11+ SET tests moved to Nov 2020

[piupiu]

Just received an email saying the 11+ SETs are moving to November.

But not sure what this means:

This necessary delay means that the Selective Eligibility Test will now take place after the deadline for submission of your Local Authority Common Application Form (31st October 2020).

Can someone please enlighten me? What would it make a difference?

You might list grammar schools on your car that you don't have a chance of getting into if your DC doesn't ass the test or get the required score, thereby wasting options

Caf not car !!

Are you applying for Sutton schools?

The SET will now be some time in November as far as they can say at the moment - though the exact date depends on the autumn exam timetable for GCSE/A levels.

The second stage (Wally Girls, Nonsuch, Wilson's & Sutton Grammar only) will be approx 2 weeks after the SET I would think, as that's the usual gap. Wally Boys doesn't use a 2nd stage test.

The CAF will still have to be submitted on or before 31st October, naming (up to) 6 schools.

So, either a blind submission not knowing how they get on in the test and whether they stand a chance of getting a place, or avoiding the grammar schools on your application, in short.

Some people put their children in for multiple tests and then only apply for those which they pass. If they have to apply before they know the outcome they will presumably also need to put any non-grammar schools down. Some parents might decide not to put their child down for as many tests on the off chance they might pass some of the tests and then move to wherever they pass.

Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation.
So if we are looking at the Sutton boys grammars we might put them as the top 3 choices and then a non-selective as no.4?
But does that mean that you also have less chance of getting into no.4 because those kids that put it no.1 on the form get priority? Or is it just done on distance and not where you rank them in the 6?

No, the schools don't see where you have placed them, they just rank you according to their admissions criteria, so if school number 4 is next door to you and distance is the main criteria and they have a space after SEN, siblings etc then they will send back saying yes we have a space for mini puipui. If your ds has passed the test then the grammar schools will also send back saying yes we will take mini puipui and you will be given whichever one you put first.

Some schools still say 'if you want to come to this school you need to put us first' Whilst technically this is true, because say if you really wanted ds to go to the 4th school but put the grammars higher and he qualified for them, it doesn't mean that those who put school 4 first get any sort of nod and special priority.

Just put the schools down in the order that your ds really wants to go to them. Make sure that you put a 'banker' school somewhere on the list which is a school you are virtually guaranteed a place in (assuming that you are not in a school black hole). If you have 3 grammars there is still room for a couple of hopeful non grammars and a banker school.

In reality many people who apply for grammars whose dc don't pass still put grammar schools on their list so they can appeal so in some ways it is not too different.

Thanks TW2013 that explains everything perfectly :)

Let's just hope the open days happen otherwise we haven't got a clue what order to put them in!

@piupiu, your local authority's website (and paper copy, if it still produces them) will have all the information about how to complete the CAF. A lot of them include worked examples. And include an explanation of what happens if your ranked list does not name any realistic options (you get the nearest school with a place available - which could be anywhere in the LA's area - not your nearest school, unless that happens to be the same one. Appeal panel members could get very rich if they got a pound for every appeal they hear where a parent says, I thought that if I didn't get any of the schools on my list / only put one school down, I had to be given a place at my catchment school anyway).

The 'first preference first' system of allocating places has not been lawful for many years now. Our eldest DC graduated from university two years ago and the equal preference system was already the way things were done when we were applying for secondary schools for him.

@piupiu have you looked on eleveplusexams.co.uk there is a forum there for each area and there will be parents of existing boys who will be able to offer opinions on the different schools. There is also advice about resources etc. It is also worth looking at the GCSEs offered. Although these can change it might give an indication of which school will suit him. Ofsted reports might help but could be years out of date. If he has a tutor they might be able to offer a view based on previous boys they have tutored and might be able to put you in touch with parents of previous tutees. Although we did see schools in yr5 interestingly everyone agrees with ds's preferred school FOR HIM even though if things go well on the day he could have the choice of three (not in Sutton).

Sorry elevenplusexams.co.uk

Sutton has put out a press release today saying that we will be able to amend our application for high school once the 11+ results are released, without it being considered a late application, so long as we submit the first draft by the national deadline of 31st October.

Details here: www.sutton.gov.uk/info/200439/school_admissions