State Secondary schools for 13 Plus

[neve2017]

Hello,

We have just moved to UK recently. I am looking for information on state grammar schools who have entry for 13 plus preferably in Kent or Sutton. Any pointers on the schools and also good coaching classes for 13 plus would be highly appreciated.

Only state grammar I know with formal entry at 13 is Cranbrook in Kent. They have formal entry for Y9 but it is less than previously as they now also admit at 11. Most other grammar schools have a formal entry at Y7 with a test in Sept of Y6 that is registered for in Spring or early summer of Y5. Other grammars may have ad-hoc places that come up when pupils move away etc but any DC would have to compete with others for the very very few places that came up and most likely sit an exam st a defined time as set by the school.

Most usual scenario for entry at 13 to a comprehensive would be via the ‘in-year’ process. So check the admissions criteria for any school you are interested in. Unfortunately most will be oversubscribed but it isn’t always an impossible task, just not an easy one.

www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/17930/Secondary-admissions-booklet-all-areas.pdf

This document (from the Kent CC website) has statistics re the number of applications and offers made for secondary schools in Kent for the 2017 admissions cycle (current year 7). You can see which schools were undersubscribed on March 1st. Obviously, no guarantee that they still have places or in your required year group, but they are probably a better bet than the ones which were very oversubscribed

Are you flexible about area to live in? 'Sutton' is very specific, but 'Kent' a vast area and the schools (even grammar schools) most likely to have vacancies in your DC's year group are probably not the ones nearest to the border with London boroughs.

None of the Sutton grammars (boys) do it. Wally Boys used to (one of DS's primary school friends got in at 13+) but checking their website they don't do it now:

www.wcgs-sutton.co.uk/Year-9-Entry

Sometimes places do become available twixt Year 7 and Year 12 entry points at Sutton grammar schools but you would be very lucky to find one coinciding with when you'd want a place for your DC. Also, they would require your DC to an age-appropriate equivalent of the 11+. Usually there will be other children on the school's waiting list who would wish to have the opportunity to take the exam for an available place.

The Sutton and Surrey Grammars don't have a 13+ entry and there will be people still on the waiting list from the original exam for year 7 (11+)if they made the cut-off but still didn't get a place and have asked to stay on the waitlist. Best to call each school and ask, but I know with Tiffin, if you didn't take the initial exam at 11+ you can't apply until the 6th form. And I believe you can only apply once and you can't re-apply if you didn't make the cut-off. You might be better off looking in the private sector at schools like Whitgift, Dulwich, Trinity, where they have a formal 13+ entry.