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BOFA11plus.com has independently compiled this page for you, using information gathered from the Local Authority and respective schools. We try to keep it as accurate as possible and welcome any feedback if you spot any errors.
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Torbay LA
Margaret Dennison
Strategic Director for Children, Children's Services, Torbay Borough Council, Oldway Mansion, Paignton, Devon TQ3 2TE
Telephone: 01803 208208
Fax: 01803 208225
Email: frank.weeple@torbay.gov.uk
Website: www.torbay.gov.uk
As the schools have Foundation status, and are therefore admission authorities in their own right, the tests are arranged and administered by the schools themselves. The local authority does not involve itself in any part of the testing process. Parents should contact the schools directly regarding any eleven plus examination queries.
If you want your child to attend a grammar school or have a place in the selective stream at Westlands School he/she will have to be tested.
The 11+ tests consist of 4 papers as follows:
a) Churston Ferrers Grammar School – two verbal reasoning tests, a mathematics test and an English test.
b) Torquay Boys’ Grammar School – two verbal reasoning tests, a mathematics test and an English test.
c) Torquay Girls' Grammar School – two verbal reasoning tests, a mathematics test and an English test.
d) Westlands School – two verbal reasoning tests a mathematics test and an English test.
You can use BOFA 11+ to help prepare for the exam:
The tests for all schools will take place on Saturday 15 and 22 November. Further information about the tests can be obtained from the schools.
How are places allocated?
Places are allocated using “admission arrangements”. These admission arrangements vary from school to school.
Before you apply for a place get to know the arrangements so you can judge the chances of getting a place for your child. Admission arrangements say how many places are available, explain any special entry requirements and how places are allocated if too many pupils want to go to a school.
For pupils wishing to take the entrance tests in November 2011, for entry to the school in September 2012, the Open Days will be held on Tuesday, 5th July 2011 and Thursday, 15th September 2011. Tours of the school will take place at 9.30 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. Just come along to whichever tour is most convenient.
Admissions Information
11+ ENTRANCE TESTS 2011 - INFORMATION
DATES
Two Saturday mornings have been allocated for the tests:
Saturday 19th November - Verbal Reasoning Test/English Test
Saturday 26th November - Verbal Reasoning Test/Maths Test
Details of the tests are given below.
REASONING TESTS
There are two Verbal Reasoning Tests (50 minutes each). Neither test incorporates a familiarisation exercise. Both tests are answered using separate OMR sheets. The highest scoring paper will be regarded as the final VR test mark.
MATHEMATICS
The paper is based primarily on the NC KS2 scheme of work levels 1-5. However, there are opportunities for pupils to demonstrate problem solving skills above this level.
Number work will include the use of the four operations: fractions, decimals, percentages, approximations and recognition of simple number patterns.
Shape, space and measures will include work on areas: perimeters, volumes, symmetry, angle measurement and co-ordinates.
Handling data problems will require the use of interpretation and statistical diagrams and a knowledge of simple probability. Pupils should be familiar with the terms mean, median and mode.
In addition the paper will contain questions of a more general puzzle type nature to test the pupils’ problem solving skills.
Answers to be written on the question paper, no calculators required. (This is not a multiple choice paper). Time allowed - ONE HOUR.
ENGLISH
The paper will consist of two sections.
Section A: Comprehension Exercise - There will be a passage of one to two sides of A4 to read.
Approximately 20 multiple choice questions to answer on a separate answer sheet.
Section B: Free Writing - There will be several topics, pupils choose one to write about. Careful attention should be given to correct spelling and grammar.
Time allowed - ONE HOUR - suggested equal time be given to each section.
You can use BOFA 11+ to help prepare for the exam:
The selection tests will take place at school on Saturday 19th and Saturday 26th November 2011. Full details will be sent to everyone who applies for a place once finalised.
Details of the tests are still to be confirmed. Last year, however, the setup was as follows:
Saturday 1
Saturday 2
Verbal Reasoning Test 1
Verbal Reasoning Test 2
English Test
Mathematics Test
There will be two Verbal Reasoning tests, one Mathematics paper and one English paper. Girls who are achieving in the top 25% of their age group at Primary School should be able to cope with the tests. For example if a girl's teacher believes she is likely to achieve Level 5's in her KS2 English, Maths and Science SATs at the end of Y6 then this would be a good indicator that she will be of a sufficient standard.
Verbal Reasoning Tests are supplied by the National Foundation for Educational Research (GL), and will be marked in accordance with their regulations. These are multiple choice tests. The highest Verbal Reasoning Score attained, of the two papers, will be regarded as the final mark for that element. Results will be standardised to take into account age differentials.
The English and Mathematics tests will be set by Torquay Girls' Grammar School in collaboration with Churston Ferrers Grammar School and Torquay Boys' Grammar School in accordance with the Attainment Targets of the National Curriculum Key Stage 2. The English paper has both reading and writing components whilst the Maths is a free response paper. The tests will be marked internally.
Children who are unable to take the tests on either of these dates, due to illness or other acceptable reason, will be offered the opportunity to take the tests at a later date. This must be discussed with the school at the earliest opportunity.
You can use BOFA 11+ to help prepare for the exam:
Children who are unable to take the tests on either of these dates, due to illness or other acceptable reason, will be offered the opportunity to take the tests at a later date. This must be discussed with the school at the earliest opportunity.
ALLOCATION OF PLACES
The criteria for selection will be:
CATEGORY A
Candidates in this category will have been successful in all three elements of the tests, ie
1)NFER Verbal Reasoning (the selective score being that achieved by the 100th candidate.)
2)A minimum of 50% of available marks in Mathematics
3)A minimum of 50% of available marks in English
These candidates will be granted automatic entry to the school.
CATEGORY B
Candidates in this category will have been successful in two of the three elements. They form the “borderzone” from whom the remaining places will be allocated, having sought additional information on the academic ability of the student from his or her Primary School.
Children who have statement of Special Educational Need, where Churston Ferrers Grammar School is named on that statement must be admitted first.
In the event that the number of candidates exceeds the number of remaining places available, applications will be prioritised using the following over-subscription criteria:
1. Children in care will be given the highest priority
2. Places will then be allocated on the basis of evidence received from Primary Headteachers that the student is academically suited to a selective education, alongside the test scores achieved.
3. If it proves impossible to discriminate between candidates on the basis of the above criteria, those students living closest to the school will have priority. The shorter distance is afforded the higher priority. Distance will be measured from the entrance to the home address to the nearest official entrance of the school on a straight-line basis.
CATEGORY B
Candidates are considered to be unsuccessful if they pass fewer than two of the three elements. Places will not be offered to students in this category.
ALLOCATION OF PLACES
At the conclusion of the allocation process the Local Authority will be sent a ranked list of the children. The Local Authority will be responsible for advising parents of the school allocated.
POST ALLOCATION
Parents may request a meeting with the school to explain why it has not been possible to offer a place.
Parents have the right to appeal against this decision to an Independent Panel, whose decision is binding on the parents and the school.
Application should be made to the Democratic Services Department of Torbay Local Authority. The School can assist with contact information.
Parents and students are also welcome to make an appointment at another time to see the school if they wish to do so.
Tied places
For ties in both 120th place in Y7 and in the late admissions tests the order of priority will be;
A child in care
A girl with a sister at the school
By direct line distance from home to the school at the time of application.
SEN
Children with a statement of Special Educational Need, where Torquay Girls' Grammar School is named on the statement, have an entitlement to attend.
by following the links to Education and Learning, Schools then Admission and Transfers. If your child attends a Primary School in Torbay you will receive an information booklet, known as TIPS1, from the Local Authority in early September of Year 6.
Westlands is a Bilateral School. This means that we have a limited number of places for students who have achieved ’selective’ standard when taking the 11+ exam, alongside the majority of our School population which is made up of mainstream (non-selective) places. Generally, we are able to offer ‘selective’ places to students from a wider geographical area than our ‘non-selective’ students. This is because the number of students reaching ‘selective’ standard and therefore gaining a ‘selective’ place, is less than those applying for a ‘non-selective’ place. If you wish to apply for a ‘selective’ place please ensure that you tick the relevant box when you complete the application form, either online or on the paper form inside the TIPS1 booklet.
You do not need to put Westlands as two of your choices as, if your child is unsuccessful in gaining a selective place following the 11+ test, we will automatically treat your application as one for a non-selective place.
