decision on 1st March? Anyone want to sit and sweat it out with me?

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

Urgh I am starting to feel queasy. I just want to know now. PFB (dd1) doesn't care which school she gets into and dh is being irritatingly pragmatic.

Is anyone else twitching nervously?

[gazzalw]

Tiggytape, do you think that's why schools such as Tiffin Girls are now bringing in designated catchment areas - they can see how ridiculous it's going to be, in terms of numbers of candidates sitting the 11+, in a matter of a year or so, that they are acting now before you get situations where they will be processing over 2000 applications for 120 - 150 places?

[BoringSchoolChoiceNickname]

There are also unconfirmed mutterings I've heard about the Sutton Grammars going to a two stage process, multiple choice followed by a written English test for the top X% - the idea is to enable them to determine the truly talented more effectively, but it would be much more expensive, hence the need to cut numbers.

[gazzalw]

Yes, I see where you are coming from. It's a bit 'off' though to just use the 11+ tests as mocks - there should be some way of charging for those who are doing so. I know that we did put our DS's name down to sit the Tiffin exam but then decided not to put it on our CAF form, we let the school know directly that DS wouldn't be sitting the exam and I got a feeling that they were grateful to be saving the money - certainly got that impression! It is an awfully high expenditure for the grammars which seem to get less funding than other secondaries if their seen-better-days-facilities are anything to go by .

Yes, we are fortunate enough to still be in 'catchment' although with a walk to the bus stop it would be a good hour for our DD (should she be lucky enough...), door to door on a rush-hour schedule. And we are in SW London!

Do you think that putting catchment areas in situ makes any difference to the caliber of the DCs who get places - I imagine not!

It will be interesting to see if numbers do decrease or flatline. It might be that if they do markedly decrease, other parents who have been put off by high numbers of applicants feel that it is worth their DCs having a go.... I guess only time will tell.

I do think that the whole thing seems to have spiraled out of control though. There is such a lot of spin about the 11+ and getting into grammar schools in SWLondon that it seems to be as much about competitive parenting as it is about the child(ren)'s abilities....

[legallady]

BoringSchool,

They are much more than unconfirmed mutterings, the arrangements are currently being consulted on. Wilsons, Sutton Grammar and Wallington Boys are suggesting they have a joint first stage exam which is just multichoice. Those who "pass" that first stage can then sit each school's individual test which will include a written English paper and maths paper.

No similar suggestions as yet for girls grammars though Nonsuch have suggested their exam will only consist of VR and English comprehension. Again multichoice and interestingly no maths or NVR.

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

Ok that sounds scary! Glad we aren't in SW London! DD had to take a 45 minute NVR test and apparently all they do is sort them into 5 ability bands and choose equally from each of the bands. Not sure if this is actually what happens

The admissions team said that the emails will be sent out in batches during the morning of the 1st by the IT team...

[mankyscotslass]

I think our allocations get sent out in batches from 00:01 on the 1st.

I will want to stay up or set the alarm to wake me, DH, who is so laid back he is horizontal, will laugh at me if I do.

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

I think I'll stay up til midnight and if there's nothing by half past, give up til morning. I am so sad.

[mankyscotslass]

[gazzalw]

Hope you've all got something to keep you well occupied during the day otherwise you will spend the whole time just glued to the computer!

[FiveHoursSleep]

Another fretter here. DD1 sat the 11+ for a consortium and got good enough marks that she would have got in to the school she wants any other year, even though we are out of area.
But who knows, there are 18 places and about 300 girls sat for them.
Our second choice is a good local comp, much closer and we will almost certainly get in there so I swing from preferring one over the other almost daily!
I just want to know now.
We are in London, so will spend the whole day wishing it was 5pm.

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

I have 3000 and 2000 word assignments due for uni not long afterwards. That ought to do it :)

[gazzalw]

It's probably the only time ever that two assignments will be welcome - should distract you sufficiently!

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

I should hope so, if I finish them by then it means I have a completely free Easter holiday with the kids too. Win win.

[gazzalw]

Sounds good !

[Poundpup]

Got my fingers crossed that you are allocated one of your preferences. I know that the last two week countdown is unbearable and can send you quite insane!

[VoldemortsNipple]

I'm getting nervous now.

1st choice is a Catholic faith school 5 minutes walk from our house. Although Ds2 is catholic, he doesn't attend one of their feeder schools, which is their main criteria. Hopefully he will get in on the next criterion which is Catholic children not attending a feeder school. This goes by distance to the school, so we are pretty close.

2nd choice is also a catholic faith school. Ds2 attends one of their feeder schools but the criteria for this school is to live in the parish, not attend the feeder school. Ds1 attends this school and I'm confident ds2 will be offered a place here but it is two bus rides and about an hours journey away.

Ds2 couldn't give a flying fart where he goes as long as I let him join Facebook to keep in touch with his friends

[VoldemortsNipple]

I actually can't remember what my third choice was

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

that's hysterical Vold :)

[mankyscotslass]

I am hoping ds1 gets a place at the all boys school. The alternative is the new build school, created by the amalgamation of two failing schools. If he get allocated the new school its not the end of the world, but i would far prefer him to attend a school with a proven track record. The new schools results gave actually dropped again this year.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

For those of you that need to log in, do you remember your username and password? We haven't used ours since October.

[VoldemortsNipple]

He's going to get his third choice isn't he? I can just see it now. Opening the email saying, oh that's what our 3rd choice was!

[ChippyMinton]

Gah. I was determined not to join this thread but observe you lot getting angsty whilst chanelling calm thoughts. But Threebeeonegee has made me panic and I'm now searching for my login, which I swore I'd saved on my phone but is not there! I'll be back to join in when I've found it.

As 1st March is a Friday, it's going to be odd in terms of the DC finding out where their schoolmates are going, depending on what time the results come out. Last year I remember all the Yr 6s bouncing around comparing notes the next morning. Anyone know what time Surrey results will be available?

[Bati]

Last week i was getting completely stressed over remembering my log in details, so I thought I would do a trail run, only to find that our allocations office have completly removed the on line applications bit from their website
This got me thinking about if they had completly sorted all the kids allocations out and attached it to the on line applications so they have had to remove everyones log on bit so no one finds out early.
In the end I ended up phoning them to find out what happens if I cant remember my passport, would i only have 3 attempts and be blocked ( also secretly hoping they would accidently let slip which school my dd has got)
There response was unlimited attempts and there is a thing you can follow if you have forgotten your log on details and they will email them to you.
There wasnt any hint of allocated school