Education Department
States of Guernsey
The 11+ Process and
Admission to Secondary Education
A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7
studies in September 2016
Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2
What is the 11+? ................................................................................................................................. 2
Who can take the 11+? ....................................................................................................................... 3
Deciding whether you wish your child to take the 11+ tests .............................................................. 4
Secondary Schools in Guernsey and Alderney .................................................................................... 5
Open Evenings/Events......................................................................................................................... 6
The Curriculum .................................................................................................................................... 7
Choosing your preferred school .......................................................................................................... 8
Familiarisation and Practice Sessions.................................................................................................. 9
The 11+ tests ..................................................................................................................................... 10
What happens on test days? ............................................................................................................. 10
What should parents/carers do on test days? .................................................................................. 11
How the Department determines who goes where ......................................................................... 12
When do parents/carers find out the results? .................................................................................. 13
Requesting a review of exceptional circumstances and/or a re-mark of answer sheets ................. 14
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................................. 15
More information .............................................................................................................................. 16
Education Department
A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016
Introduction
Guernsey secondary education is broadly a system of streaming by ability and aptitude by which
children in their last year of primary education are assessed for placement in a school which will provide
the help and support necessary for them to achieve educational success.
The process of assessment we use is called the 11+.
In May 2012 the Education Department carried out a public consultation exercise on streamlining the
existing 11+ process. Copies of the Consultation Paper and results are available on the Department’s
website1. In line with the results of the public consultation, from September 2012 the 11+ process was
changed. The process has subsequently been reviewed annually, which has resulted in a number of
further minor changes being made.
This document forms the Education Department’s policy with regards to the 11+ process and admission
to secondary school for children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016. It is intended to
provide guidance for parents and carers as to



what parents, carers and children can expect from that process;
what criteria the Education Department is likely to apply when making various decisions;
and
the various processes that are undertaken.
Please note that there may be times and circumstances where the Education Department –


has to vary its policy; or
chooses, where appropriate, to deviate from that policy.
Changes in policy within the academic year are rare and the Department will always do its best to
inform you as soon as possible of any change(s) that will affect your child. The latest version of the
published policy will be available on the Department’s website2.
You should contact your child’s Primary School Headteacher if you have any further questions or
concerns about your child in relation to the 11+ process.
What is the 11+?
The 11+ involves two written tests which assess your child’s academic potential and aptitude relative to
the other children in their year group within States schools.
Children generally take the 11+ in the academic year in which they have their 11th birthday. The only
exceptions are children placed out of year (see Frequently Asked Questions for details). It is not a
question of whether or not a child is actually 11 years old. A child is only able to be entered for the 11+
selection process on one occasion.
1
2
http://www.education.gg/elevenplus
http://www.education.gg/elevenplus
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A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016
As a parent or carer you have two options:
1. Your child sits the two tests and their results will determine which secondary school they attend
(unless you selected their catchment High School as your preferred school); or
2. Your child does not sit the tests and is given a place at the High School which serves the
catchment in which they live.
The highest scoring 23% of children and a further 2% of children, taken from the Borderline Group (see
“The Borderline Process” on page 12), are allocated places at the Grammar School and Sixth Form
Centre, or one of the Colleges. Should any places at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre be
declined following initial allocation, in order to maintain the effective and efficient use of resources, the
Director of Education, or his nominated deputy, may offer the declined places to the next-highest
ranked child(ren), up to a maximum of a further 2% of children, to be taken from the Borderline Group.
If your child is not one of those to whom a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of
the Colleges is allocated, or you chose not to enter them for the tests, they will be allocated a place at
the High School for the catchment area in which they live. Children whose parents/carers elected for
them to sit the 11+ test papers but nominated their catchment High School as their preferred school will
be allocated a place at their catchment High School regardless of the score they achieved.
You may choose to pay for your child to attend one of the grant-aided colleges, although an entrance
test is usually required.
Who can take the 11+?
All children who have been attending a States primary school by the start of Year 5 are entitled to sit the
11+ tests. Children joining a States primary school after the start of Year 5 are not entitled to sit the 11+
tests unless they have moved to Guernsey, Alderney or Herm from outside the Bailiwick during Year 5 or
Year 6.
Parents/carers of Year 6 children moving from outside the Bailiwick to Guernsey, Alderney or Herm may
opt in to the selection process by advising the Department, in writing or by e-mail. The accessibility of
familiarisation and practice sessions and eligibility for placement will depend on when the Department
receives notification of the wish to opt in, specifically if this is:

prior to 3pm on Friday 8th January 2016 the child will be able to access the familiarisation
and practice sessions (if they are resident in Guernsey, Alderney or Herm on the dates those
are run) prior to sitting the formal tests. They will be eligible for placement at the Grammar
School and Sixth Form Centre, the relevant Colleges or their catchment High School;

after 3pm on Friday 8th January 2016 but before 3pm on Friday 5th February 2016 the child
will have no access to the familiarisation and practice sessions but may sit the formal tests
and will be eligible for placement at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, the
relevant Colleges or their catchment High School;

after 3pm on Friday 5th February 2016 the child will have no access to the familiarisation
and practice sessions but may sit the formal tests and will only be eligible for placement at
the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or their catchment High School.
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It is generally expected that children moving to Guernsey, Alderney or Herm will, wherever possible, sit
the tests in a States primary school. However, at the discretion of the Head of Resources (or his
nominated deputy) and, depending on individual circumstances, it may be possible for the papers to be
sat in an alternative establishment in advance of the child’s permanent relocation. If this takes place
outside Guernsey or Alderney the papers can be sat no earlier than 3pm on Friday 5th February 2016.
Deciding whether you wish your child to take the 11+ tests
Shortly after your child starts Year 6 at primary school you will be invited to attend an information
meeting about the 11+ selection process. Following this meeting you will be asked to decide whether
you want your child to take part in the 11+ selection process or not. It is recommended that you discuss
the progress of your child with the school and the class teacher before confirming your decision.
It is the school’s responsibility to advise you of your child’s current attainment levels and share with you
which secondary school is likely to be the most appropriate for your child based on their current
performance. This initial assessment by the primary school is only an indication of which secondary
school would best meet the needs of your child; there is no guarantee that your child’s final placement
will be the same as this assessment.
As a guide for you, your child will be assessed as either G, or P or H.
G means that in the school’s view there is a reasonable likelihood that your child will be
amongst the top 25% of academic achievers within the Island in that year group. The school has
no doubts about your child’s ability to cope with the level and pace of work at the Grammar
School and Sixth Form Centre or Colleges.
P means that your child is considered capable of coping with the Grammar School and Sixth
Form Centre or Colleges’ level and pace of work but the school is less sure that your child is
likely to fall into the top 25% of the year group in the Island, although it is possible.
H means that your child is regarded as being better placed in a High School where the level and
pace of work may be more appropriate according to his/her individual needs.
Once you have received this information and had time to discuss with your child’s class teacher you will
be able to consider whether you wish your child to take part in the selection process. Remember that
the guidance from school is based on your child’s current performance – this may change as your child
progresses through Year 6. You are invited to attend the relevant open evenings/events available at the
receiving Secondary Schools (see pages 6 & 7), which may assist you in making your decision.
If you decide not to include your child in the selection process they will be allocated a place at the High
School for their catchment area.
You will be given an “11+ Selection Process Entry Form” by your child’s school to fill in to confirm your
decision and your child’s name, address and date of birth. Please ensure that you advise the school of
any changes required to these details in order that we can make sure your child is fairly assessed and
that we can send the results to the right address. The completed form must be returned to the School
by 3pm on Monday 12th October 2015, otherwise it will be assumed that you do not wish your child to
be included in the selection process.
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Secondary Schools in Guernsey and Alderney
The High Schools
There are three High Schools in Guernsey – La Mare de Carteret High, Les Beaucamps High and St.
Sampson’s High. There is also an all-age school in Alderney, St. Anne’s School, which educates children
from the age of 4 to 16.
Admission to the three High Schools is based on where a child lives – this is known as the school’s
catchment area. The High Schools catchment map is available online3. Your Primary School Headteacher
or school office staff should be able to confirm which High School catchment you live in but if you have
any further queries please contact the Education Department (contact details on page 16).
Should there be insufficient space to be able to accommodate all children living within the catchment of
a High School, the order of priority for allocation of available places is defined within Section 3 of the
Department’s Primary and Secondary Schools Admissions Policy 2015-2016, available on its website4.
The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre
The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre has an Island-wide catchment area. Admission to the
Grammar School is through the 11+ selection process. Admission to the Sixth Form Centre is open to all
children from the age of 16 who achieve the entry criteria.
The Grant-Aided Colleges
There are three grant-aided colleges – Elizabeth College for boys, Ladies’ College for girls and
Blanchelande College for both boys and girls. The Colleges take a mix of fee-paying children and ‘special
place holders’ who are selected for a ‘special place’ through the 11+ process. As instructed by the States
in May 2015, the Education Department is currently reviewing the structure of secondary education.
The current Education Board will recommend to the States that, if there are any changes, it is the
Department’s intention that these should not affect existing special place holders or special place
holders due to commence their Year 7 studies in September 2016; however, this decision rests with the
States of Deliberation. All three colleges receive grant funding from the States for all secondary pupils;
the current agreement between the States of Guernsey and the grant-aided colleges expires on 31st
August 2019 and any new agreement may affect the Colleges’ funding, which could impact on fees.
Currently 23 special places are offered each year at both Elizabeth College and Ladies’ College and up to
6 special places are offered each year at Blanchelande College for children whose parents wish them to
receive a Catholic education.
Schools for Pupils with Special Educational Needs
The majority of secondary-age pupils with special educational needs will be educated in mainstream
secondary schools.
Guernsey has two special schools catering for secondary age children; Le Murier, which is co-located
with St. Sampson’s High School, and Les Voies School. Admission to both schools is through a Formal
3
4
http://maps.digimap.gg/gsySchoolCatchmentHigh.htm
http://www.education.gg/admissions
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Assessment process of your child’s special educational needs. Further information on the Formal
Assessment process is available on the Department’s website5.
A small number of children with Communication Difficulties or Autism may be offered a place at the
Communication Base6 at St. Sampson’s High School where appropriate. This is also through a process of
Formal Assessment of your child’s special educational needs.
Open Evenings/Events
You will be given the opportunity to visit all the relevant schools with your child. Please attend the Open
Evening for your child’s catchment High School.
Open Evenings for catchment High Schools
La Mare de Carteret High School: Thursday 1st October 6-8pm
Les Beaucamps High School: Thursday 1st October 6-8pm
St. Sampson’s High School: Thursday 1st October 6-8pm
These Open Evenings will follow a similar format including a welcome from the Headteacher, tour of the
facilities, the opportunity to speak to staff and students, look at displays and examples of work and
generally find out more about the organisation and ethos of the schools (please see their websites
www.lamarehigh.com; www.lesbeaucamps.co.uk; www.stsampsonshigh.com).
Open Events for all parents/carers Island-wide
The Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre: Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th September, 6-8pm
Limited parking will be available on the school site on the netball court area to the north of the Sixth
Form Centre, but additional parking should be available in the Foote’s Lane “Park and Ride” car park.
Please take care not to block cars in as others may wish to leave before you.
In view of the large numbers of people expected to attend the open evenings, possibly over 1,000, the
school would like to split visitors into two groups. Please try to attend on your allocated day.
Tuesday 29th September
Wednesday 30th September
Schools Group 1
Castel
Notre Dame
St. Martin’s
St. Mary & St. Michael
Vauvert
St. Anne’s
Schools Group 2
Amherst
Forest
Hautes Capelles
La Houguette
La Mare de Carteret
Les Voies
Vale
The evening will commence with a welcome talk from the Headteacher. After the talk parents/carers
and children will be able to tour the school. Please see the school’s website www.grammar.sch.gg
5
6
http://www.education.gg/article/2087/Assessing-your-childs-educational-needs
http://www.education.gg/article/2994/Communication--Autism-Support-Service---What-we-do
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The Ladies’ College Open Morning: Saturday 3rd October 9.30am – 12 noon
The College will be open from 9.30am until 12 noon with parking on site. There will be a welcome and
brief talk from the Principal after which visitors are invited to tour the school, talk to staff and pupils and
gain an insight into the opportunities they offer. Guided tours will be available from current pupils.
Refreshments are provided.
Please see the College’s website www.ladiescollege.com
Elizabeth College Open Morning: Saturday 3rd October 10am – 12.30pm
Year 6 boys and their parents/relatives are welcome to attend the Open Day to see how Elizabeth
College allows pupils to flourish and make the most of themselves. Year 7 and 8 pupils will guide visitors
around the main College site to see the great variety of academic work and extracurricular activities
undertaken by the pupils. There will be displays and demonstrations with various opportunities for
visitors to get involved. The Principal, teachers and pupils will be available to answer any questions
about the College.
Refreshments will be served in the College’s FG Manchester Refectory. Parking is available at the College
(limited), the Odeon car park and Upland Road.
Please see the College’s website www.elizabethcollege.gg
Blanchelande College Open Morning: Saturday 26th September 10am – 12 noon
Pupils and their parents/carers are warmly invited to come and have a tour of the College, meet the
staff and pupils and enjoy some refreshments afterwards. The morning starts with a welcome and brief
talk from the Principal. There is no need to reserve a place in advance.
Further details can be found on the College’s website www.blanchelande.co.uk
Alderney
St. Anne’s School
The Headteacher will notify parents/carers of St. Anne’s School of any open sessions.
If Alderney parents/carers are unable to make the Guernsey open evenings/mornings for the Grammar
School and Sixth Form Centre and Colleges and wish to discover more information and/or visit, they
should contact the school or college directly.
The Curriculum
All States-maintained secondary-age schools offer a similar curriculum in line with the Bailiwick of
Guernsey Curriculum Statement7. All children will study a core curriculum of subjects including
mathematics, English, science and ICT. Each school can provide further detailed information about the
curriculum they offer. All schools have high expectations of the standards children should achieve.
All schools follow courses that lead to the award of GCSEs or equivalent qualifications but will also
provide a range of other nationally recognised courses and qualifications. Some of these courses are
offered in partnership with the College of Further Education.
7
http://www.education.gg/curriculum
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Choosing your preferred school
If you decide you wish your child to take part in the selection process you will be asked to identify the
preferred school for your child to attend.
You will be able to select one of the following schools as your preference, subject to your child’s gender
for Elizabeth and Ladies’ Colleges:
Blanchelande College
Elizabeth College (boys only)
Ladies’ College (girls only)
Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre
your child’s catchment High School.
The following explanations are provided to assist parents/carers when making their choice of preferred
school:
Selecting one of the Colleges as preferred school
If your child’s score is sufficient to gain one of the special places at their preferred school they will be
allocated a place at their preferred school. If they decline that place they will be allocated a place at
their catchment High School.
If your child’s score is not sufficient to gain a place at their preferred school but is still above the
threshold for automatic allocation of a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the
Colleges (i.e. if they are within the highest scoring 23% of children) they will be allocated a place at the
Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre. If they decline that place they will be allocated a place at their
catchment High School.
If your child’s score is below the threshold for automatic allocation of a place at the Grammar School
and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges they will be allocated a place at their catchment High
School unless they are included within the Borderline Group, in which case they may be allocated a
place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre.
Selecting the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre as preferred school
If your child’s score is above the threshold for automatic allocation of a place at the Grammar School
and Sixth Form Centre they will be allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre. The
number of places at that school varies according to the overall cohort size as this determines the
number of pupils to be selected. If they decline that place they will be allocated a place at their
catchment High School.
If your child’s score is below the threshold for automatic allocation of a selected place they will be
allocated a place at their catchment High School, unless they are included within the Borderline Group,
in which case they may be allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre.
Selecting Catchment High School as preferred school
Your child will be allocated a place at their catchment High School regardless of their score.
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The Headteacher of your child’s primary school will provide you with an 11+ entry form which must be
returned to the School by 3pm on Monday 12th October 2015, otherwise it will be assumed that you
do not wish your child to be included in the selection process.
If you are offered and subsequently decline a place at your preferred school your child will be
allocated a place at their catchment High School. If a child is offered a selected place (i.e. at the
Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges) but leaves the States primary sector
before the end of their Year 6 studies they will be deemed to have declined that place.
You can change your child’s preferred school by advising the Education Department, in writing, signed
by all persons with parental responsibility, before 5pm on Friday 12th February 2016.
If you opt for your child to sit the 11+ but subsequently wish to withdraw him/her from the process,
please advise the Education Department, in writing, signed by all persons with parental responsibility, as
soon as possible and before 5pm on Friday 12th February 2016.
Familiarisation and Practice Sessions
Your child will have the opportunity to attend familiarisation and practice sessions before they sit the
formal 11+ tests. These sessions cover both verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions. The Verbal
Reasoning familiarisation/practice paper includes 80 multiple choice questions, which are grouped by
type. The Non-Verbal Reasoning familiarisation/practice paper includes 80 multiple choice questions
and is split into four sections. There are more questions in the familiarisation/practice papers than in
each of the actual test papers with the aim of giving all children ample opportunity to familiarise
themselves with the types of questions likely to be included within the test papers. In order to ensure
that all children have access to these opportunities, schools will, where possible, run additional sessions
should any child be ill on one or both of the dates outlined below.
Familiarisation
During the familiarisation sessions the teacher will work through a defined set of practice questions with
all children, explaining how to work out the correct answers and how to record them on the answer
sheet. The familiarisation sessions will be completed during a normal school day on Tuesday 12th
January 2016. The teachers leading the sessions have a written script to follow which is the same across
all schools. They are not permitted to deviate from this script.
Practice
The practice sessions use the same papers but under formal test conditions. This enables children to
review/repeat the questions worked through in the familiarisation session and makes them aware of
what to expect when sitting the formal selection tests. The practice sessions will be completed during a
normal school day on Wednesday 13th January 2016, with each session taking approximately 1 hour.
The practice papers are not marked.
Within the Verbal Reasoning familiarisation/practice paper, each group of questions begins with a
practice question and answer, which the teacher will work through before the children try to answer the
subsequent questions. The children will be given 50 minutes to complete the 80 questions with
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additional time allowed for the teacher to go through the practice questions and answers. The children
will then be given a short break.
At the start of each section of the Non-Verbal Reasoning familiarisation/practice paper there are three
practice questions and answers, which the teacher will work through with the children. Once the
practice questions have been completed the children will have 10 minutes to complete as many of the
20 questions in that section as they can. They will then be told to stop and the teacher will repeat the
process for the next section, working through the three practice questions and answers. The children
will then have 10 minutes to complete the 20 questions in section 2. The same process will be followed
for section 3 and section 4.
The 11+ tests
The Education Department uses bespoke test papers, provided by one of the leaders in the
development of these types of tests, GL Assessment. Each test paper includes 100 multiple choice
questions – 50 Verbal Reasoning questions followed by 50 Non-Verbal Reasoning questions. There is no
break between the two sets of questions and the children are asked to note their answers on the
separate answer sheet, in the same way as they did in the practice and familiarisation papers.
Verbal Reasoning – these questions are designed to assess a child’s reasoning abilities and are intended
to identify their ability with sequences, codes, problem solving, information tables and odd words.
Non-Verbal Reasoning – these questions are designed to test a child’s ability to understand new
concepts and reasoning processes independently of their language skills.
The first test will be on Tuesday 19th January 2016 with the second test following one week later on
Tuesday 26th January 2016. All pupils present on these dates will take the test on the same day in the
morning but in their own school.
What happens on test days?
The process followed is very similar to that used for the practice papers. The teachers have a script that
they follow which is the same across all schools.
The children are told that they have 35 minutes to complete the 50 Verbal Reasoning questions. To help
the children, an example question and answer is included at the start of each group of questions. Once
the 35 minutes are up the children are asked to stop.
The teacher then reads the instructions for the Non-Verbal Reasoning element of the paper, which is
split into three sections - Parts 1, 2 and 3. Each section has 16 or 17 questions (50 in total) and children
have 11 or 12 minutes (35 in total) to answer them.
Within each section, there is at least one example question and answer, which the teacher reads
through, then the children are given sufficient time to complete up to four further practice questions
themselves. The number of example and practice questions varies by section, depending on the type of
question. The teacher then gives the answers to these practice questions and the children are then told
to do the questions in that section and how much time they have in which to do so. After the time is up
the children are told to stop and the process is repeated for the remaining sections.
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Within each allocated time period for Parts 1, 2 and 3, children are not permitted to refer to, or change
their answers to, questions in any other Part.
The total amount of time the children are answering test questions that will be marked is 1 hour 10
minutes. The example and practice questions which form part of the Non-Verbal Reasoning part of the
paper will add approximately 10 to 15 minutes to this time.
Children who are unable to attend school on one or both of the above test dates will, where possible, be
offered alternative dates but only one test may be sat per day. The latest date for a child to sit either of
the tests and remain eligible for a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre, one of the
Colleges or their catchment High School is Friday 19th February 2016. In exceptional circumstances and
at the absolute discretion of the Director of Education, or his nominated deputy, it may be possible for
tests to be sat after this date but before the commencement of the Year 7 academic year. However, in
such cases the child will be eligible for placement only at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre,
subject to the availability of places, or their catchment High School, as the College places will all have
been allocated.
What should parents/carers do on test days?
You should send your child to school at the normal time on test day. If your child is not taking part in the
selection process they will be given other work to do.
If your child is ill on the day of the test please inform your school in the usual way. Where possible,
arrangements will be made for your child to sit the test at a later date. In order to assist with the
planning of any additional test session(s), please keep your child’s school informed so that that
appropriate arrangements may be made. In such instances it may be necessary to change the order in
which the formal test papers are sat; there is no disadvantage to your child in doing so.
If there are any other exceptional circumstances that you believe may adversely affect your child on test
day you should inform the school in writing or by e-mail of these circumstances on the day or as soon as
possible thereafter. Due consideration will be given to these exceptional circumstances and any possible
impact on your child’s test scores when allocating a school place. You must advise the school in writing
or by e-mail of any exceptional circumstances by 5pm on Thursday 18th February 2016 if you wish
them to be considered.
Do reassure your child and remind them that they will have already had the opportunity to sit a practice
and familiarisation paper led by their class teacher. Whilst there is sufficient time to answer all the
questions in the test papers, you should encourage your child to work through them as quickly as they
can. However, as the questions are carefully selected to test children at all levels it is possible that your
child may not be able to answer all of them. Children should therefore try to attempt all questions and
go back to those unanswered if there is time, rather than spend too much time struggling with one they
cannot answer.
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How the Department determines who goes where
Once the 11+ tests have been completed, the answer sheets are collected and marked. The answer
sheets for tests sat before 3pm on 11th February 2016 are sent off-Island and independently marked
using a technology called Optical Mark Recognition (OMR). This process is 99.8% accurate, which is more
accurate than manual marking. Answer sheets for tests sat after 3pm on 11th February 2016 are
manually marked by an Education Department officer then verified by a second officer, as there is
insufficient time for them to be sent away for OMR marking.
All the test scores are age-weighted to ensure that children of different ages are treated fairly and
equitably when calculating their final scores. This means that, where children of different ages give the
same number of correct answers on a paper, younger children will be given higher final scores than
older ones. This process is known as standardisation and produces a score for each part of each test
between 69 and 141, with the average score being 100. The age of your child on the day they sit the test
is the age used for the standardisation process, therefore there is no benefit or penalty if they have to
sit a test on an alternative day due to illness or other reason. There is no difference between the way
girls and boys are treated in the scoring and standardisation process.
If your child has sat both tests, an average standardised score is calculated for each paper. These
averages are added together to provide a combined average standardised score. The combined average
standardised scores are then sorted in descending order. In exceptional circumstances, where a child
has been unable to sit both tests and at the Education Department’s absolute discretion, the results of a
single test paper will be used and, for the purpose of generating an average score, it will be deemed that
the standardised scores for the missed test were identical to those achieved in the completed test.
If your child scores in the top 23% of all children in the year group they will be allocated a place at the
Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges, unless you have already stated that your
preference is for a place at your catchment High School.
The Borderline process
Children who have achieved scores which place them below the top 23% but within the top 27% of all
children in the year group will form what is called the “Borderline Group”. If your child’s score puts
them in this group, their test results and school work will be looked at by a Borderline Panel with a view
to allocating the top-ranked children selected places.
The Borderline Panel also looks at the test results and work of any children who the schools’
Headteachers feel should particularly and exceptionally be considered, even though they fall outside the
automatic Borderline Group. It is only in exceptional circumstances that a Headteacher will make a
request for a child to be considered by the Borderline Group in this way. The exceptional circumstances
that have to pertain for a child to be added into the Borderline Group are that:

there is a significant difference in the child’s normal performance in school work and his/her
scores in the tests; or

the Headteacher is satisfied that any exceptional circumstances, as notified to them in writing or
by e-mail by the parent/carer, are likely to have adversely affected the child’s results to such an
extent that there is a significant differential between their expected and actual test scores.
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Education Department
A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016
The Borderline Panel will usually consist of the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre Headteacher, a
Headteacher from one of the High Schools and a Senior Officer of the Education Department. The Panel
will independently, using pre-agreed scoring criteria, thoroughly assess each child’s work and objectively
discuss and consider the comments from the school through face-to-face formal meetings with the
child’s class teacher and Headteacher. As a general policy, the panel members’ scores are then averaged
and added, on an equally weighted basis, to the combined average test score to give an overall ranking
within the Borderline Group. The top-ranked children will be allocated selected places, up to the
number calculated to represent 2% of the overall year group.
The Panel has the opportunity to observe work from schools across the Island and therefore has a very
secure understanding and knowledge of the process, standards and expectations of Year 6. Being placed
into the Borderline Group does not guarantee being allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth
Form Centre or Colleges; usually fewer than half the pupils in the Borderline Group are allocated
selected places.
Tied places
If two or more children are tied on score for the last College place(s) this will be determined by the
application of the following criteria:

The child with the highest average standardised Verbal Reasoning score; in the event these are
identical then

The child with the highest individual standardised Verbal Reasoning score; in the event these are
identical then

The child with the highest individual standardised Non-Verbal Reasoning score; in the event
these are identical then

An assessment by the Director of Education, or his nominated deputy, of the children’s school
work and attainment levels, with the child deemed most likely to benefit from the place being
awarded it.
If two or more children are tied on score for the last Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre place(s) this
will be determined by the Borderline Panel.
When do parents/carers find out the results?
The Department understands that you and your child will want to know your child’s allocated school
place and score as soon as possible after the tests and borderlining been completed. It is also important
that there is sufficient time to plan for a successful transition to your child’s new secondary school.
If you live in Guernsey you will receive notification in writing of your child’s allocated school placement
and score on Wednesday 6th April 2016 by an additional postal delivery, which will start after 2pm and
your letter should arrive before 5.30pm. If you live in Alderney or Herm you will receive your letter by
standard delivery the following day, weather permitting. The envelope with the results letter in will also
contain information from the school at which your child has been allocated a place. Letters will be sent
out as standard post items; they do not need to be signed for.
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A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016
The letter will be sent to the address that the school has on its records and will include the following:

your child’s standardised Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning scores for each paper
they sat;

your child’s combined average standardised score;

the minimum combined average standardised score required for an automatic place at each of
the Colleges;

the minimum combined average standardised score required for an automatic place at the
Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre; and

the minimum combined average standardised score required for automatic inclusion within the
Borderline Group.
To ensure you receive the results letter on the 6th April please tell your child’s school if you move house
after you return the 11+ Selection Process Entry Form. You do not need to tell the Education
Department.
If your child is allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges
but you wish to decline it you will have 7 days from the date of issue of the letter to advise the
Department, in which case they will be allocated a place at their catchment High School.
Requesting a review of exceptional circumstances and/or a re-mark of
answer sheets
Parents and carers may wish to question the validity of the scores detailed on the results letter or may
feel that their child had been adversely affected by exceptional circumstances, which have not been
advised of previously, or that they wish to have their child’s answer sheets re-marked.
Review of Exceptional Circumstances
There may be times when parents or carers have, for whatever reason, not notified the school of
exceptional circumstances within the specified time limit for due consideration by the Headteacher of
their child’s school and, where appropriate, members of the Borderline Panel prior to the determination
of placements. Parents or carers who feel that their child was adversely affected by exceptional
circumstances, but have not previously advised their child’s school of these, such that their scores were
lower than expected may formally request that a Review Panel should consider whether or not to
review their child’s placement. Such requests must outline the nature of the exceptional circumstances,
the likely impact of these on the child and why these circumstances were not previously notified to the
child’s Headteacher. The Review Panel is only able to consider cases where a child has not scored above
the threshold for a selected place (i.e. has been allocated a High School place) and can only allocate
places at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre.
Re-marking of answer sheets
You may request, in writing or by e-mail to the Education Department (details below), your child’s
answer sheets to be re-marked. Answer sheets for tests sat after 3pm on 11th February 2016 and
therefore manually marked will be re-marked by two Education Department officers, neither of whom
will have been involved in the original marking.
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Education Department
A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016
How to make a request for a review of exceptional circumstances and/or a re-mark
All requests for a review of exceptional circumstances and/or a re-mark of answer sheets must be sent
by letter, to the Director of Education (see “Education Department Contact Details” at the end of this
guide), or by e-mail to office@education.gov.gg, to be received no later than 5pm on Tuesday 3rd May
2016.
Further information about the independent Review Panel and the circumstances under which it will
convene is available on the Education Department’s website8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get hold of similar practice test papers?
The Department is not able to recommend any supplier(s) of practice tests but notes that many similar
tests are available either online or from a range of reputable suppliers. You should look for practice
papers that offer multiple-choice Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning questions.
Can the Department recommend a private coach/tutor?
The Department is unable to recommend a private coach or tutor.
If my child is allocated a place at their catchment High School will this affect their future
options for further study?
More than 80% of young people choose to stay in full time education after completing Year 11. Students
from all secondary-age schools may study AS and A Levels or the International Baccalaureate at the
Grammar School Sixth Form Centre if they achieve the minimum entry qualifications. More than 50% of
students at the Sixth Form Centre come from the High Schools.
Post-16 students may also follow a range of full time courses, apprenticeships and vocational
qualifications at the College of Further Education9 regardless of which school they attend.
Advice and guidance is provided to all students at school and by Careers Guernsey10 on the Post-16
options available to them.
My child is dyslexic – can they have extra time to complete the test?
The 11+ selection tests are designed to determine which children are best able to cope with both the
level and pace of work at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges. For this
reason children with dyslexia will not be given extra time to complete the tests. However, the use of
coloured films is permitted.
My child has special educational needs; does he/she need to sit the tests?
Parents/carers can opt out of the selection process at any time. If you are happy for your child to attend
your catchment High School then they do not need to sit any of the tests. If your child’s special
educational needs require Formal Assessment for a place at Le Murier, Les Voies or the Communication
Base at St. Sampson’s High School then your child also does not need to sit the 11+ tests.
8
www.education.gg/elevenplus
http://www.guernseycollege.ac.gg/
10
http://www.careers.gg/
9
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Education Department
A Guide for Parents and Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2016
My child has special educational needs; can he/she have extra time to complete the test?
The 11+ selection tests are designed to determine whether children will be able to work at the level and
pace required at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges. For this reason
children with special educational needs will not be given extra time to complete the tests.
If your child has a visual impairment we can provide large print versions of the test papers. Please advise
your child’s school that this version is required.
If your child has recognised and accepted attention difficulties then arrangements can be made for an
alternative place for them to sit the test papers away from other children. This will only happen in
exceptional circumstances by agreement with the school. Your school will make the necessary
arrangements if required.
My child attends St. Anne’s in Alderney; can they go to the Grammar School and Sixth Form
Centre or one of the Colleges?
Pupils attending St. Anne’s may sit the 11+ tests during Year 6 in the same way as all other Year 6 pupils
in Guernsey schools. If your child is allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or
one of the Colleges they can live during term time with a host family. For further information please
contact the Health and Social Services Department’s Family Placement Services on 713230.
My child is placed out of year. Can they sit the 11+ and, if so, when?
Children are only ever placed out of year in exceptional circumstances. Children who are placed out of
year with younger children and whose parents/carers wish them to take the 11+ will take the 11+
during the academic year in which they have their 11th birthday. This will be alongside Year 6 pupils
during their Year 5 and in such cases the reference to “Year 6” within “Deciding whether you wish your
child to take the 11+ tests” (page 4) should instead be interpreted as “Year 5”.
However, in order to assist in the decision making process about where a child will be placed on
completing Year 6, it is expected that those children who are placed out of year with older children, and
whose parents wish them to take the 11+, will take the 11+ at the same time as the year group they are
placed in, Year 6. For the purposes of calculating their standardised test score, in such cases the child
will be assigned the same date of birth as the youngest pupil within Year 6.
More information
If you have any further questions about the 11+ selection process, please contact your child’s Primary
School Headteacher in the first instance, or alternatively the Education Department (details below).
Further information about the Department’s Primary and Secondary Admissions Policy is available on
the Department’s website11.
Education Department Contact Details
 11+, Education Department, The Grange, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1RQ
 01481 733000
11
 elevenplus@education.gov.gg
 www.education.gg/elevenplus
http://education.gg/admissions
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