Bucks poss deferring 11+ - might Kent follow suit?!

[Panicmode1]

Have just had a msg from a friend saying that Bucks have submitted a recommendation to the DfE to postponse their 11+ to early November - and they are waiting for a response/approval.

Anyone think it would be fair if Kent did the same to try and level the playing field so (state school) children might have had at least SOME time back in education?!

That would have major implications on school admission applications, surely. The normal deadline is Oct 31, by which time people have their 11+ scores and have a reasonable idea of whether applying to a grammar is a realistic option.

In this approach, parents won't know, unless the deadline is extended - which would have to be a country wide decision. Which is entirely possible, I guess, and might make some sense this year, as school tours aren't happening this term.

Yes, I've read applications may slide to end Nov to allow for visits and 11+ results.

I don't see how Kent can hold their test in early Sept if children haven't been in a classroom since March!

We’re in Bucks and yes they are really pushing for this extension. It is unfair to have it on September when most children won’t have been in a classroom for 6 months.
At least they can have a couple of months of schooling.

Apparently this is the date it used to be held on so it worked in the past.

Medway have moved theirs back. Interestingly their letter to parents says that the deadline date for school admissions is moving back to 30th November, which I think would have to be a national (England) wide thing? I wonder if that means that partial selection counties will move theirs too. I’m glad they seem to be recognising that results have to be out before applying to schools.

Yes. Bucks did have the 11 plus in late October/early November. That's when DD1 took it. You did not get the results until after you had applied to the grammars or secondary moderns. You did not have certainty about your choice and your grammar choice was discounted if you did not get the pass mark. It was not obligatory to make a grammar choice of course.

Bucks did have problems with the huge number of appeals. These are not just for school places but also for the result of the test. Its hugely time consumingand very many appeal panels are needed. They used to sit well into July and even August.

I think it is fair to defer the date if possible. The legions of DC that have tutoring are still probably going to be advantaged and the prep school DC also. The others will still be trying to catch up and, as usual. At least this makes some attempt to address that but in Bucks the primary schools do not teach for the test. No timed practice tests or lessons in how to recognise and deal with certain types of question. So the playing field is decidedly bumpy!

Kent Test may be moved to Thursday 15 October according to Kent Online

www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kent-test-could-be-delayed-229027/

Hope it is moved - I don't see how it can be remotely fair otherwise (not that it's a very level playing field anyway, but there are volcanic craters in it, this year )

I missed a bit off a sentence: as usual the DC without parents who throw money at tutoring are disadvantaged anyway. I actually think schools should run after school clubs for tuition. Everyone should get a chance to attend to brush up timing, recognition of questions and confidence.

It’s such an unfair process anyway and this year it will be even more so. The whole thing should be scrapped. But that’s another thread I guess.

The prep school advantage will be even greater this year..

An extra 4 weeks of school is a drop in the ocean in terms of trying to level up the playing field.

Is no one else worried that by this point kids will have been back in school for around 6 weeks so the potential for a second wave and having to cancel the whole 11+ is really high? Also, there are likely to be loads of kids self-isolating at that point w
e.g. if one child in a class tests positive the whole class will have to self-isolate for 2 weeks. This would cause massive disruption and unfairness.

Safest option would be to keep the early Sept date I think.

I think we know manyDC will be disadvantaged by having tests in September. There is a risk to delaying but maybe it won’t be as disruptive as people think. The test this year will be even more discriminatory than usual whenever it’s held.