ADMISSIONS FOR ENTRY IN YEAR 7 SEPTEMBER 2024

TEST DAY – SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2023

To gain a place in Year 7 at the start of the academic year students need to have taken the 11+ examinations. The same tests are set by each of the selective schools in Torbay and are scheduled at the same time – so the scores achieved can be shared between schools when necessary.

To take the tests you have to complete the registration form (link to online form at the bottom of this page will be available from Mid-March 2023) and submit it to the school where your child will be taking the tests.  If you require a form to complete and post into the school, please email secretary@churston.torbay.sch.uk. The deadline for receipt of application forms this year is MIDDAY ON WEDNESDAY 19th JULY 2023 WHERE POSSIBLE or MIDDAY ON THURSDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2023 at the very latest. Your application will be acknowledged and in the week prior to the tests you will be provided with further details regarding the procedure for the test day (you will be allocated either an AM or PM session). This information will be sent to you either via letter or via email.

We’d recommend that your child takes the exams at the school you expect to be your first choice. This isn’t essential, but it makes sense for your child to start getting some experience of the building and the staff.

You only register to take the tests with one school – you’re not applying for a place at this stage.

Late notification of the testing timetable by child’s primary school or otherwise will NOT be accepted as a reason why a timely registration was not possible.

For children whose registration form or common application form (or both) were submitted after the closing dates, there will be an opportunity to sit the tests for consideration after the first round of allocation on 1 March 2024.

Catch-up date

If your child is unable to take the tests on the above dates due to illness, or another significant and acceptable reason, they will be offered a chance to take them on the catch up test date (evidence may be required). You’ll need to discuss any such arrangement with the school as soon as possible. The catch up date for this year is 29th September 2023. Children sitting these tests will be considered alongside those children who sat the tests on 16th September 2023.

“Everyone is supportive and I’ve made lots of friends who care about me. Also, Student Services is good because the staff are really nice and supportive” – Year 7 Student

Special arrangements

Some children need special access arrangements such as enlarged papers, extra time, or special rooming requirements. Please discuss these with the school as soon as possible to allow these provisions to be made, and before the registration deadline. We will ask for information to verify the request.

The tests

Our Admissions policy explains how the 11+ scores are handled and our criteria for admission.

You can also take a look at the GL familiarisation material which tells you what you need to know about this test, and gives you some sample questions. You only need to look at the material for English and Maths as they are the only two elements that you will be tested on. 

Since 11+ tests vary from one area to another, it’s important to note that the free familiarisation materials are generic and may differ from our own test’s exact specifications.  These differences may include the length of papers, the types of questions covered, and/or the level of difficulty.

Our One Stop Guide answers other questions you may have about the exams themselves and the application process.

ADDITIONAL FAMILIARISATION MATERIAL AVAILABLE TO PUPIL PREMIUM STUDENTS

If your child is eligible for Pupil Premium/Free School Meals, we are pleased to be able to offer access to an additional online package of around 10 hours familiarisation material, that has been developed by the King Edward Foundation of Birmingham Grammar Schools, especially for Pupil Premium students. If you indicate Pupil Premium on the application form, once we have verified this with your primary school, we will send you a logon code especially for you, so you can access the material on the online platform hosted by Frog.

What happens next?

The school will send you a guidance letter issued on, or as soon as possible after 17th October 2023 which indicates on the basis of your child’s performance in the exams, whether an application to a selective school is recommended. 

This letter will not provide details of the scores, or provide a ranking, but simply indicates whether your child is likely to receive a place at a selective school. It is not an offer of a place and it cannot guarantee a place because applications have not been made at this stage so the number requesting admission to a particular school are not known.

Taking this information into account, you  must then complete the Common Application Form for the Local Authority by 31 October 2023 (you can do this online). You will need to list three schools you would like your child to attend, in order of preference.

The Local Authority will advise you which school your child has been allocated on National Allocation Day, 1 March 2024.

If you have any queries at all regarding this process, please email the Admissions Officer, Mrs Vanessa Wolf via vanessa.wolf@churston.torbay.sch.uk or call 01803 842289 (term-time only).

Admission Documents