ability specific catchment areas for London comprehensive

[Madsometimes]

I am just curious, but how does this work? I was talking to another mum and she said that her year 7 son was lucky to get a place at his school. He did not get a place initially because he was "out of the catchment area for his ability group". He was lucky with the waiting list. She said that this particular school is very oversubscribed particularly for the upper ability group.

I know that SATS results are not out when secondary places are allocated, and I would be surprised if a comprehensive school had it's own test. Years ago when I was a child, we all sat a test in the 4th year juniors (year 6) and were given band 1,2 or 3. I thought all that had been replaced by SATs, and the catchment area of a school applied equally to all children. It seems I have a lot to learn

i think this happened to my niece a few years back. I not sure what tests are done at primary, but it was done in Year 5, she did SATs as well. My niece (she is 19 today was given a rating of either A1 or 1. I remember my sister saying that there were limited places in each school for this ability group.

Some foundation secondary schools place each applicant in an ability band - say 5 bands - based on a test which the school conducts as part of the admissions process. They take an equal number of students fom each band, and if any band is over-subscribed, they give places on the basis of proximity.

The school that I know of that does this has it's own test, sat during Yr 6.

Madsometimes I think this may be what you are talking about. My niece lives in Lewisham, i don't know if it applies to all London Boroughs

Lewisham Banding Criteria

Thanks Christy. It is a Greenwich school which is the next door borough, so probably is a similar scheme. I am totally surprised that tests children do in year 5 can define which catchment area your child is in. As I said earlier, I have a lot to learn.

Our local comp has banding. They have 1600 applicants for 192 places. 20% of places are allocated to each band on the basis of proximity. In one band last year the maximum distance from the school was 0.5 miles. Lots of people with hearts in mouths for months....

So do people tutor their children down a band???

Depends on the area. Schools in affluent middle-class areas will have a larger catchment for lower-ability bands (eg Camden School for girls has a catchment of 0.25 miles for Band A, whereas more like 0.5 for Band C). Schools in more deprived areas like Hackney have the reverse: Mossbourne (mega-desirable new academy in a rough area of Hackney) have a larger catchment for Band A students.

Aha Batters, you are quite right. Cat in hell's chance springs to mind....... Must discuss with you at next night out. Madsometimes, I have no idea. I'd have said improbable, but it wouldn't strike me as entirely impossible.

I am glad that redbridge still runs the old fashioned catchment area (after looked after and sibling policies)