Eleven Plus West Sussex

[Amuminhongkong]

Hi I'm planning on returning to UK next year. my son would be in year six and need to sit the Eleven Plus. His current school does not prepare for this so I would prefer he does not sit it. I read that it is now optional and is going to be scrapped. Is that correct? Why is it important when West Sussex doesn't have grammar schools? (Please correct me if I am wrong). Does it effect streaming? Fyi I would eventually be looking at St Paul's in Burgess Hill or Tanbridge/ Forrest in Horsham.

11+ is an exam you sit if you want to go to an independent (=fee paying) school or a selective state school (=grammar). Children going to other state schools don't take the exam.

I wasn't aware there is the 11 plus in West Sussex.
Both schools you mentioned in Horsham are very good as far as I know.

West Sussex has no grammar schools as far as I know, so no need to take the 11+. The state 11+ is only taken by students who wish to gain admittance to a grammar school; most secondaries in the UK are no longer grammar schools.

Your bigger issue will be meeting the admittance criteria for St Pauls;
www.westsussex.gov.uk/media/5753/st_pauls_catholic_college_burgess_hill_policy_2016.pdf

Tanbridge and Forrest operate preferred catchment areas, so you need to look carefully at admissions policies and where you would be living.

Are you referring to the end of KS2 assessments (SATs)?

Thank you, well I realise I really am clueless! I'm so glad that's clear now! Yes it must be the SATs as I remember a friend saying her son in Horsham was studying hard for tests. I'll look into what these tests mean. Again, thank you all so much for the advice!!!

SATs are statutory tests in reading, maths, spelling, grammar and punctuation for all pupils in state schools.

If he's in a state school then yes he will have to sit SATS, they aren't an opt in/out thing. But they are something the school will worry about far more than he or you need to.

He will need to take the SATs if he's in a state school in Y6. However, don't worry too much as the results have no bearing on admissions to non-selective secondary school. And anyway, there will be some curriculum differences to where you are now but the who of Y6 is long enough for a child from abroad to get settled and do well in them.