Kent vs Dover test

[ChocBanana]

My DS is in Y5, and a July baby. He is reasonably academic but is borderline for the Kent test. We bought a few booklets for him to work through so we can decide whether to enter him or not.
He’s falling quite short on the reasoning but is doing quite well with Maths and English.
We currently live in Margate but are looking to move to Deal to be nearer family so are looking at schools in Dover district.
My son’s teacher has suggested the Dover test because they can still pass even if one area is weaker. But, I’m thinking that if he isn’t up to the standard I would rather he did well at non selective than struggle at grammar.
And the Dover test would only give him a place at one school, whereas obviously the Kent test gives him a choice, as does not taking it at all.

Can anyone please clarify - if he passes the Dover Test but not Kent, that is NOT the equivalent of passing the Kent test? So effectively unless he passes the Kent test, he won’t get a place in any other Kent grammar school? The Dover test is not the same weighting as the Kent test?

I’m not ruling out Dover Boys, but I don’t want him feeling like he’s “failed” if he’s not going to pass in the first place. I would rather he didn’t take it than hedge all our bets on one school.

All these schools use the Kent Test:

https://atomlearning.com/blog/the-kent-test

However, some you just have to pass and live close enough, others are “super selective” so you need to score highly as well as live within catchment. You’ll need to read the admission criteria for each school you’re interested in so you know what score you’ll likely need and where you’d need to live to get in.

From what you say though about your DS, I’m not sure it’s worth the stress if he’s “borderline”. Speaking from experience, it’s a pretty brutal process and even passing doesn’t guarantee you a place at your preferred school when catchments come into play. I’d say it’s better to be bright in a non-selective than struggling at the bottom in a grammar.

The Dover test is only for the Dover grammar schools.

Lots of children fail the Kent test but pass the grammar tests because you don't have to met a threshold in all subjects. It does an average instead.

Also as he has a July birthday don't forget that age weighting is used.

I would keep practicing. You have lots of time to decide if you don't want him to sit the test.

This is what I understand. So, if he passes that, he wouldn’t be able to go to Manwoods, say, or any of the Canterbury grammars, would he?

I’m in two minds about effectively forcing his decision, he can only go to Dover Boys. If we stay in Thanet, it’s a straightforward decision but the fact the Dover test exists has put doubt in my mind.

@ChocBanana

To do any other school than Dover boys he would need to do the Kent test.

Most children sit both.

Yes, that was what I thought. The teacher said he didn’t know too much about it because very few Thanet children sit the Dover test for obvious reasons, but he sort of sold it as an alternative to the Kent test. But it’s not.

We obviously still have some thinking to do but I am leaning towards not putting him in for either and letting him enjoy his last years of primary without feeling like he’s a failure. Thanks.