Glenthorne (Sutton) anyone?

[teddygirlonce]

DD has passed the 'Arts' (drama) qualifying test for Glenthorne BUT not at all sure how this will help her gain a place? She loved it so we've put it first on our CAF but we don't really understand how the system works -she still also has to sit a 'banding test' in November?

How has passing the Arts exam helped her? At some schools it seems that the 'specialist' places are guaranteed if qualifying tests have been positive but cannot think that likely for Glenthorne, as none of their 'blurb' suggests as much.

Just to say that we do not live in their usual 'catchment' area so 99.9% sure she won't get a place that way.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

It is all explained on their website

www.glenthorne.sutton.sch.uk/index.phtml?d=989381

JoJoSM2 the whole point is that it's not totally clear though, as I (and tiggytape) have determined - hence the question.

The banding test in November skews things IMHO - it wasn't even overly clear on their website whether children applying for the 24 'Arts' places had to do the banding one.

I have been through the secondary schools application process before with DS (a few years ago) so I consider myself a bit of a 'veteran' of the 'process' (and understanding admissions criteria across selective and non-selective schools in several boroughs) but this one stumps me.

Thank you so much, tiggtape, for your help and having a search around for me.

I just had a hope that someone whose DC had been successful might understand the process fully.

I will ask the question of the school after half-term. If I'm enlightened I will report back!

My DC has also 'passed' the performing arts. The letter states that of 240 pupils tested, 206 were deemed to be of selective apptitude and are eligible for one of those 24 places available.

206 passing seems high for 24 places but if depends on how many children have listed the school first on the CAF and what score they achieved. So, in answer to your question I would say it could help, but depends on the other 205 children's scores & CAF choices. The school must have data from previous years to know how many children to pass. If you're keen on the school it's worth sitting the banding test as an alternative means of entry. I assume you're in their 2nd catchment area?

I know, from speaking to people whose DC's applied last year, that many had very high 40s and scores of 50...

That makes sense, thanks.
Scores were given for each of the three disciplines your DC entered for - 3 in total. We were given DC's standardised score, the pass mark (32 for each) along with the max standardised score (50 for each).

No idea of ranking was given. The letter states that if pupils attended more than one workshop then the score used will be the highest.

I have to say, it's not the best explained entry method.

It's my understanding that the performing arts and banding tests are totally separate, but that's only my interpretation of the information given.

I also wonder about the significance of your DC's 'highest score'. For example, would that mean that a DC scoring 49 in 3 workshops could be 'beaten' by a DC just attending 1 workshop and scoring 50? I'm pretty sure that the 'highest score' information wasnt given at the point of entering the performing arts day

In the last 5 years the lowest score to achieve aptitude places was 47/50 and these children only got places when others with higher scores did not accept their Glenthorne offer.

My child got full marks at the drama workshop and we are still not counting our chickens....

The letter is totally misleading. Also, if you want your child to go to Glenthorne then you almost certainly need to place it first on the CAF. School places will be offered to you on the basis of your highest ranking school able to offer you a place. So if you put a school that is closer to your home address and undersubscribed above Glenthorne then that will be the school place you are offered.

Hi

Congratulations to your DD, DrJSE. Mine didn't do that well...which suggests that putting it first on her CAF is a mistake.

What is the point though of passing so many children on the 'Arts' test if the 'entry level' score is so high? To my mind it just unduly raises expectations for them and their parents. Surely it would be much more realistic to only pass a smaller % . And why allow DCs to potentially do all three rather than just one test?

That they pass so many would suggest that they are not expecting many of those who pass to end up choosing the school as their top choice?

To my mind the letter that was sent out with the Arts result was deliberately vague.

As tiggytape said, letting us know how realistic our DC's chances are, on the basis of Arts test(s) results would be much more helpful.

As it is, DD is now really keen on the school and I know think we've erroneously chosen it as her first choice one.

The school's website didn't even make it very clear whether Arts test children did also need to do the banding test - I opted for being cautious and assuming they did... Maybe we're now submitting DD to a test that is not going to make any difference to whether she gets a place or not (as we are not 'local').

BTW thanks for all your insights.

tiggytape you are entirely right. There is never certainty with the secondary school admission process.

We can but hope. It's more a case of managing DD's expectations. I'm not assuming anything is a given.

But I still don't see the rationale for passing roughly 80% of the children who took the Arts test unless they are expecting most to not have put it as their first/second/third choice (but as a 'back-up')?

Out of interest, DrJSE, how have you come by those figures for the (very high) mark required to gain entry over the past few years?

It is interesting that for many of the schools (that we've come across) who operate any form of 'selective/aptitude' testing, they don't generally give out the individual candidate marks for the DCs who have passed. This ensures that when the children start at their respective secondary schools they aren't drawn into a competitive 'pecking order' scenario.

Hmmm.

The waiting for March 1st is unbearable! Parent in front of us at the aptitude test last October had a child two years older who got into the school via drama aptitude. He scored 47 and said it was the highest drama score that year (which would conflict with another post in this thread who said 47 was consistently the lowest score over the last five years unless by fluke it is both). Interested to know if they split the places equally across music, dance and drama - i.e. 8 places each - and do they split girls and boys 50:50 which would mean just four places for each gender per discipline. It seems odd that the pass mark is so low. Surely it should only be only as low as it needs to be to ensure they filled the places after allowing for people not taking up their offered places. My son also got 47/50 but not taking anything for granted.

Ledgebaby, hello.

DD is convinced she'll be going to Glenthorne despite my belief that she didn't do well enough in the 'Arts' test to stand a realistic chance (on the basis of what's been said upthread).

Who knows though? I am inclined to believe that '47' wouldn't be the lowest entry score consistently over the past five years, TBQH.

Also, don't see the rationale for essentially passing 4/5 (circa 200) of the 'arts' candidates if only 24 will get a place - it would suggest to me that for many of those who've passed, Glenthorne will be a back-up option rather than 1st/2nd choice school (and the former will therefore not be the school offer they get). DD did say that several of the children she spoke to on the day of the test suggested as much (with grammar schools top of their CAF list).

We're nearly half way into our wait though - and methinks time will fly by once the children are back at school next week.

Although we are very keen on Glenthorne (it is DD's first choice), we were happy with all six schools on DD's CAF, so will be content with a positive outcome from any one of them.

I am a firm believer that the children usually end up with the school that is right for them (unless they/parents have been totally unrealistic with the schools put on the CAF).

Good luck!

How did everyone get on with their Glenthorne applications?

We had first preference school Dr JSE so no Glenthorne. How did you get on?

We didn't get it for DD despite it being her top choice. However, think we're 99% convinced we're not going to hold out for a place anyway, TBQH.

And we're very proud that DD did so well (comparatively) in the test despite never having had an extra-curricular drama lesson in her life.

We got through thankfully so my DS will be going to Glenthorne. We would be interested in learning whether or not there are any other kids from Wimbledon going.

Our DD didn't get a place but we've given up on Glenthorne now. Obviously it wasn't meant to be. She's happy with the school she's got and I do believe it's worked out for the best (for her).

Good luck to your DS Ledgebaby .

@ledgebaby how is your DS getting on? We're a year behind you and in the same location, so we're a household of extremely tightly crossed fingers and toes already...

Hi Everyone. My DS is doing the drama and dance assessment for Glenthorne and we have no idea what to expect? Does anyone know what the format of the assessments are? Thank you xx

Hi all,

Resurrecting last year's thread since it's the only info I can find on the subject. My daughter has just taken this year's performing arts test at Glenthorne High School. Does anyone know when and how the results will come out? Will it be an email? When can we expect it? I am fairly anxious because the deadline for secondary school applications is at the end of this month. Many thanks.