complex to do blind, they need to know who wants what school first. No point ranking someone for WSHG if they aren't even going to apply there, as it will give a false ranking to those who would rank below them for WSHG.

IYSWIM?

Probably not, it's very waffly, I can't sleep. Bloody insomnia!

Just had a thought. Most open evenings/days are being held on 23/24/25 Oct. they will sign you in. Then they will KNOW what schools people want as their first choice - if you can only go to one (deliberately done IMO), then they can surmise your first choice from that, and send you a ranking based on the scores that way.

Clever sods, the CSSE bods!

Does anyone know how many children sat the 11+ this year, for how many places in total? I'd be interested to know. And how many of them came from independent schools?

I think about 5,000 sat the test in all. No clue how many came from Private school, but would be very interested to find out!

Places - 599 Girls places, 542 Boys places, 64 Co-ed places. Over 14 schools.

Thanks couthy.

Hello..My DD just got her 11+ results: choice is Colchester CHS, or Westcliff or Southend. We are in Redbridge, didn't quite manage OOC score needed for Chelsmford. Any MNs happy to share candid thoughts about difference between the schools? Travel is tricky but not impossible. Help? Please?

I've finally found the time to come back and post.
Heartfelt cyberhugs to all those parents and their children who are disappointed with their results. It's always hard to take it on the chin and paint on a smile, whether you're ten or 35+ The 11+ brings out so many emotions, from making the decision to go for it, through to the bitter end, when you're anxiously awaiting the results. This year has been made harder by the problems CSSE encountered, getting the information out to parents in the first place. For many, October 15th didn't help in terms of decision-making for CAF admissions. The confusion and certainty won't be resolved until March 1 2013 and for some, beyond that, as they wait nervously for the waiting lists to go down in their favour
One thing is certain; each and every one of those children who sat the Essex 11+ is an absolute hero. It takes courage that goes above and beyond what anyone should or could expect of a 10 year old No-one can ever take that away from them and they should be proud of their achievement. One day...and perhaps not until they have their own children, they'll realise that what they did on 22nd September 2012, was truly amazing!

For those who achieved whatever results or scores that they needed, here a big "well-done"

To all the parents; you've lived through a very stressful period - give yourselves a huge treat - goodness knows you deserve it...and then some!

What a lovely post piggywig, and how very true.

How did your DC do, Piggywigwig?

x

letseatgrandma
Congrats to your DC for getting a score in the green zone My DC managed a score in the green zone, too

Fantasic news, piggywigwig-congratulations to you, too :)

HappyNappy - would the Southend & Westcliffe schools be easier to get to be bus? CoCHS is easy to get to with train & bus, but not necessarily from Redbridge due to the different train lines, would involve a change at Shenfield?

If the travel is an issue (thinking after school clubs and DC's helping at open days etc), then go for the easiest journey is my honest opinion.

Well done to letseatgrandma's DC and piggywig's DC.

I'm hoping that the info about 20+ places freeing up from those in KEGS catchment will help those (like my DS) on the borderline that are applying for CRGS.

Hi Cowthy,

My DS is borderline like yours for KEGS but will probably get into our second choice SHSB quite happily (Score 340). He only scored 16/50 for English which is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO low but very highly on maths and VR. Did you request a remark for all 3 papers or just VR? Did any go up... or down and how does the remark process work? Just wondering if they could not read his writing and, say, his mark went up by 1 or 2, it would make a huge difference to his KEGS chance. If it went down by 1 or 2 it would only go to 336 maybe so not jeapodising his chance at SHSB.

Just heard, only 170 boys made the 303 mark in the Southend priority area so at least 134 OCC places available... a lot better than the 55 many were predicting. Some of those 170 will go to KEGS or private so there should be over 140 places. Some clarity and good news!!

Would you risk the remark?

Had the remark, didn't change his score, but quite clearly proved the very moment at which his painkillers wore off, as he had absolutely full marks in the first 6 sections, 7 marks out of ? In the 7th section (the first 7 questions in that section), and then absolutely no marks from then on.

So utterly proves my case if I need to appeal. So it was well worth it.

I only got his VR remarked, I didn't have major issues with the other papers (though maths should have been higher, it wasn't disastrously low).

I have it on reasonable authority that marks rarely if ever go down. Certainly the case for me - no upward change, but no downward change either.