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Year 7 in September 2012
When is Open Day?
Wednesday 29th June 2011 3:30-8:00.
What are the School’s Admission Criteria for Year 7 – 2012?
The School admits 120 boys on the basis of their ability. Boys will be regarded as of selective ability according to their performance in the selection tests established by the school.
- Pupils who have reached the pass mark who are Looked After Children, then those who have medical or social grounds for admission supported by appropriate professional evidence.
- In rank order of performance.
How do we register for our son to sit the Entrance Examination for Year 7 – 2012?
By completing the Supplementary Form 2012, this will register your son to sit the Entrance Examination which will take place on Saturday, 17th September 2011.
Please click on this link to download the Supplementary Form for 2012 entry.
The closing date for the school to receive the supplementary form by post or by hand is Friday 2nd September 2011.
Test arrangement letters and registration forms will be sent to parents after the 2nd of September 2011, should you not have received these by the 9th of September 2011, thereafter; please contact the Examinations Department.
What format will the test take for Year 7 - 2012?
The selection test will consist of an English paper, a Mathematics paper and a Verbal Reasoning paper. All the examination papers are prepared by the school. We do NOT use NFER papers however some elements of the Examination paper maybe multiple choice.
The English paper
50 minutes duration representing 40% of the final mark.
This comprises a 30 minute comprehension exercise and a 20 minute "essay".
This is not an NFER paper; however some elements of the paper may be multiple choice.
The Mathematics paper
45 minutes duration representing 40% of the final mark.
Questions are broadly in line with National Curriculum. Pupils must write their answers directly onto the test paper and show all their working.
This is not an NFER paper; however some elements of the paper may be multiple choice.
The Verbal Reasoning paper
40 minutes duration representing 20% of the final mark.
Boys will write their answers directly onto the question paper. They write words, underline words or circle letters to give their answers.
This is not an NFER paper; however some elements of the paper may be multiple choice.
The entire test takes no longer than about 2 hours 15 minutes, although boys are usually here for about 2 ½ hours because we include a short break which includes and opportunity to use the toilet.
We do not supply practice papers because, as explained above, 80% of the entrance examination is work your son should be familiar with (English and Mathematics). Practice Verbal Reasoning papers can be obtained very from WH Smith. We do not use NFER multiple choice papers.
Does the school sell a familiarisation paper?
This is under consideration at present.
What is the pass mark?
The pass mark is always 326. The School uses a standardised system of scoring examination papers. Each paper is standardised to a score of 100, it is similar to an IQ test, where 100 is an average score. Over the three papers, English, Mathematics and Verbal reasoning an average child should score 300 (although our papers are weighted after standardisation, 40%, 40%, 20% respectively). So you can see that a pass mark of 326 would usually mean a pupil scoring above average on each paper. Of course some pupils will score a good average on one paper but a well above average on the other two, thus making a higher total score.
The pass mark is not raised or lowered according to the number of applicants and the system of scoring pupils always remains the same each year.
When do we find out the result of the Entrance Examination?
The outcome; (whether you son has been successful or unsuccessful in the Entrance Examination) will be sent by first class post on Friday, 7th October 2011. Please note that, because of oversubscription, not all who pass the test can be made an offer on national offers day in March 2012.
What is the Common Application Form?
The Common Application Form is provided by your own Local Authority to apply to any school regardless of the Local Authority in which the school resides.
The closing date for the receipt of the Common Application Form is Monday, 31st October 2011. This Common Application Form must be sent to your own Local Authority listing your school preferences.
Should a child be successful in the entrance examination, parents must, include Wallington on the Common Application Form to be eligible for consideration. The School's DfES Number is 319 5407.
What happens if my son misses the test in September?
Test Arrangements: Saturday, 17th September 2011.
There will be no alternative date to sit the Entrance Examination, unless exceptional circumstances apply; that is illness on the day, (a doctors note will be required), or because religious reasons prevents sitting the Examination on a Saturday. Other exceptional circumstances will be considered by the Headteacher.
What about age weighting?
The verbal reasoning paper is age weighted as follows:-
Zero marks are added to the scores of children born September - November.
One mark is added to the scores of children born December - February.
Two marks are added to the scores of children born March - May.
Three marks are added to the scores of children born June - August.
What about where we place Wallington on the Common Application Form?
If you know that your son has been successful in the entrance examination then, of course, you can make an informed choice of where to place Wallington on the Common Application Form. Schools do not know where you have placed them on the application form and as such, you will not disadvantage an application for a lower preference school by naming another school higher.
Parents should place the school in true order of preference.
What is the Equal Preference Scheme?
The equal preference system means that applications for lower preference schools are not disadvantaged if a higher preference school cannot offer a place.
This allows parents to apply for the preferred option, knowing that if their child is unsuccessful in a test or have not met the criteria, they will not be overlooked by the lower preference schools.
When will we know if our son has a place at Wallington?
The offer of a school place will be made by your Local Authority on National Offers day which is the 1st March 2012.
The school will write to those offered a place the day after National Offers day with information about the induction process.
What happens if my son does not pass the test?
Should your child be unsuccessful in the entrance examination, parents should not list Wallington as one of their preferences on the Common Application Form. The child will not have met the admissions criteria and, therefore, not be eligible for a place.
Is entry very competitive?
The School has had a surge in popularity over the past few years and the number of applicants has increased. Please note that passing the Entrance Examination does not mean that an offer of a place will be made for your son. Offers of places are made according to our admissions criteria.
For entry in September 2009 1,559 pupils were tested and 463 were successful.
For entry in September 2010 1,663 pupils were tested and 498 were successful.
For entry in September 2011 1,676 pupils were tested and 451 were successful.
Will my son be able to sit an Entrance Examination if he lives aboard?
Entrance Examination can only be taken at Wallington County Grammar School.
What about tutoring?
The Headteacher does not recommend that you have your son tutored. Our examination is predominantly work your son will be familiar with and work he is currently undertaking at primary school. Mathematics and English. The verbal reasoning paper is just like a ‘wordy’ puzzle and practice booklets are available in bookshops like WH Smiths, we recommend the Bond papers for verbal reasoning familiarisation. The VR paper will only count for 20% of the total mark.
What about special needs?
Statements: Children with formal statements of educational needs that name this school are admitted automatically ahead of other applicants, they must undertake the entrance examination and reach the pass mark to be eligible. Admission of children with statements counts towards the overall admission number and are not in addition to the published admission number.
Medical and Social: Should an applicant feel that there are medical or exceptional social reasons for attendance at this school rather than at any other, the applicant should demonstrate that this school is the most suitable to meet their child’s stated medical or social need, why no other local school could meet those needs, and what the difficulties would be if they had to attend another school. Applications must be supported by written evidence from a Doctor, Social Worker or Borough Attendance Officer. Refugees and Asylum Seeking children will be included under this criterion, depending on individual circumstances. Applicants who apply under these categories must undertake the entrance examination and reach the pass mark to be eligible. The Admissions Officer will (with the permission of the parent/guardian) liaise with the primary school or other professional body to ascertain any special arrangements for the proper conduct of the test. Where the justification is not exceptional, and a place at the school has been refused under this criterion, the parent will have the statutory right of appeal.
Should your child have any special reasons for consideration it is important that supporting documents are attached to the Supplementary Form.
Unsuccessful Applicants Following National Offers day and Appeals
Parents have a right of appeal and full information will be sent to those not offered a place for Year 7 in March with the letter from your Home Local Authority.
For Year 7 entry it is usual for the Appeal to be heard in June. Traditionally, very few appeals are upheld and those that are tend to have significant professional supporting evidence. It must be remembered that for the appeal process to be valid, an application to the school must have been made according to the arrangements:
Submitting on time a valid supplementary form to WCGS
The candidate taking each of the components of the Entrance Examination
Placing WCGS on the Common Application Form (CAF)
For the last three years no appeals have been upheld.
This is also the case for mid term admissions.
The School Admission Appeals Code (the Code) has been issued under section 84 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (‘SSFA 1998’) as amended by section 40 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. Section 84(2) of the SSFA 1998 allows the Code to impose requirements and include guidelines setting out aims and objectives in relation to the discharge of functions. Section 84(3) of the SSFA 1998 requires the bodies listed at paragraph 7 to act in accordance with any relevant provisions of the Code. The Code has been made following a consultation under section 85(2) of the SSFA 1998 and after being laid before Parliament for 40 days.
The above Code of Practice States:
Appeals for grammar schools
3.32 Admission authorities for schools with partially selective admission arrangements must allocate all available places, including any unfilled selective places, if they have sufficient applications of any academic standard. But admission authorities for designated grammar schools are permitted to select children for admission on the basis of academic ability and may leave places unfilled if there are insufficient eligible applicants.
3.33 Most admission authorities for grammar schools use performance in an entrance test as a basis for determining whether a child is of the required academic standard for admission. But while some offer places to those who score highest, others set a pass mark then apply oversubscription criteria to all applicants who reach that standard. Therefore, the fact that a child has been assessed as being suitable for entry to a grammar school does not guarantee them a place if the school is oversubscribed. Admission Authorities must set out in schools' published admission arrangements details of how places are allocated.
What happens if my son is on the Waiting List for Year 7 following National Offers day?
Waiting lists are ranked according to the published admissions criteria.
If a boy is eligible for a place at the school but has been given a lower preference he will be placed on the Waiting list for admission by the Local Authority until 31 December 2011. The waiting list for admission is ranked according to our publish admissions criteria. If a place becomes available in Year 7 between 01 March 2011 and 31 December 2011 the next eligible boy on the waiting list for admission will be offered the place without having to sit a further Entrance Examination. After 31 December 2011 any vacancies for Year 7 will be treated as a mid term admission and this will be co-ordinated with the home Local Authority. Parents would need to complete a mid term application form obtained from their home Local Authority, and when we receive notification from the Local Authority the School will place your son’s name on the waiting list for the Entrance Examination should a vacancy occur in the relevant year group.
After the start of the academic year applications for mid term admissions, database and waiting lists will be managed in accordance with the coordinated schemes for mid-term admissions for the relevant home Local Authority.
FAQ on Mid Term Admission in Year 8 – 11 – 2012
Does the school admit pupils into Years 8 - 11?
Wallington County Grammar School is part of Sutton’s co-ordinated admissions scheme for mid-term admissions. Very occasionally vacancies occur in Years 7 (after 01 September 2011) - Year 11.
Parents need to complete a mid term admission form obtained from their home Local Authority and list the school as a preference. Waiting lists for Entrance Examinations are maintained for each year group. Should a vacancy arise boys would be invited to attend the entrance examination. Places will be offered in rank order according to the published admissions criteria.
Please note that success in the Entrance Examination does not automatically mean that a place will be offered.
Pupils at Wallington County Grammar School start GCSE studies in Year 9 and smaller teaching groups are then created. This reorganisation allows a 13+ entry with up to a maximum of 10 places. Testing for entry into Year 9 will usually take place in the Spring Term prior to the September of entry.
The waiting list for admission for those who have met our admissions criteria is ranked according to our publish admissions criteria. If a place becomes available in Year 9 from the publication of the results and 31 December 2011 the next eligible boy on the waiting list for admission will be offered the place without having to sit a further Entrance Examination.
Co-ordination does not affect the rights and duties of the Governing Body of Wallington County Grammar School to set and apply its own admission arrangements and oversubscription criteria.
What format will the test take for 13+ - 2012?
The selection test will consist of an English paper, a Mathematics paper and a Verbal Reasoning paper. All the examination papers are prepared by the school. We do NOT use NFER papers.
FAQ on Admission to the Sixth Form – 2012
Special entry requirements for specific subjects
Business Studies: either an A or above in GCSE Business Studies, or if Business Studies has not been studied at GCSE, at least an A in Mathematics and a B in English Language or English Literature at GCSE.
Classics: an A or above in GCSE Classics or History or English Literature.
Economics: either a B or above in GCSE Economics, or if Economics has not been studied at GCSE, at least an A in Mathematics and a B in English Language or English Literature at GCSE.
Further Mathematics: an A* in GCSE Mathematics.
Government and Politics: an A or above in GCSE History or Classics.
History: either an A or above in GCSE History or an A or above in GCSE English Literature.
Music: either Grade 5 or above in an instrument and Grade 5 or above in Music Theory, or the ability to show progression towards achieving these qualifications.
Philosophy: an A or above in GCSE Religious Studies, or History or Classics if Religious Studies has not been studied.
Physical Education: either an A or above in GCSE Physical Education and a B or above in GCSE Biology, or an A or above in GCSE Biology if GCSE Physical Education has not been studied.
Sciences: An A or above at GCSE in the relevant single science or A* grades in Dual Award Science.
Sixth Form Application Arrangements
External applicants to the Sixth Form are advised to complete the Application Form and return it to the School by February half term. Confirmation of predicted grades must be submitted and this can take the form of 'mock' GCSE examination results or a document confirming predicted grades from a member of staff. No other information is required. External applicants expected to meet the grade for entry will be invited to a meeting in March/April when further information and advice will be provided regarding subject choices.
On publication of GCSE results in August, places will be offered in accordance with the Admissions Criteria.
Students of Sixth Form age may make their own application for a place.
Applicants must confirm results following publication of GCSE grades if they intend to proceed with their application, when they will receive either a firm offer or be placed on a waiting list.
Unsuccessful applicants have the right of appeal.
I still have questions unanswered.
The Admissions Officer will be happy to talk to you.
Please telephone on 020 8647 2235.