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Secondary education

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Original poster

Alleyns 11+ for Sept 2023 entry

66 replies

se21mum · 07/01/2023 14:48

Hi, my DC sat the Alleyns 11+ yesterday and seemed to think it went 'okay'. How did others find it? They really liked the snack during the refreshment break. :) There were A LOT of children there. Does anyone know how many applied this year?

OP posts:
minitino · 07/02/2023 18:49

Good luck all. I’m assuming they wouldn’t rely on post only, given current speed. Perhaps they will do both? The nail biting home straight :)

Original poster
se21mum · 07/02/2023 20:52

Sorry, I looked through the Alleyns website and old emails but couldn't find Feb 10th anywhere so I guess it was in my head as in previous years they have always released decisions on the Friday before half-term as far as I know.

OP posts:
89fomveg · 10/02/2023 13:07

Has anyone else heard from Alleyns today? I am still waiting… fingers crossed for everyone 😅

grumpycamel · 10/02/2023 14:54

We heard a couple of hours ago. Good luck to everyone.

RHenders5 · 15/02/2023 13:22

Is anyone aware of the Alleyns maximum scholarship? If Music and Academic (or Academic and Sports) are awarded, does that still equate to a max of £5000?

89fomveg · 16/02/2023 09:38

It may be worth checking the school website to find out the maximum offered for each scholarship?

MomFromSE · 16/02/2023 09:47

Each scholarship has a max value of £5,000 so theoretically you could get the top figure for both but it would be unlikely as most of the awards aren't at that level.

Citygal23 · 20/02/2023 10:46

Does anyone know based on previous years whether waiting lists move much that people get offers? I would assume they over offer anyway…?

AnotherNewt · 20/02/2023 11:37

Citygal23 · 20/02/2023 10:46

Does anyone know based on previous years whether waiting lists move much that people get offers? I would assume they over offer anyway…?

Utterly variable, I'm afraid.

I can remember at least one year when Alleyns told prep heads within the first week of schools resuming after half term to warn families on the WL that they expected no movement at all (lots of rapid acceptances)

There's a kind of black art to how they make the number of offers they do - the registrars all talk to each other, and share things like the info on how many other schools people apply for, in order to gain some idea of how many applicants there are (not so long ago, people applied for 3 maybe 4 schools, now 5 or more isn't uncommon, they want to allow for that). Also they look at what pattern of acceptances/rejections they have had in previous years. And then presumably wave a finger in the air.

MomFromSE · 20/02/2023 11:47

Alleyns over offered too much a few years ago and had to put on an extra class and cancel the 13+ entry as a result. I think they are more cautious these days on over offering as its so hard to predict. Hopefully that will mean more use of the waitlist. Best of luck!

Citygal23 · 20/02/2023 11:52

Many thanks, this is very helpful. They don’t have a 13+ as far as I can see. It’s 11+ and 16+ only. Ok, will wait and see, they’ve given deadlines till next Friday for offered to accept.

I wonder if we should keep checking with the school to evidence our keenness or whether that might backfire with a school like Alleyn’s…

MomFromSE · 20/02/2023 12:51

They had a 13+ up until the over offering issue happened a few years ago. They cancelled the 13 plus after that permanently @Citygal23 after having to suspend it.

weRone · 20/02/2023 13:25

Citygal23 · 20/02/2023 11:52

Many thanks, this is very helpful. They don’t have a 13+ as far as I can see. It’s 11+ and 16+ only. Ok, will wait and see, they’ve given deadlines till next Friday for offered to accept.

I wonder if we should keep checking with the school to evidence our keenness or whether that might backfire with a school like Alleyn’s…

Have you let the registrar know that you are keen to take up a place and ready to put down your deposit as soon as you get the offer? I think that will put you higher up on the WL as they know they won't be losing time filling their places when they call you.

Citygal23 · 20/02/2023 13:30

Thanks, yes I let them know it’s our first choice snd to keep us on waiting list. Didn’t say I’d pay deposit right away etc. … wondering whether I should contact yhrm
again

RHenders5 · 21/02/2023 09:24

Oh wow didn’t appreciate the registrars share information about students’ offers, scholarships, WL etc. Feels like it’s a bit of game-playing?!

Citygal23 · 21/02/2023 09:40

Yes it’s pretty opaque for us parents :(

ChnandlerBong · 21/02/2023 10:06

not sure contacting the registrar repeatedly to let them know how keen you are will change your place on the waiting list. If you've already let them know you're keen then just keep your fingers crossed?

Planet3 · 21/02/2023 10:06

I would have thought they were not allowed to share information about specific candidates. Surely permission would have to be given by parents to comply with GDPR?

AnotherNewt · 21/02/2023 11:14

RHenders5 · 21/02/2023 09:24

Oh wow didn’t appreciate the registrars share information about students’ offers, scholarships, WL etc. Feels like it’s a bit of game-playing?!

No they don't share thar level of detail.

They will be sharing things like "we've had 850 applications, and over 90% are trying for 5 or more schools" or "we has 950 applicants of which 55% were boys, and 85% of them are trying for 5 or more, and 95% of the girls were for 5 or more"
So they can try to work out how many actual potentiial pupils are behind the volume of applications.

They won't be sharing anything about selection for scholarships (all specific to the individual school, and number available is pretty much the same every year, so won't provide useful information that benefits either school or candidates)

AFAIK nothing is shared about individual candidates.

And they cannot share about other offers, because they won't know them

(They might share info on the total number of offers they have made, and how quickly responses are coming in. Just to help the numbers game. They won't be saying which candidates are choosing what)

It's very much in candidates' interests that schools get their numbers on target at this point!

Lanast · 23/02/2023 00:21

My DD is also on the waiting list and it is really unnerving that there is no information which place jn the waiting list we are on, how long the list is etc. so that parents can have an idea of the likelihood of any chance even if there is movement..I also heard a rumor that Jane Lunnon (the current head) was about to move on, has anyone heard anything about that, especially parents of current students?

MummyRules1 · 23/02/2023 08:15

How could they possibly know how many schools each candidate had applied for though? We applied for three and two of the schools will have known about each other as the exam dates clashed, but they will have no clue whether we applied anywhere else.

YukoandHiro · 23/02/2023 08:16

900?!

There are so so many good state secondaries in the area. Absolute madness.

ghislaine · 23/02/2023 08:17

Do they not ask the applicants? In two of my son’s three interviews he was asked where else he was applying.

MummyRules1 · 23/02/2023 08:22

Lanast · 23/02/2023 00:21

My DD is also on the waiting list and it is really unnerving that there is no information which place jn the waiting list we are on, how long the list is etc. so that parents can have an idea of the likelihood of any chance even if there is movement..I also heard a rumor that Jane Lunnon (the current head) was about to move on, has anyone heard anything about that, especially parents of current students?

There are offer holder events this week. We have an offer that we are highly likely to accept, but it seemed sensible to attend the taster day just to be 100% sure before signing on the dotted line. Others I have spoken to are doing the same. I expect the school will know more next week as hopefully most people will have made their decisions one way or another by tomorrow. I hope for your sake that people won't hold onto offers that they are not going to take until 3rd March as it must be horrible being in limbo. Good luck

AnotherNewt · 23/02/2023 10:56

MummyRules1 · 23/02/2023 08:15

How could they possibly know how many schools each candidate had applied for though? We applied for three and two of the schools will have known about each other as the exam dates clashed, but they will have no clue whether we applied anywhere else.

Many ask you (it's on the form)

Others may ask the candidate at interview

It's not a trick question - they know people are applying to several schools. It helps them decide how many offers to make. And it's in your interests that they do not under or over offer by any great extent.