Meltdown about year 9 in year admissions in Hertfordshire, help!

[Romysgirl]

We are moving to the Herts/Bucks border (on the Herts side) shortly and have found all the comps and selective schools are full, apart from Ashlyn's in Berko. I have applications for Chesham Grammar, Parmiters, Rickmansworth, STAGs, Beaumont, Dr Challoners and St Clement Danes but have been told they are oversubscribed. Is it really worth putting my DD through the stress of entrance exams? Do places ever come up in year 9 and 10? I've been advised that students sit a number of one hour exams in English, maths, science and a language....yikes! Although I have confidence in her abilities, I really don't want to put her through unnecessary pressure...equally I'd like to give it a shot if there's even the smallest chance of getting into a really good school.

I've read mixed reports about Ashlyn's but understand the Head is excellent and the school is really improving?

Being new to a selective system, I am baffled, any thoughts and advice welcome....

I'd be surprised if there aren't places at Chesham Grammar as they have often been undersubscribed in the past. Have you asked the schools? Their entrance tests will vary by school so you also need to ask them about those. The people on the elevenplusexams.co.uk forum may be able to help you

Thank you poisonedbypen, I'll take a look at that forum. Apparently Chesham are currently full but they have advised to apply for a year 10 place! Different county but only a few miles away so I'm going to apply for this year and next

Thanks Livvylongpants, hadn't thought of Tring! Worth a shot!!

In your position I would try for a Chesham with Ashlyns as a backup (or interim measure if a Chesham will have places in Y10). I have DCs at Chesham. (they seem to be pretty happy with it) and know people whose DCs have been happy with Ashlyns. Results from Chesham are better, but that is to be expected given the selective intake.

Thankyou notquite and livvy!

I have friends with children at Ashlyns - they are very happy with it.

Hi there

You have listed the MOST popular schools in the area - there are plenty of options in other Herts/Bucks schools so if you need a place right now I am sure you can find one. Eg Sandringham is good and quite large so a place might come up. Marlborough has very good exam results and looks very smart and is easy to get to from motorways. Places do come up at stags, parmiters, beaumont etc but the usual rules apply on distance so you'd need to live very near one - pos within 1km. Parm places are mostly allocated to exam/music results (though it's a state school) and there will be a keen waiting list so any place that comes up I 'think' will be offered to the child who scored next highest on the entrance (if they still want it).

If you are still stuck def go visit some of the other St A schools and put your name down for as many as you can.

Thank you Newgirl. I've widened the search as you suggested to include St Albans and it's good to hear that places occasionally come up in local schools. Many thanks for your advice.

Have you looked at Ashlyns leavers destinations for 2014? Pretty impressive.