Has the admissions criteria for Harrogate Grammar School changed? Sept 2018 entry

[MiddleEngWoman]

Hello, despite the misleading user name, I am having to consider Harrogate Grammar School for Sept 2018 yr7 entry. Previously we had discounted this as we are aware of how close you have to be to Arthurs Avenue to fall in the town catchment category, (about 1 and a half miles I understand for child with no sibling at the school). However, a senior family member in the town has suddenly started telling us that the criteria are changing, and we would stand more chance from where we are if we applied. We have looked online and cannot see that the facts have changed, so are curious as to where family member has got wind of this from. Anyone closer to the fray in Harrogate have any ideas on this? Background - family member would want our our child to go to HGS for complicated reasons and is not happy with our intended destination for child - we would gladly send child to HGS, but current catchment is against us and house move not an option.

It is too late for the criteria to change for sept 18 entry - any changes have to go to consultation and the matter would have had to be determined by around March 2017.

Maybe your family member has heard they are thinking of changing criteria for sept 19 entry?

MiddleEng link to admissions in 2018 on the website here.

www.harrogategrammar.co.uk/school/school-policies/

Doesn't look any different to me on a quick skim.

yes, we'd had a look on the website too, and didn't think it was anything different to what we had seen before. Just wanted to check there were no other sources to give substance to what the family member was telling us. We feel they are just stirring up things again as they are unhappy about the (independent ) school where we are planning to send our child on the basis that the chance of getting into Harrogate Grammar school will be more than slim. Wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt...

The only thing I can think about is the transport rules. I think funding is only given to your nearest school. So children from rural areas may have previously gone to HGS, but now might go to Rossett or Nidderdale.

This might push the town boundary out further if the rural spaces aren't filled. But it's only my speculation, I've not looked at any figures. I just know people here have been concerned about transport.

If you're happy with your school choice then stick with it.

thanks for this insight - I think if you wanted HGS, transport funding wouldn't stop everyone due to the 'general' affluence of the area, and it's unlikely to eke out the town boundary by enough to make us think we would definitely fall into the boundary. after all only 21% of places are rural places. This may have been what family member has picked up in the local press/grapevine.

No change to entry regulations at HGS. The distance from the school will vary, and there are now 10 forms at entry (2018 will be year 4 of that)
Rural spaces remain as oversubscribed as town places.
Hope you have chosen a decent Indy, but yes think your relative is stirring. Nothing to stop you applying for a space then you can definitely say we were not allocated a space hence we went to...