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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

can someone explain 'Norm referenced banding'

22 replies

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 30/01/2008 11:38

We;ve applied to Northampton School for Boys, it's very oversubscribed. We live over 20 miles away, is this taken into account.

To cut a VERY long story short, my DH reeally wants him to go there but I don't! It's too far, too much travelling for him.

How likely/unlikely is he to get in?

OP posts:

acthmt · 30/01/2008 19:43

Norm referenced banding is this to do with admissions how they put students into the school or class by ability representative of the ability within that local area.

Generally nowadays the local authority makes the decision on admissions and it's to do with meeting such admissions criteria. If you are not in the admissions catchment area and do not meet their ability criteria - which I presume is what you mean by norm referenced banding then you won't get in ... but if it's heavily subscribed then more than likely it'll come down to location. Check their admissions criteria. Usually it's to do with siblings, location, catchment area...

Good luck

Christywhisty · 30/01/2008 20:10

I think they had this in Lewisham where my nieces lived. My niece was in the highest band.My sister felt it was a disadvantage as all the schools were only allowed to take only a few from the top band, so they didn't cream off the brightest children.

Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 11:23

They stream them according to ability, so as not to have too many high achievers adjusting their results. So they only have something like 40 within each group.

According to the website the admission criteria is in this order

Children with special needs
Siblings
Norm referenced banding to allocate the remainding places.

You'd think that location and distance would come into it. Apparently an independent body decide.

It sounds awful because although it's a FANTASTIC school, I really don't want DS1 to go there, I think he would be really unhappy with all the travelling he'd be doing.

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Sonnet · 31/01/2008 11:33

I live near this school and have nmany friends whom send their DB's there.
Prior to last year it was extremely competitive to get in and they did take the "brightest" boys. But I believe that has changed now.

Sibling is automatic entry.
They have many applicants from Independent Schools.

Good luck.

Traveling would be difficult - how will he get there. Driving will be very hard as you will have to queue for a long way to get into town.

Sonnet · 31/01/2008 11:35

Just looked at your profile - our girls have the same name!!

Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 11:39

Exactly. When we drove there for the ability test it took us over an hour and that was on a Saturday!

I couldn't drive him there anyway because I have two other children to look after. Initially the plan was he'd have to walk into town (45min walk) to catch a bus at 6:45, the bus then takes him to Northampton bus station, then he has to catch a bus to school. This just isn't reasonable to expect an 11 year old to do. DH said the other day he'd pay for him to go by cab, but this would cost a fortune and like you say, he'd still get stuck in traffic.

Unfortunately when 'we' were choosing him his school preferences i wasn;t really in a position to give much input, I was suffering from v bad PND and wasn't functioning.

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Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 11:40

Great name!!! How old's your Niamh?

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Sonnet · 31/01/2008 11:49

My Niamh was Seven on Monday and she is my baby.....your Niamh looks georgous, enjoy her while she is a LO....

That seems a horredous journey for an 11 year old. I have DD1 who is just eleven.

He would have to leave home at 6am to walk for 45mins?, so get up at 5.30??

Northampton bus station is not the nicest place for an 11 year old....

I think DH will have to think again

Whereabouts are you in the county? - I am South of Northampton

Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 11:52

I'm South Northants too. Brackley

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Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 11:53

She is utterly gorgeous, I could stare at her all day

DH is v stubborn

I'm praying her just doesn't get offered a place.

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snorkle · 31/01/2008 12:31

eek, that sounds a totally unrealistic journey. Leaving home at 6am- he'd have to be up at 5.15am. What time would he get home? He'll get a reasonable amount of homework at senior school too - it doesn't sound good, the poor lad will have a very low quality of life.

Figure out how much the cab option will cost - it will be essential imo. Can you try the journey one morning to see? If it's unfeasibly expensive and/or time consuming can you withdraw the application? What are the alternatives?

snorkle · 31/01/2008 12:34

Just a thought, but if you called the school and asked what they thought of that sort of a journey and explained the situation I would expect it to radically reduce his chances of getting a place. But you'd have to be sure that's what you want. Is moving nearer an option?

Sonnet · 31/01/2008 12:35

Think I would have all my fingers and toes crossed he dosen't get a place. Men eh!

Have you talked to him about the practicalities of it all? - ie poor ds1 will have to get up at 5.30 if he needs to leave home by 6am..how will he cope if he is so tired. I've heard they get lots of homework at NSB etc etc...The drip, drip process may make him realise.

My 2 travel to school, but I do drive them on the days I work as I work very near. I do a car share system with another Mum who takes them on the days I don't. I am also lucky as I bypass Northampton and head to a town in the east of the county where nobody else is going to....Al the traffic is heading in the other direction...
Hope it goes OK. I will look out for you on other threads..
Of course, if DS1 gets in it will be automatic entry for DS2 .

Would love an update...

Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 12:44

Sonnet, thanks , I will keep dropping these problems into conversations. Even DH's parents think it's a bad idea and they're retired teachers FGS, so they KNOW the importance of education!

snorkle, it has crossed my mind phoning the school and discussing, but if DH found I'd be in big trouble!!!

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Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 31/01/2008 12:45

found 'out'

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snorkle · 31/01/2008 12:58

yes I can see that it would be rather underhand. If you found out the exact taxi cost might he be swayed? If it was £50 per day, for example, that would be £3000 per term (12 week term) which would buy you private education around here.

Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 01/02/2008 12:40

I spoke to a local cab company and they said it would cost £70 a day to take him to school and back!!!!

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snorkle · 01/02/2008 13:58

ouch! 4k+ per term. Can you move nearer the school if your ds gets in?

Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 01/02/2008 14:31

Don't want to, I'd miss my friends soooooooooooooo much

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Original poster

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 01/02/2008 14:31

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PinotLover · 07/10/2020 14:46

This thread came up on a google search I did on NSB - @Hopeysgirlwasntbig what was the outcome?!

RedskyAtnight · 07/10/2020 14:56

@PinotLover - this thread is 12 years old. I doubt the OP's experience is relevant to today. I'd suggest you start your own thread if you want more current informatoin?

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