What does selective education mean? • Wirral Local Authority Model • Some schools have entrance exams • 4 grammar schools put children through Verbal Reasoning Admission tests (11+) • 2 Catholic Selective schools have their own entrance exams. Upton Hall use verbal reasoning and English. St Anselm’s use verbal reasoning, English and Maths paper. • Currently only one academy has an entrance exam. Birkenhead school for girls use an exams and lottery model (music and English).

What is the Verbal reasoning Test? • 2 papers based on a set of particular logic skills. • Each paper has 80 questions and lasts for 50 minutes • Children sit 2 papers. • Their measured score (standardised score) is a combination of their actual total score (142/160) adjusted for their age. Age adjustment benefits summer born children.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PREFERENCES IN A SELECTIVE SCHOOL?

Entrance Exam Results

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY PREFERENCES IN A SELECTIVE SCHOOL?

Entrance Exam Results

Admission Number

(if the number of children attaining the mark exceeds the admission number, then the school will issue further application guidance).

POVISIONAL TIMETABLE – STAGE ONE Do I want to apply for a place at a selective school? May 2013

Parents decide whether to request that their child sits the grammar school entrance examinations.

April

Children start familiarisation support in school (we deliver 16 sessions of this).

Early Sept

Preference forms and booklets delivered – on-line application system goes live VR Practice Tests 10th & 13th Sept VR Actual Tests 17th & 20th Sept Upton Hall Examination 16th Sept St Anselms 25th Sept

21st October 31st October

Deadline for VR Results to parents Parents submit their Secondary places preference form.

POVISIONAL TIMETABLE – STAGE TWO Making an informed choice. SEPTEMBER

Assessment forms, preference forms and booklets delivered.

21st OCTOBER

Parents will know results of selective entrance examination results (for those who apply)

31 OCTOBER

Deadline for preference forms

3 MARCH

ALLOCATION DAY

May Onwards

Hearing of any appeals

Should my child sit the entrance exams? • Personal Choice. You have to decide what is best for your child. • Most of our high achieving children DON’T apply for selective schools. • Outcomes are not always based on school academic performance but we can guide you to your child’s current attainment and aptitude?

Do I have to coach my child? • No! Most families do because they are unfamiliar with the type of logic. • In many cases, home support and school booster sessions suffice. • Home learning is essential (homework, online resources). Children need to practise their new skills. However, • Most children do. Consequently, the current tests do not reflect their original purpose. • Practice at home can provide tension. • Some families say that it brings routine.

Accessing School Support • 14 sessions in a breakfast club (in Summer term and September) • Signpost to online resources (small cost for these) • Consider learner motivation • Children must commit to regular home learning (for test preparation and meeting grammar school expectations). • We are a test centre

What happens after the tests? • You get the results in early October. • If they pass (there will be a set pass mark), you decide if you want to apply for a selective school (or not apply). • You will still have the right to use your preference (s). • Grammar school/selective school applications should be your first choice (s). • There are rights to appeal but they are limited. • If they don’t pass, you have the right to apply for any other non selective schools. • You also need to consider the difficulty with distance for some schools (Woodchurch High, St John’s Plessington) • You also need to consider the difficulties with faith school applications.

What if? • What if the schools are over subscribed? • What if my child under performs in the exam? • What if my child misses the test through illness? • What if, I have to go to appeal? • What if I can’t make my mind up over which school (selective or non selective)?

How do I make the best choice? • • • •

Visit Look at all options (ignore the grapevine). Ask questions Look at the data