Trafford Grammars. Help!

[Leicesterpiggott]

My DN lives near Sale with my DSis. He took the 11 plus for the trafford grammars. Got the result this morning. The pass mark was 344. He got 373 for Sale, 360 for Stretford and 358 for Irmston. He really wants to go to Stretford but I don't under how it works now. If he puts Stretford too but then doesn't get in after the shake down, is he likely to get Sale if he puts that as second choice?? Or should he put Sale first cos he's more likely to get that place as he lives round the corner, and put Stretford second??

Think in terms of the score being an entry card for the system. In effect they have got the required score to be considered for all of the schools you mention. The Local Authority run the admission system which is called the equal preference system. So for each of the schools they have their own particular admission criteria which can involve things like giving priority to siblings and almost always distance from school to home. There will be differences between the three school you mention. However each applicant is deemed to have an equal opportunity at each of the schools stated as preferences.

What happens is that all the applicants that pass the minimum standard in the tests are then put in admission order criteria. So if you put down Stretford as the first preference, the LA will first check to see where you are on this admission order criteria. If the school offers say 200 places then the first 200 in the admission order criteria will be offered the places. If your place is beyond the 200 mark, then the LA then looks at your second preference school Sale and sees where you are on that admission criteria order and if possible will offer a place there.

It therefore does not make a difference as to whether you put down Sale as 1st, 2nd or 3rd priority because you will be a reasonable way up the admission criteria order for the school because of the short distance from home to school. However if you do not put Stretford down as 1st priority but you put Sale as first preference if you are able to be offered a place at Sale then that is the allocation you will receive. Your application for Stretford will not even be considered as you have indicated you want Sale first and you can have that preference.

Amazing! Thanks. I get it now.