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Original poster

Grammar schools- proximity as admission criteria

19 replies

ZombiesAreClammyDodgers · 18/04/2016 17:07

We are looking at a house in Beds. whereas the grammars all appear to be in Bucks. Is it at all a possibility that a child sit the eleven plus for a school that is quite far away, and move closer ifof proximity then becomes the deciding factor?

OP posts:
ChalkHearts · 18/04/2016 17:12

If you want to go to a bucks school - move to bucks.

You might get a place from beds (if you pass the 11+) but you definitely will if you live in bucks.

Gizlotsmum · 18/04/2016 17:17

Can you look at their admissions information? And see how far they went over the last few years to fill spaces?

GRW · 18/04/2016 19:15

The Aylesbury grammar schools do have places for out of County applicants at the moment. That could change as more houses are built. I know someone who travels by bus from Leighton Buzzard, but it means a long school day. Lots travel from Milton Keynes too. If you live in Bucks and pass the 11+ you are guaranteed a grammar school place. Parents have to pay for bus travel. Many of the upper schools in Bucks are not great, so some who don't pass the 11+ in Bucks opt for comprehensive schools in neighbouring counties.

DorothyL · 18/04/2016 19:57

Ahem that wasn't meant to happen Blush

bojorojo · 18/04/2016 20:34

Bucks is a grammar school county, Beds is not and nor is Milton Keynes. Bucks grammars in Aylesbury and Buckingham do fill up with MK pupils but I would check transport from Leighton Buzzard. It is always better to live in Bucks to be sure. Could you not look at Wing? Far fewer pupils get the 11 plus in Aylesbury Vale which is why the four grammar schools take so many out of county pupils but you would need to check if that extended as far as Leighton Buzzard. The schools will also maintain empty places rather than lower the pass mark although lower marks are let through on appeal, but not much lower!

PettsWoodParadise · 18/04/2016 21:29

You can sit the Kent test in September regardless of where you live, get result mid October and then if you don't have a good enough score for the out of county places you can move in county as long as you can prove your new address and cut ties with old address by early December. someone we know did this by renting close to one of the schools and pricing their house keenly to get an offer in hope it was proof they had cut ties with old home and wouldn't move back. It worked and they are now looking for a permanent home close to their daughter's new school. It is a lot of upheaval though and these people have a long commute for the last term of Y6 while their DD finishes primary but seem happy with their decision.

Original poster
ZombiesAreClammyDodgers · 18/04/2016 21:49

Presumably you could do the same for the Bucks test?

OP posts:
ChalkHearts · 19/04/2016 01:19

Bucks doesn't work like Kent. It's a pass / fail test. If you pass it doesn't matter by how much.

Everyone who passes and lives in bucks gets in. Any remaining spare places (and remember we're entering the high birth years) gets in on distance.

You get the results of the 11+ about a week before applications have to be in.

So, no, you can't get your results and then decide to move. Nor can you determine from your results if you'll get in from beds.

fucketbanny · 19/04/2016 01:34

www.buckscc.gov.uk/education/schools/admissions-and-moving-school/admission-to-secondary-schools/allocation-of-secondary-school-places/
At the bottom of the page is the download for this years allocations, the Aylesbury grammars go up to about 18 miles so quite a fair slither of beds would be included in that

PettsWoodParadise · 19/04/2016 04:26

Kent is pass fail for most areas, it is just a few schools that go by score. Which is why lots of this movement happens. You take the test, get a pass, but not a superselective score so move to be within catchment for the 'just pass' status.

PettsWoodParadise · 19/04/2016 04:33

PS some regions (like Kent) have a 'date by which you can update of a new address' and it still be an on time application - hence the early December date and a mad rush between results day in mid Oct and early Dec - a window of two months in which to move. It may not be the same for orher regions. I will butt out now as was only trying to give an example where it can happen but think it may be confusing things. Over to the locals who will be able to comment on Bucks.,

fucketbanny · 19/04/2016 08:06

This screenshot shows Henry Floyd plus 18 miles to give an idea of its admission area this year

Grammar schools- proximity as admission criteria
Twoodle · 19/04/2016 08:43

Does the 18 miles vary each year, I'm guessing there is no guarantee if you are 18 miles away it's a safe bet that you'll get a place in the future?

bojorojo · 19/04/2016 12:32

It would not be safe to assume 18 miles in future. There is substantial house building to the North of Aylesbury and another 3000 homes may be built to the South of Aylesbury. Clearly the grammar schools have spaces but they will fill up from Bucks children first and the distance away may well shrink. Aylesbury Vale has the lowest pass rate of any area of Bucks, however, but this may start to rise with new families moving in. There is no way of knowing if the new houses will be bought by parents with likely grammar school children. Lots of people think their children will get to grammar school and then they do not.

The distance does vary though from year to year and it is always safer to be nearer to the grammar school rather than further away from it. There are villages in Bucks near the Beds border that would guarantee a place and transport for the grammar school children. Why leave it to chance?

The bigger problem is what school do you want if your children do not get to a grammar school? There are huge variations in quality. Waddesdon is the safest bet but their catchment is tiny - C of E School.

CocktailQueen · 19/04/2016 12:36

Everyone who passes the eleven plus in bucks is offered a grammar school place. We are in Beds and dd travels to Bucks to school. Pm if you'd like any more info - don't want to post loads more identifying stuff here.

If you look at the grammar schools' websites, they have a map showing where their current pupils come from. Lots come from Milton Keynes, Leighton buzzard and other Beds locations. It does make it a long day for them but you have to weigh that up against the pros of the school.

NotEnoughTime · 19/04/2016 14:55

ChalkHearts or anyone else who might know

What do you mean by "don't forget we are entering the high birth years" please?

ChalkHearts · 19/04/2016 17:52

There will be a lot more 11 year olds for the next few years then there were in the last few years.

So i'd expect the distance allocated to decrease.

fucketbanny · 19/04/2016 17:59

The high birth years, which locally seem to be the current year 4's and 5's mean more children so more demand for school places, so admission areas are likely to reduce

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