Queen Elizabeth's Grammar, Alford, A Selective Academy

ADMISSIONS ARRANGEMENTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2012

The governing body of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford, is the admission authority for the academy. They will admit, essentially by assessment, those pupils who they consider the most likely to benefit from grammar school education.

  1. Entry at 11+

    The 11+ testing will be in line with the Lincolnshire Grammar Schools’ Consortium, with the academy’s Year 7 intake drawn from those in approximately the top 25% of the ability range of the relevant age group. The admissions number in Year 7 is 84 in three-forms of entry.

    The catchment area’s primary schools have offered to administer the 11+ tests on behalf of the governors of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford. Out-of-catchment pupils may take the 11+ tests in their nearest grammar school or at Queen Elizabeth’s.

    The 11+ procedure will involve two tests: one verbal reasoning and one non-verbal. Both tests will be taken in the September for pupils in their final year at primary school (and of the appropriate age group).

    Pupils who have a statement of special educational needs which names Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford, and who have achieved the required score will be offered a place in accordance with the Education Act 1996.

    Preference will be given to:

    1. Pupils who have reached the required score and who are in public care.
    2. Pupils living within the traditional catchment area who have reached the required score. A map of the catchment area is available from the school office.
    3. Pupils (from the following feeder primary schools: Alford, Huttoft, Mablethorpe, Sutton-on-Sea, Theddlethorpe, Willoughby and Withern) who reach the required score, 220 or over in the two tests, and for whom Queen Elizabeth's Grammar, Alford, is one preferred by the parents.
    4. Pupils not in the traditional catchment area who reach the required score.

    In the case of oversubscription from pupils, who have reached the required score, pupils will be ranked according to their 11+ test scores. In the event of a number of pupils having exactly the same 11+ score then the governors will apply a tie-breaker based on the straight line distance (measured electronically by the local authority between the post office address point of the home and the post office address point of the academy), with the child living closest to the academy being given the place.

    Children in public care are those in the care of the local authority or provided with accommodation by them in accordance with section 22 of the 1989 Children Act.

    By law the governors must consider parents who have named the school using the common application form (or have applied online) before any other parents. The governors will investigate any concerns they may have about the information you provide on the application form and may withdraw the offer of a school place if they find evidence that a fraudulent claim has been made.

    Parents of pupils not offered places at the academy have the right of appeal against the academy’s admission panel decision. Appeals forms may be obtained from the clerk to the governors, c/o Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford and should be returned to school by the end of March. All appeals will be heard by an independent appeals panel who will consider whether ‘prejudice’ would arise were the child to be admitted, and the weight of the parents’ case in terms of extenuating circumstances. The decision of the appeals panel is binding.

    Repeat applications will not be considered in the same academic year unless there has been a significant change in circumstances.

    The governors will keep a waiting list up until the end of the autumn term. This list is kept in the order given above and it is where the child stands in relation to these criteria rather than the length of time on the waiting list that will determine if a place is offered.

  2. Entry at other times

    Pupils are normally admitted at 11+ and 16+, but we will consider requests for places at other times if there should be places available. The governors seek to admit the most able pupils and will admit those pupils where there is evidence that the pupil is in the top 25% of the ability range and whose performance indicates that they would benefit from the curriculum and pace of work available at this academy. Selection will be based upon KS2 results, CATS and other standardised tests.

    Entry into the upper school at Year 12 is based on pupils attaining at least 6 or more GCSEs at C or above (including Maths and English), with at least 4 grades at B or above. For A level study pupils should normally have a grade B or above in the subjects they wish to study. The published admissions number for Year 12 is 20. This applies to students joining the sixth form from other schools.

    In the case of oversubscription from students from other schools, who have reached the required GCSE grades, students will be ranked according to their GCSE points score. In the event of a number of students having exactly the same score then the governors will apply a tie-breaker based on the straight line distance (measured electronically by the local authority between the post office address point of the home and the post office address point of the academy), with the student living closest to the academy being given the place.

    Pupils will be selected without regard to colour, race, creed or gender, and without regard to a pupil’s likely or known requirements for special educational needs. The school will continue to provide for pupils with special educational needs, provided that such pupils meet the criteria in force for selection of a place at the academy.

    Parents of pupils not awarded places at the school have the right of appeal to an independent appeals panel. Any such appeal should be made following the notification of a place not being offered at the academy. Appeals forms may be obtained from the clerk to the governors, c/o Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford.

  3. Visits to the academy

    The academy’s annual open day takes place in October. Details are sent to all feeder schools and publicised in the local press. There is also an open day for the Upper School in January or February. Parents of prospective pupils are welcome to visit the academy at other times by prior arrangement with the headteacher.

"Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools - 11+ Information"