Has anyone moved to get into the catchment area of grammar schools?

Plans_all_plans

Well it's as the title says really!

If you moved, what age was your child?

Did the move pay off and your child get in? (Obviously, I know there are tests to pass and that moving isn't the only concern, but it will give the child a better chance, based on current admissions criteria)

We are thinking of moving to such an area in future and I am just looking to see if there is an age that most people move by? I am thinking that it would be ideal for us to move by the time our daughter is in year 3 (age 7?), rather than any later.

The one concern I have is that the non-grammar secondary schoools in the new area are no better than in our current area. So we could move, pay a premium to live there and our daughter be no better off education wise than if we stayed where we are, but I suppose we will just have to weigh up that risk when deciding.

BTW, if I don't think our DD is showing signs of being capable then I won't put pressure on her to 'achieve' academically/force her to go to a tutor or whatever, as it could easily destroy her confidence. I am a big believer in allowing children to play to their strengths, which may not lie in academia!

joolsybools

I thought grammar schools had been abolished?

Plans_all_plans

In most of the country they have been abolished. However there are certain boroughs in which they've survived.

patchwork_cat

In our area grammar schools don't have catchment - double check that yours actually does as ours is selective entry no matter where you live, it could be 100 miles away they don't care, if you came high enough in the test.

pigpen

Here you have to move in year 5 so the initial forms which are sent in the first few weeks of year 6 are sent correct. I know several people who moved to get their child into a 'better' high school.. for the LA to change the catchments and land them in the worst school in the country... or for the school to be totally oversubscribed due to lots of others doing the same and lots od siblings that they still didn't get a place.

Plans_all_plans

Hi patchwork cat, it's the same for the one we like the look of: you can apply from anywhere and still get in if you score highly enough.

However, the admissions officer has told me that if you live within a certain area you come higher up on the criteria. Basically, I was told that (currently) you can get a lower mark in the exams and get in over and above a higher scorer from outside the area.

Obviously if you just scrape through the papers by the skin of your teeth and someone from outside the area gets 100% on everything then they'll get in over you, but if the marks are similar or the one outside borough is only marginally better, then the one in borough stands a better chance.

Plans_all_plans

Hi pigpen, I see where you're coming from, but there are (currently) no really shocking schools in the area we're looking at moving to. In our current area, there are one or two atrocious ones. I realise that year 5 is the latest time to move, but I'm thinking the earlier the better because I'm assuming (?) the primary schools over there will be more geared up to preparing children for grammar school entry. Not sure if anyone knows whether this is the case or not though?

patchwork_cat

Can I ask where you are, as if it is our area I could help you more. In our area the local primaries do not teach for entry exam at all. The private schools do, however, in fact one of the local prep school is nicknamed the grammar feeder (even though in reality there are no feeder schools, there are a disproportionate number of kids from the prep at the grammar). I do advise a tutor even though it goes against the idea, as lots of other parents use tutors then your child is disadvantaged on exam if you don't.

Plans_all_plans

Thanks. I'd rather not say the area though! I'm not against the idea of a tutor at all (I had one myself!) and I would certainly use one if our DD showed promise and we decided that a grammar school would be right for her. I just don't like the idea of people pushing a tutor on their child when the child's strengths lie in sport/art/music and not in academia.

Lunar_Eclipse

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

Hi pigpen, I see where you're coming from, but there are (currently) no really shocking schools in the area we're looking at moving to. In our current area, there are one or two atrocious ones. I realise that year 5 is the latest time to move, but I'm thinking the earlier the better because I'm assuming (?) the primary schools over there will be more geared up to preparing children for grammar school entry. Not sure if anyone knows whether this is the case or not though?

It will probably depend on the entrance exams and the primary school. A lot of grammar schools use reasoning tests as part of their entry system and it would be extremely unlikely that a (state) primary school would prep them for those. Independent schools might.

In terms of English & Maths exams, they are National Curriculum based, so the better the primary schools at those subjects, the better your child is likely to do. For top Grammar schools, (we were told) your child should be performing at a high SATS level 5 when sitting the tests. Most pupils at the best Grammar schools will end Y5 at this level; they take very bright kids. (I only looked at what are known as Superselective Grammars, so an average Grammar may be nowhere near as selective/hard to get in to.)

Personally, I would not move (assuming we're talking buying & selling), certainly not years in advance because you are effectively betting against admissions criteria that could change. By all means rent a one bedroom flat (and move there) for the six month period that covers application forms and exams if you feel this might help. Although I'm sceptical about what you have been told on this to be honest. Consider applying from your current address and have a back up plan if your child is unsuccessful, or you doubt they are Grammar school material nearer the time (you should have a very good idea.)

Oh and in answer to your original question, no we didn't move to go through this process. The schools we looked at (one which was 3 hours away and would require a relocation) offered places to the top 96 scorers on exam day, based on a fairly complicated ranking system of weighted exam scores. You needed to put this school as your 1st choice and if successful, would be offered it (and thus lose the opportunity to go to the local comp which you put as 2nd choice fyi.)

Plans_all_plans

Renting is a no-no because you have to have be able to show you've got a minimum 2 year rental agreement (not sure if this covers the 2 years prior to application, or from application going forwards)

Like you say, I anticipate being able to tell whether she is grammar school material.

Well the back up plan is to stay where we are and apply for private schools (which are located near the grammar schools!) If we moved we wouldn't be able to afford the fees, but if we stayed where we are we are hoping to be able to manage them.