Tier 4 January entrance exams going ahead?

[mrsTC]

Do you think the January entrance exams will go ahead in Kent under Tier 4? DS has two in the first week back. Lot of children from different schools will have to mix.

St George’s is going ahead with on-site exams. Apparently it’s considered essential travel by the government! Although they do ask anyone who feels concerned to contact them.

Pato I'm sorry you've been disappointed by the exam cancellation but I would like to reassure you that in my experience it's usually perfectly obvious from a conversation with a child when they're very bright, even if they're quite shy. It's usually a better indicator than exam results. I acknowledge Zoom makes it a little more awkward but I'm sure your daughters intellect will show through.

Disclaimer, I don't work in admissions but do work in the classroom at a secondary school.

@realitybites1 Sevenoaks. They're increasing the social distancing for the first paper and then bringing in a shortlisting cut before the next set of papers/interview. Quite sensible I think - reduce the numbers as much as possible while still keeping testing in place.

Our exam set for Monday has been confirmed today. Senior schools are using the opportunity to host exams without the wider school to juggle and remaining empty the past 3 weeks.

We have had an email from Hampton today (DS sat the ISEB in November and has been invited for interview) to confirm that they will go ahead with face to face interviews, albeit with strict health and safety measures put in place.

I am surprised tbh, as I really was expecting them to revert to Zoom, but as other schools have also confirmed, apparently 'travel to these assessments is considered to be essential travel'...

Which does make you wonder why some schools seem able to go ahead with exams whilst others have cancelled, but I guess it depends on candidate application numbers, and how easily they can accommodate those numbers on site. St Georges Weybridge for example would not, I am guessing, have as many applications as many of the central London schools, and they have a big site with plenty of space. So frustrating for those with cancelled exams though.

Does anyone know whether WUS will go ahead with in-person tests in mid-Jan as planned? I would expect not, since there would be many kids from so many schools...

WUS is having their own boys take the Great School Test on location on 16th. They have sent correspondence re: 7+ & 8+, now being conducted at home next week. Guess they are waiting for further guidance to determine plan for external candidates for 11+/13+. You should hear from them possibly by next Friday. From last correspondence yesterday, school resumes in person on 18th, so do hope the exam is administered on site/sports hall. Though w the expected numbers, WUS may need to reassess plans.

Thank you @OptimysticMom. Difficult to imagine schools actually re-opening on the 18th with these case numbers so I really hope they go for remote exams for 11+ too. It would be a tough call to make if the choice was between foregoing a potential school place or risking catching Covid at an in-person exam. Also very unfair on the child to put such a responsibility on them: what if they went to sit the exam, caught Covid and then gave it to a parent or sibling, who became very ill a result?

Good Morning ladies, does anyone know if SPGS cancelled the exam for overseas students as well or not?

Not a parent. I presume some private schools have full scholarships so that bright children with poor parents (state primary attending) can benefit. These families may not have access to be able to allow child to do online exams, including printers and steady WiFi. I doubt the state primary will facilitate so how will that work?

Sadly, I think the number of families with this degree of disadvantage who apply for private school bursaries is extremely small. In such a situation, I suspect a primary might help if it could. But yes, there could be some in this situation. I would also hope the private school would help if it could (eg allowing an individual child to take the test on site?).

@annahavana expect you are right and poverty is relative in these cases. I just knew it is part of the ethos of some schools and the way that some schools justify charitable status.

St Alban's boys sending out papers by post and parents invigilating and NO online invigilation!!!!

I can't understand why