11+ 2025 support thread #2

[AquaPeer]

we are on the home run now! Continue to support, love and share in this thread

link to previous

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5200929-11-2025-support-thread?page=40&reply=147336748

continued good luck to all x

Yeah, I reckon I'll probably give it a go! They only have 18 places this year though, so not super hopeful

Has anyone been able to access the Bexley results? Thanks

@ToilingAway I'm assuming it's a mix of 2 factors:

1. They are only ranked on their English and maths (the creative writing aspect is only pass/fail) and they need to have met the standard in all areas to have passed. Therefore in theory, a child could be ranked first for English and maths but still not have met the qualifying standard overall if they didn't meet in creative writing. In this case - I don't see why they can't only release the ranks of the students who met all criteria.

2. They want to approach it like the Skipton grammars who also only release whether a pupil has met the standard and not what their mark/rank is as they want "all students to start Y7 on a level playing field" without knowing who scored highest. HOWEVER, the Skipton schools apply distance criteria so you can make a good guess whether your child will be offered a place based on furthest pupil admitted previously.

Overall, I think if they still intend to admit based on rank (which they will according to their oversubscription criteria) they should tell parents - they can politely ask parents not to tell their children the ranks. How will parents know whether a mistake has been made if they're lodging an appeal if they don't know the rank. Also, at the moment with no idea how many pupils met the standard, we're completely in the dark about the probability of meeting the standard translating into being offered a place!

I haven't. 2 hours now!

This is exactly the point, without a rank then you don't really know what your chances are. At the end of the day, the kids have to be ranked, so not disclosing that makes the job so much more difficult.

Looking at the oversubscription criteria the only way you know you are guaranteed a place is if you meet all the test requirements and are in a prioroty group - looked after child, UC I think etc.

Managed to get through on my laptop to Bexley and my daughter was selective - just barely - but I'll take it. Per website 5866 children sat the selection test this year, and 2070 have been deemed selective. I didn't see a breakdown of her score though so not sure if that's provided?

I heard the same thing and I’ve been refreshing my emails like a mad woman! I can’t take it anymore 😭

Nor me. The entire council website has now crashed for me as well…

I still can't get through. Office is successfully distracting me most of the time though.

managed to get through, DD was selective. Good luck everyone

Anyone managed to get through to Crossley/ North Halifax to find out their child ranking as they are not disclosing it. Why do they make things awkward for no apparent reason.

@ToilingAway I think they're screening their calls. I've rung twice (for something to do with my older child who is there!) and it's gone to voicemail both times. That never normally happens.

Please post if you get through. They may not tell us the rankings, but hopefully at least will tell us how many children met the qualifying standard overall.

I wonder whether parents could put in a subject access request for their child's data i.e their exam results.

Does anyone have any insight into whether it is worth including Mary Mags with a ranking in the 80s?? The schools says it usually goes to rank 60ish but I'm not clear if that is on offers day or a different cut off point. Anecdotally, Mumsnet threads suggest a place is still possible via the waiting list up to around 100 or so

I've heard of 80s getting a place anecdotally as well, though as you say they've reduced the places this year, plus the school is outstanding now and so potentially more popular. I suppose it depends what your other options look like and what you'd be bumping off to put it on. For my part i would be putting it on the list with a rank of below 100 but I don't have a long list of realistic good alternatives and I do have one banker (dd1's school)

Managed to get 1 page further on the Bexley site than before so had high hopes and then it crashed again. Just seen this on the Bexley Facebook- update at 1pm:

ANNOUNCEMENT

Our Secondary Selection Test portal is experiencing difficulties, we apologise to any of our families affected by this and are working hard to address the issue.

Due to the volume of calls we are taking, we cannot respond to individual requests for results at this time.

We understand this is a stressful time and we would like to thank families for their patience.

We will provide a further update at 1pm

We had this sent from our primary school too. Shambles!

Heard on the grapevine that they will release the rankings? Obviously this is here say and conjecture but it would put an end to all the confusion.

Unfortunately Ds was not selective for Bexley. I have a feeling it was the English that let him down as it’s not his strongest forte, he’s very much a maths boy. Not going to hold my breath for Kent either, even if he does get through. Realistically the commute to DGS would be hard to do every day.

He’s currently at a taster day at an independent school, so not going to tell him the news until later on tonight. Don’t want to dampen his fun day. Dreading this part, wish us luck.

We were ready to move into our second home if he had passed the Bexley test but are now thinking to stay put in North London unless we decide for him to go to the independent school. We’ve received the SMMA Aptitude results via post this morning, and he’s ranked in the 50s range. Not sure if we have a good chance?

I think you have a good chance of SMMA with a place in the 50s Sunshine.

Good news for us this morning - DD scored enough for an out of catchment place at her first choice. Really smooth process as well - we were told we’d have an email from the school by the afternoon, but it was in my inbox before she even set off for school, so was a nice bit of news for her before she went in. So sorry to hear what’s happening in Bexley - you guys must be climbing the walls! Hope it all gets resolved quickly and you get an answer soon. Fingers crossed for everyone still waiting 🙂

According to SMMA they usually go down to early 60s, so 50s is a great result! Only slight curve ball is that they have 10% less places this year so maybe the latter part of the 50s isn't fully safe. Who knows! Would have thought it's worth a shot but probably means a long summer of waiting list waiting!

Sorry about the Bexley result. It is annoying how they no longer send a breakdown for the scores would be nice to see where the weak areas were. Good luck with SMMA

I mean it does P me off, immensely. It’s a stupid system and it doesn’t make sense, but I don’t understand how someone can be clued up enough to register their kids and prep them and get them to the test centre and still not realise that admissions are based on catchment and distance, that their DC won’t get a place, and that by putting them into the results pool they’re taking a massive dump on local state school kids who just want to go to their local grammar. or maybe they know all this and just don’t care.

Do you think they think they might move into catchment and apply as a late applicant or is that not a thing? I mean it's not something I would do but my eyes have been opened that many people move across the country for schools. Still off-pissing, obviously, but maybe there's a logic beyond simply not caring? Dunno

Post just arrived. DD is rank 3 for SMMA so that's in the bag if she wants it, which is a big relief as it means I don't have to look at any more schools. We did really like it actually, but think it would be a bit odd not to aim for HB or Latymer now it's within reach. One to ponder though as it is much nearer.