Good CAT scores. Relocating. Grammar school?

[IronWork]

We are moving to Kent hopefully in the next 6 months, and are looking at secondary schools for DD aged 12, currently year 7. She is bright, so we were wondering whether she is suitable for Grammar. Can you even apply for Grammar schools after year 7?? Her CAT scores at the start of Year 7 were 124 for quant and 134 for verbal reasoning, which I understand are good and very good respectively.

So, would she (a) be of Grammar standard and not struggle. I would rather she were top of the Comp than bottom of the Grammar and (b) how do you go about applying when you move? DH is relocating for work, so we know approx where we will be going, but not exactly and not sure when! Ta.

It might be best to phone the education dept. of the council office (of town you would be moving to) . They should be able to tell you if any of the grammar schools with places in your DD's year group (if they are full, it is unlikely she will get in). They can also let you know the late admissions procedure, and whether she would have to take an entrance test and how long the waiting list is to get in. You would probably also need to be living in county before getting a place as well, but there might be a way for them to offer conditional places in some areas (you don't know until you ask!)

If it seems that you have a good chance of a place being available, then ask the CC what would be the next step, whether it is a good idea to make appointments with the head teachers of schools, etc. The CC can't tell you about your child's levels, but the schools will have a procedure for it, which might be just a straight forward meeting for a 2 way questions and answers session. That is what you would need to find a good match of school for your DD, you would need to visit the schools where there are places and see where she would thrive.

Ah, so there isn't one central place to ask then? Where we (think we) are going the schools are quite spread out so we might have to do quite a bit of phoning around then. I had hoped we could get a school, then it would help us decide exactly where to locate to. Hmm.

I had naively assumed that if DD were grammar school material, then she might get a place. Would she go on a waiting list then? Is that based on academic achievement (if so, CATs or yr 6 SATs or report from current school?), or distance to the school or time on list? I am clueless about all this as you can see

Which bit of Kent are you thinking of relocating to (roughly)? I would think that your dd's scores might well get her a place at a "normal" grammar, but perhaps not a superselective. I wouldn't worry at all about her "struggling" in a grammar school environment.

My understanding is that she would have to sit tests at any of the grammar schools you are interested in to see if she is deemed suitable and then you would apply for the place through Kent CC. I would imagine someone at Kent CC would be able to tell you which grammar schools would potentially have spaces - maybe a phone call there should be your first move, then, once you have a short list of possibilities you could then contact the schools directly.

You got told what score they got for CATs? We didn't (dd year 7 also). Just a bit surprised. They said it was for their use only and it wouldn't affect anything. Must have been because people might have gotten upset but really? They see scores for everything else. Sorry for the rant, just a bit weird that they tell you in different places. Did you ask to see them? We did but got nowhere.

Those CATs scores are more than good - either 8th and 9th stanine or both 9th (the highest band). She would do well at grammar.

Obviously you can only get a place if there are any. You'd have to phone the local authorities to find out. To 'get' the place it might be a case of taking the 13+ or of quoting SATs, CATs tests etc. Our grammar school (not Kent) would take either a 12+ or 13+ pass or an application based on SATs scores plus interview with HOEnglish and HOMaths.

I am West Kent and pupils with scores of 125 and upwards were seen as good possible grammar school candidates. Which part of Kent are you relocating to? I think my local school also requires a science test for pupils entering out of year.

Be aware that there are pockets of Kent where you are out of area for the 11+ so be careful where you choose - some villages come under the comprehensive system even though they are right next door to a grammar town. Eg Pembury kids go to Paddock Wood comp (Mascalls) even though they are right on top of Tunbridge Wells but at the same time, children from Ightham can go to Tunbridge Wells which is over 10 miles away. Ring KCC to find out what your options are

There are no comprehensive schools in Kent- be very careful!

You can apply out of year to grammar schools, but your child will have to talk a separate test for any school you want her to try for- and if she passes, you will probably have to appeal for a place- most grammar schools are heavily oversubscribed. Be aware that many of the schools that non selective children go to suffer badly from the lack of a top set.

It's a bit of a minefield, to be honest.

Thanks for all the advice. I had no idea it was going to be so complicated though . We are looking to relocate to between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. I didn't realise there were super grammars as well as normal ones. My idea of turning up with CAT and SAT scores and asking for a place just isn't going to do it is it?!
I will try to do some more research and phone the Kent council and see what they advise...
Thank you.

Thanks. I may well get back to you when I have narrowed things down a bit . Are yours at grammars? Are they happy there?

Between Maidstone and T Wells is Paddock Wood (not 11+ area - you'll need a higher score in order to get into a grammar). My patch too

seeker we do have comprehensives here in Kent as well as high schools and grammars but I assume you are meaning they aren't truly comprehensive as some opt for the 11+. The church schools in particular are full of people who could get into the grammars, even the super selectives but choose not to take the 11+ as they want a more mixed cohort