Wimbledon High 4+ moving to ballot

[belladonna22]

I've just seen that Wimbledon High is switching from assessments at 4+ to a ballot for 2024 reception (my daughter's year). Their explanation is on their website: www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/userfiles/wimbledonhighv2mvc/images/headers/02-admissions/Admissions%20Policy%20-%20Letter%20to%20Parents%20and%20Admissions%20Timeline.pdf

They've also changed their offer timeline so they are now out of sync with both Putney High and the Study.

Any current WHS parents or staff have any insight? Have they been struggling to compete with PHS for girls, so now they want to get parents to pay a deposit and commit before they even sit the assessment for PHS?

I understood it to mean that they were currently out of synch with other schools and changing the timeline would bring them into line with others.
Regardless, now having DCs at upper senior school I now think the 4+ is completely ridiculous and favours children born earlier in the year who are compliant. Almost impossible to tell how they will turn out academically in the long run.
Having a ballot ( like Bute) won't affect much at all in terms of 'outcomes' etc etc.

The school has issued a statement to current parents saying they are moving to ballot because:

1. They had to use ballot in the Covid year and academic outcomes have remained similar, so the assessment process was not adding value
2. They were previously out of sync with PHS and other schools in the area so they have moved timelines TO BE in sync (not ahead)
3. Sibling will get priority after which the remaining seats go to ballot
4. In year vacancies will remain academically selective

Overall WHS remains highly sought after and they have no need to woo students/parents. They have simply made their own and prospective students' lives easier with the new process.

@belladonna22 I read it the same as you- they are definitely moving out of synch with the academically selective schools offer timelines like Putney, Alleyns and JAGs which all provide results around end of January.

The data is interesting though that the 4+ assessment doesn't correlate with 11+ achievement. Bute reached the same conclusion which is why they moved to a ballot.

Every school has their own assessment process and some do believe it works. These schools didn't go to ballot or alternative arrangements for COVID either.

I've just commented on this on the thread about small preps closing.
They stand to make a lot of extra cash too I'd say. More signing up and paying £150 and less cost and hassle as names just drawn out of a hat

Out of interest I've just looked at the Study's admission process. Didn't realise you were guaranteed a space there if you applied the year before, then it's a ballot for the rest of the places. Also note that WHS will divide the ballot into 4 groups depending on birthdays. I think that's great. I remember looking at the birthdays on the wall at PHS in the reception classrooms and they were overwhelmingly Oct- Dec. DD sat 4+ there in early October years ago and she was barely 3- didn't stand a chance!

Bute they do the ballot two whole years before entry. Snooze & you loose. The split by ages is good to give a balanced class