can someone explain grammar school system these days to me?

[dinny]

am I right in thinking if you a. live in catchment and b. pass 11+, you can go?

Check! Where are you looking? As in Kent, Bucks, Salisbury?

They all seem to have different criteria. I know the Salisbury grammars don't have catchments any more, just 'a reasonable travelling distance' (ie upto 50 miles that I know of!). So even if you live next door, Jemima who's been privately prepped for 7 years thus gets 2 marks higher than your DC at 11+ may get the last place- even though she lives a 2 hour drive away.

Also, it's my belief that things are about to get volatile in the grammar stakes seeing as there'll be many parents moving into area now they can't afford the private any more. Competition will be fierce. Also, you need to be absolutely sure your DC will pass the 11+. The alternative schools in grammar areas can be dire, for obvious reasons.

Kent

mmm, yes, was thinking that, GG!

about what happens if they don't pass 11+...

There are loads more grammars in Kent, thus their entry requirements are a lot less demanding than say Salisbury. I hear of peopel on here who say their DC has been 'passed the entrance exam' for several Kent grammars, which one to choose?

But fwiw, don't be fooled by the term 'comprehensive' in a grammar area. They aren't, they're secondary moderns.

depends on your LEA selection process
Here in Lincs you get your 11+ results then choose and if you put grammar as your first choice then you usually get in, unless very high pass numbers and you live miles away
it used to be worse, you made choices before you got results and had to guess...
If you chose the co ed good tow comp 1st and boys or girls grammar 2nd then actually passed the 11+ and reapplied to the grammar, you could actually lose your place at the GOOD town comp and then not get a grammar place and instead go to an out of town secondary which as pretty awful by national standards...
So worth checking criteria as I bet it differs all over

We live in Kent.

11+ is now being done in Spetember and results are received just before you have to aplpy for a senoir school place.
Two exams are taken, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
If you DC passes then you put order of preference on the application form.
Distnae from school still has a bearing, but is not the only consideration.
The only thing that I do not like about my particualar area is that the grammar schools are single sex, we moved from Bexley where there a two mixed grammars, which overall I would prefer.

blametheparents - we are in Surrey atm but may buy in Surrey or Kent (we are on the border)... would we be eligible from a different county?

You have to be careful in Kent. In our area (Canterbury-ish) you sit three papers, Verbal Reasoning, Non Verbal reasoning and maths, and if you pass you get a grammar school place.

However, Tunbridge Wells way, you have to pass, then the schools take the top 150 passes or however many places they've got. That means you can pass the test, but not pass it well enough, so not get a place - even if you live next door to the school. If someone 30 miles away gets a higher score, they beat you to the place. Horrendous!

Bear in mind that it's quite a high hurdle to jump - only 23% pass any you have to have a plan B.

I take it Surrey doesn't have the 11+? If so I'd stay in Surrey tbh

yes, Seeker, we're near Tonbridge/TW (but other side of the border)

so could dd take the selection tests and then still apply for a comprehensive place I wonder...

gah, ages away, am just musing!

The answer is that you would be eligible from another county.
Dartford Grammar (which is nearish us) takes children from Kent, and London Broughs of Bexley, Greenwich etc.
Checl out the over subscription crieteria of the schools in your area.
You would have to make arrangements for your DC to take the 11+ as if you live in Surrey I guess they would not take the Kent 11+ at their own school.

If you are keen on the idea of grammar schools, I really suggest you move to the Canterbury/Faversham/Whitstable/Sittingbourne area. There are enough places to go round (at the moment, excellent grammar schools, and some OK non grammars too as plan B.

same here in lincs well in our town too seeker.
Very good co ed college which shares 6th form with the boys and girls grammars. Seems to benefit all schools here.

Seeker - sadly too far for work for me and dh

Are you sure? I used to commute to London and it was perfectly doable.

Ah - I forgot I didn't have children then!

hi - i am a teacher in a kent grammar

I live in Tunbridge Wells.
DD has just passed.
I live 1.6 miles away. Last year people who lived 2.2 miles away didnt get in. This is to Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar. Nail biting wait till March.
Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar and Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar take 11 plus passes and distance from home.
Tonbridge Girls, Judd, and Skinners, take the top scores.(over 408, some are saying) and if you live next door but didnt score high enough you wont get in.
This year they changed it so that you sit the 11 plus THEN pick schools.
I have 2 grammar and 2 not on my list.
The selective pass in Kent, seems to be just over half the paper right(so half of it wrong!)
Come obsess over here
lol