P. E. S. E. 2016/2017 Procedure for Entrance to Secondary Education 2016/17 Kent Test/ 11+

Grammar School Places  Because there are grammar schools in Kent, children can take the Kent test 11+  You only take the test if you intend applying to a grammar school.  Children take the test in the September of year 6.  You should visit any schools you are interested in during September/ October.

2016 Tests Before 8 th September 8 th September Practice Tests Thursday 8 th September Kent test day at School (11+) BordenBorden HighstedHighsted 9 others!9 others! Saturday 17 th September Saturday 17 th September Medway test day at a test centre Chatham Grammar (girls or boys)Chatham Grammar (girls or boys) Fort Pitt (girls)Fort Pitt (girls) Rainham Mark (Mixed)Rainham Mark (Mixed) Sir Joseph Williamson Rochester (boys)Sir Joseph Williamson Rochester (boys) The Howard School (boys)The Howard School (boys) Rochester grammar (girls)Rochester grammar (girls)

Multiple choice Test  The tests are multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet. They are marked by an automated marking machine.  The first test will be an English and Maths paper and will take 1 hour. Each section will involve a 5 minute practice exercise followed by a 25 minute test. The English section will involve a comprehension exercise as well as some additional questions drawn from a set designed to test literacy skills.

Multiple choice Test  The second test will be a reasoning paper. It will take about 1 hour, including the practice sections and questions. It will contain a verbal reasoning section and a non-verbal reasoning section of roughly the same length. The non-verbal reasoning will be split into short sections, administered and timed individually.

Writing paper Writing paper  There will also be a writing exercise which will not be marked but may be used by a local headteacher panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process. 40 minutes will be allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes planning time.

Results  The score for a successful assessment is different every year. We set it depending on the range of results children achieve. If lots of children scored very highly on the test, the pass mark would be higher. If lots of children got very low scores, the pass mark would be lower.  The pass mark is adjusted very slightly to allow for a child's age when they take the test. This is done through a statistical process called standardisation, to make sure that a child’s results are compared with the performance of other children the same age.  A standardised score of 100 represents an average performance for a child of a given age, with the lowest standardised score normally around 70 and the highest around 140.  Until Kent pupils have taken the tests, it will not be possible to predict the threshold for grammar school. However, it is probable that it will be set using a minimum overall score and a minimum score for a single section.  You can’t appeal against your child’s Kent Test results.

SAT’s  Considerable effort by parents to prepare children for 11+ at the expense of SATs.  SATs tests reflect the standard achieved during final year at primary school.  Results are used by secondary schools to group/set pupils. Schools sent scores.  Appeals are more likely to be successful if supported by good scores.

Registering for the Kent Test  Registration opens Wednesday 1 st June  Registration closes Friday 1 st July  Paper registration form-  On - line registration-

On-line Registration   Easy process  Access to school computers if required  address not required  address required for receipt of decision on day of posting

Kent Test Dates  Tests for Kent Children Thursday September 8 th 2016 in this school (not a centre)  Decision letters posted 13 th October to arrive 14 th October 2016  Completion of SCAF 31st October 2016 for your secondary school choice  Kent grammar school assessment does not guarantee an offer of a place. Oversubscription criteria will apply and parents have right of appeal as school is named on SCAF.

Kent Test Appeals Procedure  Each school has a website which details how to appeal.  Look at the information on  Telephone Kent admissions on

School Role  Inform you of your child’s progress to date  Give you results of tests & teacher assessment  Discuss your child’s social & emotional development  Help by providing information & guidance as appropriate  Provide support with on-line applications

Secondary school admission  Complete SCAF by 31 st October online or when sent out to you in September.  1st March 2017 Offers sent in post to you from secondary schools  17 th March 2017 Deadline for going on a waiting list  17 th March 2017 Deadline for accepting or declining a place  13 th April 2017 Deadline for you to lodge an appeal  April-June Appeals heard- decisions sent

Destinations of our pupils  Our pupils ended up at SchoolNumbers %Numbers pupils Oasis55%33 Fulston5%3 Sittingbourne CC15%9 Westlands10%6 Borden6%4 Highsted2%1 ‘Unplaced’7%4

Medway Schools  Test Registration opens 2 nd June  Test Registration closes 1 st July  Online form via  Saturday 17 th September pupils take the Medway Grammar test in a test centre in Medway  Results day is Friday 30 th September 2016  Complete SCAF by 31 st October for secondary choice  Offer day is 1st March 2016  Deadline for accepting places Wednesday 29 th March 2016

Special considerations  There are limited special allowances we can make for children that sit the 11+ test.  If your child has SEN or is on our SEN register you should book a conversation with our SENCo Mrs McIntosh and KS2 Leader Mr Clarke as soon as possible. We may be able to get your child some special consideration during the test such as a rest break but you must approach the school- we will not automatically apply for you.