Hackney, in particular Stoke Newington Secondary, Banding Test

[CandiedGinger]

Does anybody have any experience of them? Are they curriculum based, maths, English etc, or also verbal and non-verbal reasoning?

And would anyone be prepared to hazard a guess as to the effect of the band on the catchment area? I know that there must be some variation year-on-year, but generally, would the catchment be widest for the top, middle or the bottom band?

We're at the edge of the catchment, I think, and would like to know how realistic a choice it would be for us. Any experience appreciated. Thank you!

The banding test is the standard CAT test.

You would expect the bulge to be spread out over BCD.

DS was in Band B, which the year before had a 0.39 summat or other mile catchment for his school, which would have pushed him out of catchment that year, but his year he got in.

So it is a lottery.

But you have six choices, so no harm in putting it down.

The only difference I can see is that if you are in borough, your dc will be tested over a few days at school.

If you are out of borough, they will have to attend a one session only for all the tests.

Thank you! I was prompted to ask as last year a couple of children near us were offered places, but quite late on. And they look like bright children to me... But, with the extra unpredictability of how many siblings there will be in each band, it does seem pretty much a lottery, and I think we might as well take a chance!

Also the number of Children with statements and looked after children...all the variables do just mean a lottery in the end!

Being offered late on is probably because of places being freed up after all the calculations and acceptances have been done.

I almost had a nervous breakdown over the whole thing (mardy obstructionist ex and some SpLds) but he got what I wanted in the end!

I'm in a different area to you but we have schools using a banded system for entry. My DD got in on the first round, but several of her friends got in on the second round or off the waiting list. These all seemed to be higher banded children and the secretary at the school said this is usual as a higher proportion of this band end up going private.