Riddlesdown/Sutton grammar exams clash!

[MrsStressBall]

I see the Riddlesdown entrance exam and second stage Sutton grammars test are on the same day (6th October). Does anyone know if this is what happens usually, or just a coincidence this year? We were hoping to try for both!

do they have alternative dates (some schools will have make up days for illness etc) may be worth asking, that way you could sit both.

Apparently not unless you have doctor's note for day of test...

It happened 4 years ago when my DD was doing them. we opted for the grammar school as there was a chance we could get Riddlesdown on distance.

Sadly I don't think we will. 1.6 miles away but this year they only went to a mile. It's utterly ridiculous. Especially as most people will probably opt to sit the grammar exam as there's more places up for grabs and, as you say, there's still a chance of getting Riddlesdown on distance anyway. So Riddlesdown end up losing out on precisely the group of academically higher achieving kids that presumably their entrance exam is hoping to attract.

So Riddlesdown end up losing out on precisely the group of academically higher achieving kids that presumably their entrance exam is hoping to attract.

I think there are more than enough academically 'higher' achieving kids to go around all the local schools that have good reputations.

Have you contacted the schools?

I see the Riddlesdown entrance exam and second stage Sutton grammars test are on the same day (6th October).

Perhaps not worth worrying about until you know your DS has cleared the first stage Sutton grammars 11+ exam?

Perhaps not worth worrying about until you know your DS has cleared the first stage Sutton grammars 11+ exam?

Thank you for your comment but I'd rather think ahead and consider all eventualities now if I can! I think it's a realistic prospect that my DS will at least get that far but the alternative if he doesn't pass stage 2 is a faith school we really don't want.

I'd ask Riddlesdown. It's a strange thing to do unless they can't cope with the numbers and are reducing them on purpose by making people choose one or the other

I am sure that one of the schools would offer you an alternative date to sit the exam if there is a clash. They are usually quite accommodating, in my (limited) experience.

I think Riddlesdown are keen to keep numbers down actually.

And probably the grammar schools too

Riddlesdown are expecting 600 candidates for their test. They may have to do more than 1 sitting.

Looked at the SGS 11+ info (2018 for 2019 entry). It seems as if only GP certified illness will grant the opportunity to sit the exam on another date.

This years year 7 intake was a massive boom year around here (I live in this area). Many of the schools were much more oversubscribed than usual (I remember it being the same at Primary entrance time) so it it might be that he shorter distance criteria for Riddlesdown this year was a blip and that it might stretch back out a bit further next year.