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
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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;
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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;
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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
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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
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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
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