Suggestions on choosing Grammar school

[SaiBandham]

Hi,
We are planning to relocate for staying near to the secondary school. My daughter is in year 5 now. I have below questions.

1. If one chooses school with 2 stages of selection as their first preference (Henrietta) and school with only one stage of selection as second preference (Dr.Challoner). Do we need to wait till HB results are out or how does it work?

Thank you

You will have the results of both the 11+ tests before the closing date for school applications to your local authority. If they have passed both then list them in preference order on your CAF with the one you really want first.

Beware that Challoners has admissions criteria that require you to live at the address from which you apply much earlier than when you will find out whether or not they have passed the 11+.

They are a long way apart and very competitive. Chances of getting into one let alone both are low. You need to decide one or other.

I also see that HB has a “catchment” now of three miles with places being offered ranked according to those who did best in the tests. I seem to recall that historically you could live literally anywhere as all places are offered according to scores. Maybe this has changed? Any remaining places are then offered to the highest ranking scores.

So in theory, if the OP lived in the Challoners catchment by the required date but put HB first on their CAF, spaces at HB weren’t filled by those in catchment and her daughter had a score off the scale then she would get a place at HB.

If the OP is renting they could well then move closer to HB once they have received their offer.

Surely a more pressing point though is moving to Bucks in time for the Challoners residency deadline and schooling for the rest of Y5 / Y6 though.

Thank you for the replies.
Yes, we are planning the same. Moving near to any of the school and try the other ones which doesn't have catchment restrictions.

If you are thinking of Challoners then being close to Amersham School as a backup is a great idea. Fabulous school with great results (even better as it’s a secondary modern with the top third being creamed off for grammars).

Please don’t think grammar schools are always the best though. We turned down a Bucks grammar place to go to another school that just seemed a better fit. Being fixated on, and being prepared to move anywhere just for a grammar school place can put undue pressure on the family, not least of all the child.

Plenty of children get 10 GCSEs at grade 9 in non grammar schools.