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St John's C of E Primary School

"Use your God-given gifts to serve others." 1 Peter 4: 10

Year 6

27th September 2024

 

How many grammar schools to put on the application form?

I had a query at the meeting over grammar school applications and so I have done a quick bit of research to make sure I give you the right information. Grammar schools now work in catchment areas. This is a map of the catchment areas: https://kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk/news/new-admissions-policy-catchment-maps/

 

I have taken this from the Camp Hill admission policy, but all of the King Edward schools have the same policy (they might have different qualifying and priority scores).

Camp Hill Boys

Camp Hill Girls

  • 25% of places will be offered to those children in receipt of Pupil Premium (free school meals). These children have to achieve the qualifying score. They will be ranked by distance to the school.
  • If there are more than 25% of pupils in this category, they will be ranked by score. However, if these places do not get filled, they will be offered to pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium, with the qualifying score who live out of catchment.
  • The remaining 75% of places are offered to pupils who achieve the qualifying score and live in catchment. This does not mean they automatically get a place. They will be ranked by test score. Last year, lowest score that got into Camp Hill boys was 224 (priority score).
  • If the school has any places left, they will then offer it to anyone with the qualifying score, based on distance.

This is all very confusing I know! What I think it means is, you can put a second grammar on your choice list, but it is a bit of a gamble. I imagine that places are filled up quite quickly with the children in catchment but there might be scope for a few places left at other schools in a different catchment. If you choose to do this, I think you need a really strong third choice that your child has a high chance of getting into. I know it is a really difficult decision to make and that everyone desperately wants what is best for their child. Take time to look at all schools close to your home, and make reasonable selections on your other choices.

 

I wish you all the best,

Mrs Hedges

Head Teacher

 

27th September 2024

Here is the information that I shared with parents today about the secondary school application process. If you have any questions or need help with the form, please come and talk to one of us.

Click on the link to see the presentation:

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/9QlmCEyHBCkqPkds?ref=Link

Best wishes,

 

Mrs Hedges

Head Teacher

10th September 2024

 

Applying for a place at secondary school

You need to apply for your child’s secondary school place by October 31st 2024. Most schools are holding open evenings this week. Check the website of each school. Some require you to book free tickets in advance.

Mrs Hedges will run an information meeting on Friday 27th September, 2.30 – 3.15pm to support any parents who need help with the process.

Please find below some key information that you might find useful

· The website with all the information on is https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/schooladmissions

· The information about all the schools, including the number of places, whether they were over-subscribed in the last 3 years, and the distance of the furthest away child, can be downloaded from this page: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/24941/secondary_schools_admissions_criteria

· You need to choose 6 schools which your child can realistically get into. If you don’t, you may risk your child being put in any school.

· If you are applying to Ninestiles, they have a separate admission form which must be completed by Friday 27th September. Here is a link to the application form: https://ninestiles.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Application-form-2025.pdf Your child will do an assessment on Saturday 12th October 2024. You must still also fill in the Birmingham City Council form online form.

· Faith schools and some academy schools sometimes have a separate form too so always check with the school.

Pupils taking the 11+
Wait until you get the score in mid-October before deciding whether to put a grammar school down. The letter with the scores on will tell you how many points children needed to get into each grammar school last year. Use this as a guide and be realistic. If your child’s score is way off, they are unlikely to get in. You can always ring the grammar school for advice. DO NOT FILL YOUR FORM UP WITH GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. The schools use catchment areas and you need to live in catchment. Here are maps of each area: https://kingedwardvifoundation.co.uk/news/new-admissions-policy-catchment-maps/

Below are the local comprehensive schools address’ and link to their websites, we hope you find this useful;

 

 

10th September 2024

Year 5 & 6 parents

 

You will have received the club letter today and may be in a panic as there is no football for Year 5 and 6. That is because we are in the process of organising something different, and better.

 

Last year we tried to run a girls and a boys football team but they were a bit last minute and the teams didn't have enough practice. That was because there was no time to train them with so many clubs going on. We felt like the football team didn't get a good deal.

 

As a result, we have decided to use one of the after school slots as a training session for girls and boys who are interested in playing for the school on a team. This would be an invite only club. We will run trials during school time to look at who has potential to be trained for the team. We will then be in contact with you about further details. Mr Ludlow will run the club. It is likely to be on a Wednesday after school. The matches may be on a different evening but we won't know until we have signed up to a league. We will keep parents informed.

 

We will run the selection process fairly and offer places to as many people as we can. However, when you have to do a trial for a club, children do get upset when they don't get in. Parents can also get upset. My own son didn't get into his school's first team and it was so disappointing for him but now he plays in a brilliant team in a league and has learnt how to be resilient when it doesn't work out first time.

 

You don't need to do anything now. The staff are going to meet to talk about how to organise trials and in a few weeks time we will start organising the training slots. I have spoken to all children in Year 5 and 6 so they know not to be too disappointed that there is no football club on the list.

5th September 2024

We are excited to announce that we have introduced a programme to all year groups at school called myHappymind. myHappymind is all based around helping children to understand how their brain works and to support them in developing positive skills and habits to be their very best selves!

 

myHappymind is delivered in schools by class teachers through a series of interactive lessons and then the children apply these learnings throughout the day.

 

To tell you more about this wonderful new programme, we would like to invite you to a parent workshop in the hall on Monday 23rd September at 2:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you then.

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