Bucks 11+ How does it work

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Dh and I are considering a lot of options right now. One of them is whether to move dd into Bucks catchment. She is going into yr6 next year from a comprehensive system.

I tried calling Bucks cc but the helpline is now shut down and online info is beyond useless as I just want to know if she has missed the deadline to apply for the exam. And I would need advice on training for the exam.

Idk if we are going to do this or not. So it’s an information gathering exercise.

Can anyone please tell me how it works.

Thanks.

Looks like from this you might be able to register for the test - see the bottom of the page.

Just remembered you also need to look at the admissions policy of the school you are interested in. I think one says you can retain another property if it is more than twenty miles away. Check the website for the school you are interested in.

Looks like you need to move to have any chance of registering for the 11+ and then you will have to accept the upper you say your DD would certainly not be going to though!

The first round of allocations are those in March - I think all were full on offer day.

You would be expected to dispose of your current property as per info on Bucks website.

I don’t think there’s any way you can be included in the first round of allocations.

This is my dc schools policy re address

Ok so it’s questionable as to whether I’d be able to rent my house out in time. We’d really need to be moving now and I’ve just had a really nasty hysterectomy. I think this isnt going to fly although dd would be pretty much top on any waiting list due to proximity to school. I wish I’d had a crystal ball a month ago. 😢. I’m going to talk to dh.

Thanks everyone. 😘

Sorry to hear about your hysterectomy

Primary places are also hard to come by so I would factor that in without knowing the grammar school I can’t give any further advice.

My children’s school hasn’t offered all of catchment for the last 3 years and even the historically less popular schools have significantly reduced their offer distances.

If you would move out of Bucks if your dc didn’t qualify you are putting yourself in a further situation of missing the first round of allocations. I wouldn’t necessarily discount Upper Schools- our local upper is superb and I would have happily sent my dc there had they not qualified.

Kitty
I’ve sent you a message. Idk if you know these schools I just don’t want these places publically identified with my name. Thanks.

The house would be in walking distance of the school so catchment not an issue.

Hope you recover quickly now from the hysterectomy.

If you want to live in Bucks then it is possible. Some of the grammar schools have another intake in a year or two (Burnham and Borlase spring to mind), you could sell your inherited house and move to an area with a good upper (The Amersham school, Marlow school or the John Colet spring to mind).

Places do crop up, I know several left the Beaconsfield high within the first month or two of starting. The 11+ system is stressful and I'm not sure what is prompting this sudden wish to live in Bucks. Are you sure about what is prompting that if it was not on your mind a month ago?

Thanks user. It’s been on my mind for a long time. But not possible until now. I just hadn’t thought about registering for the exam and implications of intakes etc. I’m chronically ill so it’s hard the think straight- brain fog. But as I say dh isn’t keen. He’s sulking about it. So I don’t think we will go to be fair. It’s a lot of letting go that I don’t want to put on a public forum. Sorry to be cryptic and thanks for all the info.

Selling the house isn’t an option. It is the house location that suits.

As long as a school isn't awful then I think children probably come out with the same GCSEs regardless of whether it is a grammar or not. I do think that the atmosphere is probably better at a grammar if one has an academic/nerdy child.

Hope things improve for you, at least you have excellent schools where you are .

Thanks . Yes a lot has changed since I went to school and school only had funding for 5 O levels. What a disgrace. Opportunities are greater even at non selective. As I said strategy would be risky. If dd fails as the school is unacceptable. Ie ofsted reports and it’s always been so.

You’re right about being academic. Dd isn’t academic. She’s bright to be sure. I know I’m wishing on her what I didn’t have. I was a borderline fail due to lack of confidence and fluffing the exam despite being intelligent and studious and a bit gauche.

You would need to name an area to see if a good upper is possible. The distances they go to are on the web, or hopefully Kitty is helping you.

I do wish you well and hope you manage to improve whatever is prompting this, or move of course!

Thanks user for your concern. Sorry I can’t be more precise. But this would be very identifiable if I were - just in case as I used my regular username.... I know the area and the schools. So all good. 😊.

Having talked to dh we think it’s a non starter after some ace information from you and kitty and other posters.

Op I can categorically ℹ you that dc inside and outside the bucks system have been tutored and man of them since year 4. The saying in bucks is if you want your dc to access the grammars don't send them them to bucks primary schools.
To say the bucks primaries don't tutor, so your dd won't be at a disadvantage is not true.
She will need some help even if it's via you, especially on nvr etc, make sure she has the maths knowledge, exam technique etc. Luckily the bucks test has a mock put on by them. Berks doesn't.
As for the 11+ forum, to say the forum doesn't like 11+ tourists 🙄. What a load of nonsense.

One or two vicious tiresome posters hog the board, these are apparently well known and much privately derided for their posting.

GrammarShammer

Ok I’ll bite! I’ve asked you before are you in Bucks? From your posts I assume not!

A few points:

My children are at a very sought after Bucks Grammar (closest school to our house - lived here since before children born). Every child in my youngest child’s class was at a state primary. The vast majority were Bucks schools but some Berks as their schools catchment includes part of Berks. Who are all these people saying if you want to go to a Bucks Grammar don’t go to a Bucks primary COD they’re talking rubbish!

Bucks primary schools are legally not allowed to tutor or prepare for the test with the exception of administering the practice paper 2 days before the test. The test is not marked and not sent home. Partner schools can and do tutor children for the test.

The Bucks 11+ forum absolutely hates 11+ tourists (of which the OP is not one) - seriously how can you not have noticed this

The vast majority of ooc children are heavily tutored - of course they would be they are actively opting into the system. My children went to a Bucks primary with a high qualification % I know nobody who tutored from year 4. NVR also doesn’t need tutoring for.

How do you know these posters on the 11+ forum are privately derided? Golly you seem to have an awful lot of special inside information about all sorts of things (In the interest of clarity I haven’t posted on 11+ forum for many a year - my children are long past that time).

How have you helped the OP? All you’ve done is shout, say people are fibbing and stamped your foot! None of that is actually help

OP apologies for derailing your thread. Your dc is lucky to have such a thoughtful caring parent and I am sure will thrive wherever you decide to send them.