KCS Wimbledon

[shoelover1]

Any KCS parents Wimbledon who can help with a query. My son is due to start in September 2011. However my son's head told us that they have unofficially raised the passmark to 70 percent (even though we have 65% on the offer). Also that the new head has been asking boys to leave before entering the sixth form if they won't get high grades. Has anyone else heard this?

That's the whole point it seems of some public schools. They cream off the best and then at six form the best of the best - otherwise teachers would have to work really hard and the school's position in the league tables (real or otherwise) would be threatened by GCSE students who dared to get a mere A or dare I say it a B.

asking kids to leave before 6th form if they're not going to make the grade isn't confined to independent schools - there are several grammars/partially selective comps who make it quite clear that their 6th form would not be the right setting for a less academically successful candidate

That doesn't make it any better for the OP.

It is the private schools that go on so much at how they are focused on education whereas state schools teach to the test and focus on league table position. Both sectors have examples of schools that have a focus on manipulation as much as education

KIngs six formers do the IB exclusively. I that might not suit all boys. And it might be in their own interest to move to a school which offers Alevels.

Kings has just started taking girls in the sixth form. They now have the choice of under performing boys already in the school or bright girls from outside.

I would be surprised if many boys are asked to leave selective schools like this because they are not bright enough. More likely not putting in enough effort to get the grades required and a school fear that this will continue into sixth form.

The new head seems to be a lot more focused on image and results than the old one. His previous school is still pretty much top of the GCSE tables. There has also been a change in attitudes to feeder schools in the last year, where there's less of a partnership than previously.

It doesn't surprise me that your son's current head feels the bar is being raised, though I don't think that there are going to be arbitrary marks - they would just mark harder or softer depending on the quality of the entrants!

However, unless there's a cataclysmic happening with your son between taking the pre test and the actual CE or scolarship, I understand that having an offer from the pre test virtually guaranees your son's entrance. Dont tell him though!

Speaking as a (successful!) 6ht form 2010 applicant, I can say that out of 250+ (mixed) 6th form applicants, around 35 girls and 3 boys received an offer for a place. They're obviously trying to work up a decent gender balance, although they do state that at application they "do not discriminate by gender", although I don't see how that could be possible.

Idleminion, could you tell me how you find the 6th form. We are looking for a possible place for our daughter and don't have any experience of the school. She is at a good state school at the moment. Many thanks