Telegraph announces change to admissions rules for grammar schools

[frogs]

Here .

Haven't seen it confirmed anywhere else, but worth keeping an eye out for over the next couple of days. Presumably the heads of 2ndary schools will explain at the autumn round of Open Days, but looks as if some of the worst anomalies of the new 'single preference system' might be getting ironed out.

about time a little commonsense took precedence!

Seems sensible to me! Didn't realise you had to put all choices down - grammar and comp. I'm scared about this already and it's 7 years away for me!

Do you think its too late for this coming year? will they have time to sort it out by october? am panicking now

This already had had us worried - local grammar school - 99.5% get 5 or more A-Cs, local comp - 60% get 5 or more A-Cs, nearest undersubscribed comp - 23% get 5 or more A-Cs. I'm just thankful that I can afford private, as otherwise you couldn't take the risk on the grammar school - your child has an off day and that's it...

2manypc, if the ruling has been made now (and someone has linked on another thread to a related ruling here ) then I presume it will apply to this year's admissions round.

I spoke last year to our LEA about the anomalies in our part of London, which is mainly that all the Catholic schoos insist on being first choice, so you effectively don't get a 2nd choice. The most popular school also refuse to consider anyone who has applied to any selective school regardless of preference listing, or to any non-Catholic school (which is bloody outrageous IMO). I got the distinct impression that the LEA did regard these admissions policies as sabotaging the single preference system, and were subjecting them to a legal challenge.

I v. much hope it will be in place for this year. If it is, you can be sure we will hear about it via media and open days/schools fairs. Presumably they will also have to adjust the dates for tests and applications to fit in.