Education Department States of Guernsey The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Parents & Carers of children starting their Year 7 studies in September 2015 Updated 17/09/2014 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 papers ................................... 14 Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................................... 15 More information ............................................................................................................................... 16 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 2015. 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/article/1843/Streamlining-11-process http://www.education.gg/elevenplus 2014-2015 2 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 below), 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 9th January 2015 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 9th January 2015 but before 3pm on Friday 6th February 2015 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; 2014-2015 3 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers after 3pm on Friday 6th February 2015 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. 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 and, depending on individual circumstances, it may be possible for the papers to be sat in an alternative educational establishment in advance of the child’s permanent relocation, in which case the papers can be sat no earlier than 3pm on Friday 6th February 2015. 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 evening 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 very strong 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 will 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. 2014-2015 4 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 form must be returned to the School by 3pm on Monday 13th October 2014, otherwise it will be assumed that you do not wish your child to be included in the selection process. 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. 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. All three colleges receive grant funding from the States. The Colleges take a mix of fee-paying children and ‘special place holders’ who are selected for a ‘special place’ through the 11+ process. 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 Assessment process of your child’s special educational needs. Further information on the Formal Assessment process is available on the Department’s website4. 3 4 http://maps.digimap.gg/gsySchoolCatchmentHigh.htm http://www.education.gg/article/2087/Assessing-your-childs-educational-needs 2014-2015 5 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers A small number of children with Communication Difficulties or Autism may be offered a place at the Communication Base5 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 2nd October 6-8pm Les Beaucamps High School: Thursday 2nd October 6-8pm St. Sampson’s High School: Thursday 2nd 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 30th September and Wednesday 1st October, 6pm Limited parking will be available on the school site on the netball court area to the north of the Sixth Form Centre, but ample parking should be available in the Foote’s Lane Park and Ride Car Park and in the area near the Rugby Club. Please take care not to block in cars as people 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 30th September Wednesday 1st October Schools Group 1 Castel St. Martin’s St. Andrew’s Notre Dame Vauvert St. Mary & St. Michael St. Anne’s Schools Group 2 Vale Hautes Capelles Amherst La Houguette La Mare de Carteret Forest Les Voies 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 http://www.education.gg/article/2994/Communication--Autism-Support-Service---What-we-do 2014-2015 6 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers The Ladies’ College Open Morning: Saturday 4th 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 4th October 10am – 12.30pm Year 6 boys and their parents/relatives are particularly 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 new 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 27th 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 Statement6. 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. 6 http://www.education.gg/curriculum 2014-2015 7 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 Ladies’ College Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre your child’s catchment High School. Should your child not gain a special place (see page 5) but score above the threshold for automatic allocation of a selected place they will be allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre. If your child scores 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 (see below), in which case they may be allocated a selected place. The following examples are provided to assist parents/carers when making their choice of preferred school. Selecting one of the Colleges as preferred school If the 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 the 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 the 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, depending on the availability of places at their preferred school, be allocated a place at the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre or one of the Colleges. Selecting the Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre as preferred school If the 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. 2014-2015 8 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers If the 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 The child will be allocated a place at their catchment High School regardless of their score. The Headteacher of your child’s primary school will provide you with the required 11+ entry form which must be returned to the School by 3pm on Monday 13th October 2014, 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. 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 type of questions they will have in 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 13th January. 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 14th January, 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 2014-2015 9 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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. 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 20th January 2015 with the second test following one week later on Tuesday 27th January 2015. 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 questions which are split into three sections - Parts 1, 2 and 3. There is an example question and answer which the teacher reads and then the children are given 2 minutes to complete 2 further practice questions. The teacher then gives the answers to these 2 practice questions. The children are then told they have 12 minutes to do the 17 questions in Part 1. After the time is up the children are told to stop and the teacher follows the same process for Part 2, reading the example question and answer, the children then have 2 minutes to complete 2 practice questions; they are given the answers then they are told they have 12 minutes to complete the 17 questions in Part 2. 2014-2015 10 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers The same process is followed for Part 3 but there are 16 questions for the children to do in 11 minutes. 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 13th February 2015. In exceptional circumstances and at the absolute discretion of the Director of Education 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. 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. (Please note you must advise the school in writing or by e-mail of any exceptional circumstances by 5pm on Thursday, 12th February 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. Teachers will remind children how they should approach the tests. 2014-2015 11 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 6th February 2015 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 6th February 2015 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. 2014-2015 12 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 defined in “What is the 11+?” on page 3. The Panel has the opportunity to observe work from across the Island Schools 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 or Grammar School and Sixth Form Centre 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. When do parents/carers find out the results? The Department understands that you and your child will want to receive your child’s allocated school place and score as soon as possible after the tests and borderlining have been completed. It is also important that there is sufficient time to plan for a successful transition to your child’s new secondary school. You will receive notification in writing of your child’s allocated school placement and score on Wednesday 25th March 2015 by an additional postal delivery, which will start after 2pm. The envelope with the results letter in will also contain information from the school at which your child has been allocated a place. Your letter will be sent out as standard post; you do not need to sign for it. The letter will be sent to the address that the school has on its records and will include the following information: your child’s standardised Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning scores for each paper they sat; 2014-2015 13 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 25th March please tell your child’s school if you move house after you return the 11+ Selection Process Entry Form. 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 papers 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 papers 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. Re-marking of test papers You may request, in writing or by e-mail to the Education Department (details below), your child’s test papers to be re-marked. Such requests must be received by the Department no later than Wednesday, 15th April 2015. As noted above, the marking technology is highly accurate and to date all re-marking requests processed by the Department have re-confirmed the original test scores. Tests sat after 6th February 2015 and therefore manually marked will be re-marked by two Education Department officers, neither of which will have been involved in the original marking. How to make a request for a review of exceptional circumstances and/or re-mark All requests for a review of exceptional circumstances and/or re-mark of papers must be sent by letter, to the Director of Education (see “Education Department Contact Details” at the end of this guide), or 2014-2015 14 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers by e-mail to office@education.gov.gg, to be received no later than 5pm on Wednesday, 15th April 2015. Further information about the independent Review Panel and the circumstances under which it will convene is available on the Education Department’s website7. 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 Education8 regardless of which school they attend. Advice and guidance is provided to all students at school and by Careers Guernsey9 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. 7 www.education.gg/elevenplus http://www.guernseycollege.ac.gg/ 9 http://www.careers.gg/ 8 2014-2015 15 Education Department The 11+ Process and Admission to Secondary Education A Guide for Year 6 Parents & Carers 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 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 website10. Education Department Contact Details 11+ Section, Education Department, The Grange, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1RQ 01481 733000 10 elevenplus@education.gov.gg www.education.gg/elevenplus http://education.gg/admissions 2014-2015 16