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Secondary education

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

Original poster

BUCKS SCORE 120 ,NEED TO APPLY FOR SELECTION REVIEW

33 replies

11plusseeker · 14/10/2024 23:42

Hi my kid scored 120 just 1 mark less for cut off mark for bucks.we live in wycombe high school catchment .
but we prefer going to william borlase and its 3.52 miles away from home.

is selection review process is like face to face or they will consider our supporting documents.

OP posts:
Prav86 · 14/10/2025 08:55

LIZS · 13/10/2025 11:38

And you have no other address or house to sell?

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I have another house that I let out.

LIZS · 14/10/2025 08:59

Prav86 · 14/10/2025 08:55

I have another house that I let out.

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Then you need to check that they will not use that address for admissions , especially since you moved recently. See https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/school-admissions-guides-policies-and-statistics/guide-to-starting-school-or-moving-up-to-junior-school/understanding-the-terms-we-use/ as Normal Home Address. Was that the former family home?

Prav86 · 14/10/2025 09:02

blackdogatmyheels · 13/10/2025 11:40

You can still begin the process for the selection review, which means the HT will be asked for their view on your DD's suitability for grammar and the score they gave before the exam.

You will be sent this. You can then decide if you want to proceed or not. It is started via the link on BC website, and they send you the head's form. To proceed you have to then upload your own evidence along with the head's report. You can leave it at this stage and the review will not happen, but you at least get to see what the head says and their score.

I'm not sure where in Bucks you are. There are some better secondaries in some places than others.

If you do go for a review, you will need to include previous years reports, which show that your DD consistently got EXS in reading, writing and maths. As the school your DD is at won't have them, it will be incumbent on you to provide them.

It's also important to remember that only academic ability should be included in a review. Anything else will be discounted and may prejudice your review as they only have minutes and need evidence of academic ability, not leadership, musical ability, sporting ability, etc.

Are there any extenuating circumstances? Anything major happened or illness, that could explain why she didn't pass?

If you do have any extenuating circumstances they can be included, but bear in mind they should have been reported to the school before the exam.

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The only challenging period we faced was when I was out of work for nearly a year. About nine months ago, I had to withdraw my daughter from her tuition. Additionally, we had just moved into the area two weeks before her exam, which made things harder for her. She struggled with the sudden change—from living in a house with her own room to a small flat where she didn’t have that comfort—and felt overwhelmed by starting at a new school, not sleeping well, and adjusting to everything at once.

Prav86 · 14/10/2025 09:05

LIZS · 14/10/2025 08:59

Then you need to check that they will not use that address for admissions , especially since you moved recently. See https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/school-admissions/school-admissions-guides-policies-and-statistics/guide-to-starting-school-or-moving-up-to-junior-school/understanding-the-terms-we-use/ as Normal Home Address. Was that the former family home?

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Yes it was but not anymore. We rented out that house on long term let and I can prove to the council by providing all relevant proofs on council tax, bills, license etc

Prav86 · 14/10/2025 09:08

Nonameoclue · 13/10/2025 11:54

Are you really going to hop around the country in the hope of finding the perfect school for your child? What was your plan for if they didn't pass the 11 plus? Would you be able to find another primary school for your poor pressured child? Do you have other children? This just baffles me tbh.

I feel bad. But I didn't account for this negative scenario. I was so confident she would crack this exam. If I don't move now, she will need to go to a school with poor academic performance. I am not experienced enough to understand the implications of sending her to such a school. Plus, I had been unemployed for an year, so moving around is draining all my savings, rents are ridicously expensive in areas around London where there are outstanding schools be it grammar schools or state secondary schools.

titchy · 14/10/2025 09:35

Prav86 · 14/10/2025 09:08

I feel bad. But I didn't account for this negative scenario. I was so confident she would crack this exam. If I don't move now, she will need to go to a school with poor academic performance. I am not experienced enough to understand the implications of sending her to such a school. Plus, I had been unemployed for an year, so moving around is draining all my savings, rents are ridicously expensive in areas around London where there are outstanding schools be it grammar schools or state secondary schools.

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But you’re judging poor academic performance incorrectly - EBacc is not a measure of performance. Crucially, it’s how your kid does that counts, not how the remaining 300 do. Go visit some schools.

LIZS · 14/10/2025 10:22

Has your child also moved primary school ? Not sure how a head can add much weight to a review for a child they barely know if so. 100s of kids will attend the alternative schools, many of whom would do very well. Rather than ebacc look at value added and destinations. Do you really want your child in a school where they may struggle to keep up with their peers.

Nonameoclue · 14/10/2025 10:31

Prav86 · 14/10/2025 09:02

The only challenging period we faced was when I was out of work for nearly a year. About nine months ago, I had to withdraw my daughter from her tuition. Additionally, we had just moved into the area two weeks before her exam, which made things harder for her. She struggled with the sudden change—from living in a house with her own room to a small flat where she didn’t have that comfort—and felt overwhelmed by starting at a new school, not sleeping well, and adjusting to everything at once.

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Do you think moving her again would being her best interests overall?

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