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Secondary education

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Original poster

shortage of 13+ places

18 replies

fugley · 29/06/2010 13:27

would anyone give their experiences of private 13+

I am wondering if the shortage of 13+ places is true or a myth, did yours get their first choice school?

what happens to the ones that dont get their first choice, is it scramble for anywhere or boarding etc...?

OP posts:
abr1de · 29/06/2010 13:43

We got ours, but some people had to look further afield. I'm told it was because of a shortage of day places because of people not being able to afford boarding this year.

PixieOnaLeaf · 29/06/2010 15:01

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Caoimhe · 29/06/2010 17:58

Well in my area 13+ was a bit of a blood bath this year with a real shortage of day places - a school which is usually undersubscribed was full after the first round of offers, for example. Another school didn't even touch its waiting list.

Part of the problem is local (there aren't a huge number of 13+ day places around here and one school messed up its 11+ entry 2 years ago so had fewer places than usual) but there was also a reduction in boarding.

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 29/06/2010 22:00

I haven't heard of a shortage of 13+ places, but obviously in any one area, this could be the case.

My boys both got into their first choice at 13+ (pretest in Y7, CE in Y8).

There are rejections and waiting list offers at the pre-test stage, but the scramble for places at alternative schools usually works out so that everyone knows where there are going ahead of CE. Rejection after CE is very unusual.

Caoimhe · 30/06/2010 08:52

13+ is a bit odd here - all the schools have their main intake at 11+ so 13+ is a small intake anyway. There is no pre-testing - all of the schools set their own entrance exams which are held in the January of Y8.

So around here there can be a crazy scramble for places after offers are made in February. This year was spectacularly horrible - in my nephew's school, after the first round of offers a quarter of the scholarship class and half of the other class had no place at all.

Although the boys sit CE it is of no relevance.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 30/06/2010 09:34

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LetsEscape · 30/06/2010 11:25

Lots of boys schools are going co-ed at 11+ too, again reducing numbers for boys at 13+

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 30/06/2010 17:59

Schools that offer both 11+ and 13+ entry will always encourage new pupils to start earlier. They want their places filled ASAP, and they believe their teachers are better than prep school teachers .

At the school my boys go to, they have 11+ and 13+ entry. They have five classes at 11+ and 2 at 13+.

LIZS · 30/06/2010 18:36

Visited a boys' school last week that this year had a greater than normal take up of offered places at 11+ but still plan the usual intake at 13+ and will run a bulge class throughout for that year group. They offer generous subsidies so are actually increasing in popularity atm. However they are also plan to take girls in 6th form from next year and want to keep same numbers overall so it will impact on their intake eventually.

Majority of schools offering 10+/11+ and 13+ take the bulk at the younger stage, especially form state schools, but realise that for some kids spending Years 7 and 8 at a prep school may be an advantage. However there is also a trend away from CE, with individual entrance exams taken earlier inthe year, among the less elite secondaries and wonder how long that will last.

Ladymuck · 30/06/2010 21:25

Does the school start with T LIZS?

LIZS · 01/07/2010 06:34

Thought it was great but really one for 10/11+ entry.

Caoimhe · 01/07/2010 10:14

How many extra boys were they taking LIZS?

Ladymuck · 01/07/2010 13:27

I think that originally they were only going to take 10 or so, but in fact bumped it up into an extra class, and apparently are now committed to taking an extra class ay 13+ next year. Apparently there are sufficient boys from DCPS as well as the local preps to justify it, though the DCPS trend seems to be the new one.

LIZS · 01/07/2010 15:42

It was at least 10 or 12 extra acceptances then a further 15 or so at 13+

Caoimhe · 01/07/2010 17:52

Ummm, 10 or 12 extra boys at 11+ or 10+ and 11+ together?

If this is the school I'm thinking of my ds is starting there in Y7 in Sept and the school haven't said anything about taking extra boys.

Ladymuck when you say an extra class at 13+ do you mean in addition to the normal number? They usually take about 15 at 13+ so are you saying they will be taking 30? Stranger and stranger..............

LIZS · 01/07/2010 18:21

Extra into 11+ intake this year. Say they will still admit the usual number at 13+ into that same year group in 2012 but will run an extra class to accommodate. May be it is n't the same school as other parents seem aware and school weren't hiding it ? New starters were due for an induction last weekend iirc.

Caoimhe · 03/07/2010 10:36

I'm in the same area as LadyMuck so I'm pretty certain it is the same school.

Unfortunately I let dh take ds to the induction morning last Saturday so he was probably thinking about football when this was mentioned!!

I've checked the paperwork and First Form will have an extra class this year!! At least it is only one extra class so not in the same league as the monumental mess W made two years ago.

The moral of the story is not to let my dh do anything important...........

LIZS · 03/07/2010 14:36

yes would be the same one then !

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