Secondary Transfer 2019 Information meeting for parents What are the aims of the meeting?

• To help you become familiar with the procedure for entrance to secondary education (PESE)

• To discuss what this procedure means for you

• To give you some guidance as you begin making decisions for your child

• To allow you the opportunity to ask questions about transition to Updates from KCC

• Leaflets about secondary transfer are on their way to schools this month.

• Schools receive their guidance on the process before the end of May. What should you do in the coming months? • Arrange visits to secondary schools

• Get familiar with the KCC Secondary Admissions Handbook this can be found on KCC website in PDF usually around July http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places

• Become familiar with the school’s oversubscription criteria (crucial for appeals later on) http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places/admissions- criteria/admissions-criteria-201920

• The Handbook contains application details Considerations when choosing a school

• The suitability for your child’s individual needs

• Co-ed or single sex

• The type of school: Independent; State; Comprehensive; Faith; Grammar

• reports, DfE Performance Tables, Data Dashboards

• Visit schools during working hours, look for the experience the students are having

• Your child’s own preference Tips on the application process

• Research all options

• Check admissions criteria of all options

• Use all four of your school options

• Attend tours during the day, open days and open evenings (many schools now offer a virtual tour from which you can see the facilities)

• Have a Plan of action before you go – what is important, what do you want to see in a school

• Always ask for advice and ask questions, don’t assume Statistics for admissions 2018 Admissions Data for September 2018 & Malling

Tonbridge & Malling DFE School Name Intake 1st Pref 2nd Pref 3rd Pref 4th Pref 5th Pref 6th Pref Total 5410 School - Sports College 180 80 94 66 32 3 0 275 4009 Hadlow Rural Community School 75 127 106 64 39 2 0 338 5455 151 55 75 66 66 0 0 262 5450 Hillview School for Girls 208 205 133 123 108 0 1 570 4065 Holmesdale School 180 75 57 48 17 0 1 198 5431 Hugh Christie Technology College 165 130 83 66 46 1 1 327 4622 Judd School 155 298 216 122 63 24 10 733 G Assessed 4622 Judd School 155 305 223 127 72 24 12 763 5425 Malling School 159 214 84 81 47 1 2 429 5443 Tonbridge 180 275 248 145 75 28 15 786 G Assessed 5443 180 280 257 158 83 29 16 823 4046 Weald of Kent Grammar School 265 257 252 184 51 19 11 774 G Assessed 4046 Weald of Kent Grammar School 265 314 311 217 76 20 13 951 5409 145 134 166 111 58 1 1 471 1863 1919 1589 1127 644 81 47 5407 Admissions Data for September 2018 Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells DFE School Name Intake 1st Pref 2nd Pref 3rd Pref 4th Pref 5th Pref 6th Pref Total 5464 Bennett Memorial Diocesan School 240 284 241 223 153 3 1 905 5416 Cranbrook School 30 74 38 44 20 2 0 178 G Assessed 5416 Cranbrook School 30 92 57 51 26 3 0 229 4003 High Weald 150 40 38 17 13 0 0 108 5439 240 217 131 95 78 0 0 521 6916 Skinners' Kent Academy 180 238 175 164 132 1 0 710 5418 Skinners' School 150 180 252 122 85 20 14 673 G Assessed 5418 Skinners' School 150 195 269 135 93 21 14 727 5435 St Gregory's Catholic School 240 234 278 207 130 0 0 849 4043 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 140 160 118 144 37 13 11 483 G Assessed 4043 Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School 140 175 134 158 51 16 12 546 4045 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 180 127 123 223 45 17 8 543 G Assessed 4045 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 180 201 174 259 70 18 9 731 1550 1676 1497 1309 746 62 36 5326 Ranking

• Schools must rank their lists using the oversubscription criteria in their arrangements. You can find this on their websites.

• Each child is then given a rank number by the school

• The rank number allows the LA to allocate places to children based on their preference and eligibility compared to other applicants How are Offers Determined?

• The LA will offer a child their highest available preference

• School’s year 7 intake will be a mixture of 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th preferences

• Data is exchanged with neighbouring Local Authorities Appeals

• You can appeal if you are not happy with your allocated school as long as it was on your application form

• The appeal hearings usually take place during late May and early June Tips on the appeals process

• Accept the place you have been given

• Prepare – why must your child go to that school – what is unique about that school

• Get the right advice/guidance – schools must publish this on their websites but meet / tour the school to interrogate their unique points

• Have all necessary supporting documents with you at the appeal Secondary Schools attended or to be attended by our Y6 Leavers in 2016, 2017, 2018

School 2016 intake 2017 intake 2018 intake Bennett Memorial Diocesan School 3 12 20 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys 1 11 3 Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School 7 6 11 Hillview School for Girls 1 2 6 St Gregory’s Catholic 8 9 6 The Skinners School 3 4 2 Skinners Kent Academy 1 8 4 Beacon Community College 2 1 2 Hayesbrook School 0 0 1 Uplands Community College 1 1 0 Oakley School 1 0 1 Broomhill Bank 1 0 0 Grove Park 0 0 1 The Tydeman Centre 0 0 1 1 0 1 Weald of Kent Grammar School 0 1 1 Mascalls 0 2 0 0 Parent Appeals taking place so this is unlikely to change. How do I know whether to apply for a Grammar School?

• Discuss with Class Teacher (11th, 12th 14th June) • Consider your child’s current and previous achievement • All parents considering a grammar school place must register their child to take the 11+ (June 1st-July 1st ) • KCC will inform you whether or not your child has passed • You receive 11+ results in October by email • If your child does not pass, you can still appeal for a grammar school place • You do not have to apply for a grammar school if your child passes the 11+ Emotional impact on pupils

• Manage expectations carefully • Ensure that children still have a good balance of activities – the 11+ is not the be all and end all • Take a long term view – once your child is at secondary school will they cope in a grammar setting without coaching and tuition? • Try not to show the children your stress and anxiety • Children feel pressure 11+ Tests

• Tests look at a broad range of skills, including English, Reasoning and Maths • A shorter unmarked writing exercise for reference by HT panel • Tests are done on one day (date TBC) • There are no formal practice tests • The test papers themselves will contain a longer practice section Not passing…

• Headteacher Appeal • If this takes place it will be unknown to you and only if the child has high quality evidence in their books and something had ‘gone wrong’ on the day.

• Parent Appeal • Parents make the decision to appeal and undertake the preparation for it- it is not a school appeal. When will parents receive further information?

• KCC will add to the information currently on their website before the end of May

• You will also find an example of a test paper.