11+ Buckinghamshire Further Information

11+ Buckinghamshire 

Choosing a school for your child is an important decision and the 11 plus exam will play a part in your choice of school. Buckinghamshire has two types of mainstream secondary schools- grammar schools and upper schools. The results in the eleven plus test decides which type of school best suits your child's needs.

Buckinghamshire County council provide an excellent booklet of advice for the parents of children who are about to sit their eleven plus exam. The booklet contains a wealth of information about selective and non-selective schools in their council area. Buckinghamshire County council will automatically enter children at Buckinghamshire maintained primary schools for the 11+ tests unless their parents tell the headteacher, in writing, that they do not want their child to sit the tests.  Parents of children living elsewhere or at other schools should register their child for the 11+ tests by filling in the 11+ registration form available from the Admissions Team. 

Details of the Buckinghamshire secondary selection procedure are set out in great detail in the Guide for Parents provided by the county council.

For entry to secondary school or grammar school in September of the following school year children will usually sit their 11 plus exam in the Autumn term of their last primary school year- often in October. (Alternate dates may be scheduled for those students who do not attend a Buckinghamshire primary school).

Children may take the following eleven plus tests:

1. Verbal reasoning test 1 (80 questions and 50 minutes in length.)
2. Verbal reasoning test 2 (80 questions and 50 minutes in length.)

About 30% of the children are expected to pass their 11 plus exam and many grammar schools will be over subscribed with Year 7 applications.

Further information is available at www.buckscc.gov.uk or by contacting admissions@buckscc.gov.uk:

Buckinghamshire LA

School Admissions 
Buckinghamshire County Council 
County Hall 
Aylesbury 
Buckinghamshire
HP20 1UZ

Tel:  01296 383250 
Fax:  01296 383016 
admissions@buckscc.gov.uk

Website: www.buckscc.gov.uk

 Arrangements for 11+ selection procedure:

The LA (Local Authority) manages selection by ability for community and voluntary controlled grammar schools. Foundation or other grammar schools may also adopt the LA’s selection procedure and ask the LA to manage the selection process on their behalf.

Children attending Buckinghamshire maintained schools are automatically registered for selection testing unless their parents confirm in writing that they do not want their child to sit the test. Parents of children at independent schools or attending primary schools outside of Buckinghamshire should register their child for grammar school testing at the very beginning of September, to ensure testing can be completed during the Autumn term.

Children attending schools other than Buckinghamshire Maintained Schools or ‘Partner school’ (from 2011 intake these are the only automatically agreed test centres), will be tested during October half term. Children will be offered two dates within this period. They may be on consecutive days but not two tests on any one day. One alternative date will be offered only where parents are able to confirm exceptional circumstances (family holidays are not exceptional). Children who do not attend on the specified dates with no reasonable explanation will be deemed withdrawn from the 11+ testing.

Online registration guidance

Who has to complete the on-line 11+ registration form?

Parents of children who:

• are at a Buckinghamshire Partner school, or
• attend a school outside of the county

and who want their children to take the 11+ tests with a view to attending a Buckinghamshire grammar school in the following September.

Children who attend a Buckinghamshire LA Primary school do not need to register.

You may live in Buckinghamshire or elsewhere. Registration is required because we do not have up to date information on your child as he or she does not currently attend a Buckinghamshire LA primary school. We need up to date information before we can arrange for your child to sit the 11+.

Registration is only necessary where you want to seek admission to a Buckinghamshire grammar school for your child. If you want your child to attend a Buckinghamshire upper school, there will be no need to take the tests and you can include the upper school you would like your child to attend when applying on-line or completing the Common Application Form from your Home Local Authority. Open evenings for Buckinghamshire secondary schools are held in the Autumn term.

Parents of children with special educational needs may wish to discuss the 11+ testing process with either the headteacher or special educational needs co-ordinator at the school. Consider whether a grammar school would be suitable for your child. More information about the 11+ and disabled children is available in out Disability Discrimation Act guidance notes.

It is sometimes possible for a child to take part in the 11+ tests before or after the academic year in which he or she is 11. Any under or over age cadidate cannot be considered for admission to a Buckinghamshire grammar school, and hence sit the 11+ tests, without prior written approval from the Admissions and Transport Team. Additionally, for under age entry, the child's home council must also have given approval for early transfer.

When is the registration deadline?

You must submit your registration by 2 September at the latest to ensure that your child can be tested in a timely manner and so you can receive the familiarisation and practice pack in good time. This gives sufficient opportunity for you to work through the familiarisation and practice material with your child.

What is familiarisation & practice?

5 familiarisation sessions and 3 practice tests. Your child must complete the pack before taking the 11+ tests proper. Children attending Partner schools will complete this part of the process in school and schools already have sufficient packs.

What does the 11+ testing involve?

The tests are produced for Buckinghamshire LA by GL Assessment.

The two tests are broadly of the same level of difficulty and the better of the two results will be your child’s Verbal Reasoning Test Score (VRTS). Each test is 50 minutes long and has 80 questions. The tests are marked by GL Assessment. The National Federation for Educational Research (NFER) standardise the raw scores to create a standardised score between 69 and 141, which includes an adjustment for the ages of children when taking the tests. The normal qualifying score is a VRTS of 121 or more, which we expect to be achieved by approximately 30% of children.

When are the tests?

If your child does not attend a Buckinghamshire Partner school, the Council will arrange 11+ testing during half term, 24 – 28 October 2011, at venues in Buckinghamshire. Your child will be required to attend on two separate and non-consecutive dates. Failure to attend, for other than very exceptional circumstances, will result in your child being withdrawn from the testing process. If you are currently resident abroad, please contact us for more information.

Is there anything else I need to complete?

Yes. During the first half of the autumn term you will need to let your Home LA know which schools you would like your child considered for admission to in September 2011. You can do this either by applying via your Home LA’s on-line application system or by completing their Common Application Form. Your home LA will then share this information with any other LA whose schools are listed on your application. You will include preferences for all schools, even those who are foundation or voluntary-aided and those located in other counties or boroughs.

As well as making an application, some schools have supplementary forms and you should check with the relevant LA for details. Make sure you are aware of your home LA's application deadlines.