Page 30 | 11+ 2025 support thread #2

AquaPeer · 2025-09-23T11:27:21+00:00

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 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/5200929-11-2025-support-thread?page=40&reply=147336748]] continued good luck to all x

DolphinOnASkateboard · 14/10/2025 13:18

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:05

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.

Great news, well done her.

All the Bucks grammar schools do first-round admissions based on your address on 1 September precisely to stop people moving to wherever they get a place. It’s one of their few nods to “local schools for local kids”. It’s technically possible to get a place in later allocation rounds but given how over-subscribed they are it’s extremely unlikely.

SFV · 14/10/2025 13:27

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:05

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.

Well done! That's tough done and dusted with results now? Definitely time to start thinking about order of preference now :)

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:29

There's still Latymer rank 2 to come but hopefully she's done well enough to be a contender. HBS you never get the results for round 2 so will have to apply blind to an extent anyway. Might need to practise the journeys again.

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:30

Dd1 admitted to feeling a bit down about it all though so need to spend some time bigging her up. There's a 6th form open day at Woodside on Saturday but her cousins are here so not sure whether to go (she's year 10).

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:31

Woodhouse! Keep getting that wrong

CheerfulMuddler · 14/10/2025 13:41

@Magnificentkitteh That's amazing, congratulations to your DD.
Closer would be a big draw for me, personally. Two hours travelling every day is hard on an eleven-year-old. But honestly, it sounds like you can't really make a wrong decision - whichever you and she chose will be a great school. An enviable position to be in!

SatsumaCat · 14/10/2025 14:35

Bexley update : they've starting emailing results in batches. Haven't received ours yet.

macaroniart · 14/10/2025 14:41

SatsumaCat · 14/10/2025 14:35

Bexley update : they've starting emailing results in batches. Haven't received ours yet.

Great! - how do you know?

Lottie2012 · 14/10/2025 14:44

They put a post on their instagram account

Sunshinemam · 14/10/2025 15:46

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:05

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.

That is super! A very well done to your dd and yourself! Such a great position to be in - time to get the pros and cons list out 😃

idriveaVauxhallZafira · 14/10/2025 16:09

got our results email from bexley at 15.57

MaiQuynhVy · 14/10/2025 16:15

Hi, just want to get your thoughts. Dd got 241, we are not in catchment. Literally 10 miles away from Townley school and she is in pp. I don’t know how pp work for outside catchment ?

sakura06 · 14/10/2025 16:21

@MaiQuynhVyTownley will have their admissions policy on their website. It’s worth reading it. Sorry am unsure what PP means in this context (unless Pupil Premium which would put her at an advantage for a place at many schools).

MaiQuynhVy · 14/10/2025 16:44

sakura06 · 14/10/2025 16:21

@MaiQuynhVyTownley will have their admissions policy on their website. It’s worth reading it. Sorry am unsure what PP means in this context (unless Pupil Premium which would put her at an advantage for a place at many schools).

Thanks for replying. Sorry for confusion. I mean pupil premium. Just wandering should I apply for her or just let it go

sakura06 · 14/10/2025 17:10

MaiQuynhVy · 14/10/2025 16:44

Thanks for replying. Sorry for confusion. I mean pupil premium. Just wandering should I apply for her or just let it go

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Looking at their admissions policy, you should definitely apply. Pupil Premium is their second highest criteria for determining places. https://ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/townley.debeerdigital/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16154757/Admissions-Policy-26-27.pdf

SatsumaCat · 14/10/2025 17:17

Got the Bexley email - DS passed by the skin of his teeth. Phew.

Sunshinemam · 14/10/2025 17:52

FunBlueCritic · 14/10/2025 12:35

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!

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Thanks so much! That is really helpful. Ds ranking in the aptitude test is in the early 50s, so fingers crossed then!

SFV · 14/10/2025 18:00

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 13:29

There's still Latymer rank 2 to come but hopefully she's done well enough to be a contender. HBS you never get the results for round 2 so will have to apply blind to an extent anyway. Might need to practise the journeys again.

Remind me what she ranked in Latymer - it was quite high if i remember correctly, in which case I'm certain she's a contender as about 350 from the top 700 will be out of catchment anyway. Which school is an easier journey for you? Your DD sounds super bright, so she might find HBS a breeze once she's there (in a good way). What was her HBS rank/score?

Icantpeopleanymore · 14/10/2025 18:00

@Lamarais and @Magnificentkitteh yes, guaranteed place but only if he passes, and I probably wouldn't appeal unless he only just didn't pass, or he got offered a school miles away from us...we are very limited with choices, when we moved here 9 years ago the schools closest to us were nowhere near as oversubscribed, they opened a new secondary taking 1000 pupils and that is massively oversubscribed...

So if he doesn't pass, and I am concerned the pace might be too much for him even if he does, then our choices are pretty awful! The schools themselves seem ok, but it's the travel. However I do have to move at the end of year 7, so I guess it would only be for a year or so. Problem is I don't want to move to any of the areas his school could be in!

I'm so stressed, I'm also glad we just get emails with the results, the Bexley system seems mental!

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 18:42

SFV · 14/10/2025 18:00

Remind me what she ranked in Latymer - it was quite high if i remember correctly, in which case I'm certain she's a contender as about 350 from the top 700 will be out of catchment anyway. Which school is an easier journey for you? Your DD sounds super bright, so she might find HBS a breeze once she's there (in a good way). What was her HBS rank/score?

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She was 39 in Latymer so yes it does seem a safe bet though I feel funny acting like it's a done deal.

HBS don't tell you - just that you were in top 300 for 120 places . I don't know if they have the same numbers of kids who then don't put it top of their CAF or in their CAF at
all but there surely must be some as people were traveling from ridiculous distances for the test.

Both journeys are a bit grim. HB is nearer as the crow flies - only 20 mins by car and you can technically cycle in 30ish mins but I don't think she would. There's a bus but it's a ten minute walk this end and at least 15 the other - or 2 buses. Latymer is a similar travel time but is trrain plus bus. Or there is a bus alternative but maybe riskier with traffic.

StMM is about 30 mins door to door via bus or train. So significantly nearer but not walking distance itself.

Still, nice problem to have, as you say. I feel a bit bad for dd1 that her school seems to have gone downhill since she joined. She almost moved last year (I had threads about it) but has decided to stay. Need to coach her through GCSEs somehow and find her a decent 6th form. She's a trickier character than dd2 though - very bright and creative but nowhere near as studious and with ADHD and ASD diagnoses.

CheerfulMuddler · 14/10/2025 18:45

I'm getting stressed as well, most of our local schools are religious or all girls, so our options if he doesn't pass aren't great either. There's only one local school where he'd definitely get a place, and I don't really want him to go there.
DS is blithely confident, is certain he's passed. I just hope he's right.

macaroniart · 14/10/2025 18:46

The Bexley system has aged me a few years. I have the email and it’s good news, just wondering if we will get to know a breakdown of the scores as they have done in previous years? Will that come when the portal works (!) or maybe we can request it?

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 18:47

SatsumaCat · 14/10/2025 17:17

Got the Bexley email - DS passed by the skin of his teeth. Phew.

Great news.

CheerfulMuddler · 14/10/2025 18:58

Once she's 14, she could get an electric bike, which might cut the commute a bit?
We cycle to school at the moment (1.5 miles each way) and that's how DS will be getting to school next year, wherever he goes. I haven't let him cycle home on his own yet, though he has got the bus on his own. Cycling home alone is next on my list.

SFV · 14/10/2025 19:09

Magnificentkitteh · 14/10/2025 18:42

She was 39 in Latymer so yes it does seem a safe bet though I feel funny acting like it's a done deal.

HBS don't tell you - just that you were in top 300 for 120 places . I don't know if they have the same numbers of kids who then don't put it top of their CAF or in their CAF at
all but there surely must be some as people were traveling from ridiculous distances for the test.

Both journeys are a bit grim. HB is nearer as the crow flies - only 20 mins by car and you can technically cycle in 30ish mins but I don't think she would. There's a bus but it's a ten minute walk this end and at least 15 the other - or 2 buses. Latymer is a similar travel time but is trrain plus bus. Or there is a bus alternative but maybe riskier with traffic.

StMM is about 30 mins door to door via bus or train. So significantly nearer but not walking distance itself.

Still, nice problem to have, as you say. I feel a bit bad for dd1 that her school seems to have gone downhill since she joined. She almost moved last year (I had threads about it) but has decided to stay. Need to coach her through GCSEs somehow and find her a decent 6th form. She's a trickier character than dd2 though - very bright and creative but nowhere near as studious and with ADHD and ASD diagnoses.

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I'll be bold and say 39 is most definitely a done deal :) Which school does your DD prefer?

I understand what you mean regarding feeling bad for DD1 - definitely hard to navigate 2 kids who learn very differently. Has DD1 said anything about DD2 breezing through the exams?