DR CHALLONERS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

ADMISSIONS POLICY 2016

The admissions policy for Dr Challoners Grammar School follows The Co-ordinated Admission Scheme for
Secondary Schools in the Area of Buckinghamshire County Council Local Authority unless stated. This will be
referred to as The County Scheme. The County Scheme is available on the Buckinghamshire County Council
website www.buckscc.gov.uk
1.

Admission Numbers

The planned admission number for each year group is as follows:

Years 7-11
Year 12

2.

180 boys
45 places for external students (boys and girls) who have fulfilled the entry requirement in
addition to students from the schools own Year 11 who have fulfilled the entry requirement

11+ Admission (Year 7 in September 2016)

Boys are eligible to be considered for admission to Dr Challoners Grammar School in Year 7 if they meet the
required qualifying score of 121 in the admission tests or have been deemed qualified by a Selection Review
Panel. Two tests, each of approximately 45 minutes duration, are taken in the September of the year prior to
proposed admission. The tests are comprised of elements of verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability. Each
childs raw scores in the two tests are added together and the resulting score is converted into an age
standardised score thus setting all children on an equal footing regardless of when their birthday falls in the year.
Registration for the test is automatic for children who attend Buckinghamshire Primary schools unless the parent
expressly withdraws their child from testing. In all other cases, including where children attend independent
schools in Buckinghamshire, an application for testing should be made to the Testing Administrator by the date
published on the County Councils website www.buckscc.gov.uk. In addition, all applicants must notify their home
1
Local Authority of their preference for the school prior to the closing date of 31 October 2015.
Applicants who wish to be considered under Rules 2, 3 and 4 which involve residence in the schools catchment
area will be asked to complete a Supplementary Information Form in order to enable the school to determine the
eligibility of their address.
Parents of any child who does not achieve the qualifying score may apply for a Selection Review if they believe
that their child would have met the qualifying score but for particular circumstances regarding their participation in
the Secondary Transfer Test process. The Selection Review will be carried out by a panel consisting of serving or
recently retired secondary and primary Heads. The panel will consider each written application received and will
obtain advice from an Educational Psychologist where appropriate prior to making a decision. The Selection
Review process will take place before places are allocated and children who are deemed qualified by the panel
will be eligible for admission for any of the 13 Buckinghamshire grammar schools.
After places have been allocated, parents will be entitled to make representations to an Independent Appeal
Panel if their child has been refused admission because the school is full. An Independent Appeal Panel hearing
will not ordinarily carry out a full review of a pupils capacity to pass the selection test as that process should take
place at the Selection Review.

The Testing Administrator is currently Buckinghamshire County Council.

2.1

Over-subscription Criteria

Where eligible applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be
applied in the order set out below to decide which student to admit:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Boys who are looked after children or previously looked after children.
2
Boys living in the catchment area of the school and who qualify for Free School Meals.
3
Siblings of boys in Years 7 to 12 living in the catchment area of the school.
Boys living in the catchment area of the school in order of straight line distance from the school.
Siblings of boys in Years 7 to 12 living outside the catchment area of the school in order of straight line
distance from the school.3
6. Once the rules have been applied, then any further places will be offered in distance order using straight
line distance between the familys normal home address and the main entrance to the school on
Chesham Rd.
Where the number of eligible applicants under each numbered over-subscription criterion exceeds the number of
places available, places will be allocated in distance order using straight line distance between the familys normal
home address and the main entrance to the school on Chesham Rd. Where the distance criterion does not
produce a clear outcome (i.e. two children live precisely the same distance from the school), the place will be
determined by random allocation supervised by a person independent of the school.
Boys who have exceptional medical or social needs which can only be met at Dr Challoners Grammar School
supported by an independent professional person will be given priority within each of the above numbered oversubscription criteria. The process for assessing such applications is set out in the County Scheme.
Boys who qualify and who have statements of Special Educational Needs that name the school will be admitted
prior to the application of the admission rules.
2 places above the Admission Number will be available to boys who qualify for Free School Meals and whose
score in the admissions tests would not otherwise qualify them for admission. Such candidates must have
achieved a standardised test score of at least 100. Should there be more eligible applicants than places available
then the distance tie-breaker will apply ie places will be offered to those living closest to the school.
2.2

Waiting List
st

st

If any vacancies arise between National Offer Day (March 1 ) and December 31 of the same year, first priority
will be given to those on the waiting list managed by Buckinghamshire County Council through the County
st
st
Scheme. From January 1 until 31 August, a waiting list will be maintained by Dr Challoners Grammar School
for admissions into Year 7 during the academic year. If places become available during that period, or for the
beginning of the following academic year, admissions will be handled in accordance with the Late Transfer
Procedure outlined below.
If parents decline an offer of a place, they may subsequently re-join the waiting list. The childs name will be
added onto the end of the waiting list as extant at the time the request to re-join is made.

The catchment area of the school is defined in the County Scheme as illustrated on the County Councils website
www.buckscc.gov.uk
3

In order to qualify under this rule, the older sibling must be on the schools roll both at the time allocations are made and at
the time of the proposed admission.

3.

Late Transfer Procedure

st

Admission to Years 8, 9 and 10 (and to Year 7 from 1 January each academic year) will be handled in
accordance with the schools Late Transfer Procedure. Only in exceptional cases will any place be offered in Year
10 starting after September, or at any time in Year 11, because of the nature of the GCSE and IGCSE courses,
even when the year group is below 180 in number.
3.1

Testing Criteria

The academic eligibility of candidates seeking admission under the schools Late Transfer Procedure will be
assessed through curriculum based tests in English and Mathematics. Candidates will be required to achieve a
minimum standard in each of the tests in order to qualify for admission.
Candidates will only be tested if they can demonstrate that they achieved as follows in Key Stage 2 SATS: Level
5 in the Mathematics test result; Level 5 in the English reading test result; and Level 5 in the writing teacher
assessment. Boys who attended schools which did not participate in the national tests will be required to submit
alternative evidence to demonstrate that they have achieved an equivalent standard. This evidence will be
reviewed by a panel of Curriculum Area Team Leaders chaired by the Head.
3.2

September Admission

Boys seeking admission to Years 8, 9 and 10 at the start of the next academic year and who meet the Testing
Criteria will be invited to sit tests in the Annual Testing Round. This is organised by the school and will take place
in the March of the year in which admission is sought in September. The deadline for registration for the tests will
be the second Monday in January of the same year. Evidence of residence will be required.
3.3

Immediate Admission

Boys who have moved into the local area since the last Annual Testing Round may apply for immediate
admission to Years 7, 8 or 9 and will be tested as soon as possible provided that they meet the Testing Criteria
outlined above. Evidence of residence will be required.
3.4

Late Transfer Over-subscription Criteria

Where eligible applications for admission exceed the number of places available, the following criteria will be
applied in the order set out below to decide which student to admit:
1. Boys who are looked after children or previously looked after children.
2. Boys living in the catchment area of the school who meet the minimum qualifying standard in the each of
the tests offered in rank order of aggregate test score.
3. Boys living outside the catchment area of the school who meet the minimum qualifying standard in the
each of the tests offered in rank order of aggregate test score.
Boys who have exceptional medical or social needs which can only be met at Dr Challoners Grammar School
supported by an independent professional person will be given priority within each of the above numbered oversubscription criteria. The process for assessing such applications is set out in the County Scheme.
Boys who meet the minimum qualifying standard and who have statements of Special Educational Needs that
name the school will be admitted prior to the application of the over-subscription criteria.

3.5

Late Transfer Waiting List

Boys who have qualified and have not been allocated a place may have their name placed on the waiting list. The
waiting list will be ranked in accordance with the schools Late Transfer Over-subscription Criteria as detailed in
3.4 above. If an applicant qualifies but cannot be allocated a place because the school is full, qualification ends
12 months after the test. The applicant must then be tested again in the next Annual Testing Round.
Where a vacancy is created through a planned move by the parents to coincide with the start of a school term or
half term, the school will make an offer to the first child on the waiting list as soon as written notice of intention to
remove the child from the school has been received from the parents. This offer will be made for the child to be
placed on roll at the start of the following term or half term.
In all other circumstances where a place becomes vacant, such as permanent exclusion, a place will be offered to
the child in first position on the waiting list as soon as the child currently holding the place has been removed from
the schools roll. Such formal removal will only take place after all the appropriate procedures have been
completed.
Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13)
4.1

Sixth Form Entry Criteria

Applications from external students (both boys and girls) should be made in writing direct to the school. Minimum
entry requirements (which are the same for both internal and external applicants) are as follows:
Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of 356 points from the best eight GCSEs (or equivalent) including
at least Grade C in English and Maths. No more than three Science GCSEs, one Mathematics GCSE and one PE
GCSE may count in the best eight subjects.
In addition, candidates must meet the entry requirements for each course for which they have applied. These are
as follows: Further Mathematics A* in GCSE Mathematics; Group 1 subjects GCSE Grade A; Group 2
subjects GCSE Grade B. Lists of subject groups are published annually in the sixth form options booklet.
Note: GCSE point scores will be calculated as follows: A* = 58 points, A = 52 points, B = 46 points, C = 40 points,
D = 34 points, E = 28 points, F = 22 points, G = 16 points.
4.2

Sixth Form Over-subscription Criteria

Where the number of academically qualified external applications exceeds the number of places available, the
following criteria will be applied in the order set out below to decide which students to admit.
1.
2.
3.

Students who are looked after children or previously looked after children.
25 students living in the sixth form catchment area of the school offered in rank order of predicted GCSE
aggregate score for their best eight subjects provided their course preferences can be met.
Remaining places will be offered to students living outside the sixth form catchment area of the school
offered in rank order of predicted GCSE aggregate score for their best eight subjects provided their
course preferences can be met.

A student who has qualified for admission will in most cases be able to study the subjects for which he or she is
qualified, but this will be dependent on there being sufficient places in the teaching groups provided for each
subject. Places will be offered using the oversubscription criteria until planned capacity in a given subject or
course is reached and the school reserves the right to refuse access to subjects when planned classes are full.
Information about course availability in previous years will be published in the sixth form prospectus.

Where the predicted GCSE points criterion does not produce a clear outcome (i.e. two students are predicted to
achieve precisely the same score), the place will be determined by random allocation supervised by a person
independent of the school.
4.4

Sixth Form Catchment Area

The catchment area for sixth form admissions consists of the geographical areas of: Chiltern District Council;
South Bucks District Council; Wycombe District Council; and Chorleywood - defined as the area bordered by the
A404, the M25 and the Hertfordshire/Buckinghamshire border.
5.

Evidence of Normal Home Address

The process for verifying the normal home address of applicants will reflect the County Scheme except that:
a) In order to qualify for admission under rules referring to the schools catchment area, the applicant must
have been resident at their home address continuously since April 1st of the year preceding proposed
admission.
b) If a family still owns a property within 20 miles of the school which has been the main family home, a
property closer to the school will not be accepted as the basis for a legitimate residence qualification
even if the former property is leased to a third party.
c) The school may require a higher standard of evidence for residence qualification than that outlined in
the County Scheme if there are reasons for casting doubt on the accuracy or completeness of an
application.
Returning forces personnel and crown servants will be dealt with in line with the County Scheme.
6.

General
a) This Admissions Policy is subject to consultation whenever changes are proposed.
b) A map of the schools catchment area for Year 7 and Late Transfer admission is available on
Buckinghamshire County Councils website.
c) Parents wishing to know their entitlement to transport should contact the County Council.

7.

Explanation of terms used in the over-subscription criteria

Terms used follow the County Scheme. In addition, for admission purposes sibling means one of two (or more)
children who have one or more parent in common, or any other child (including an adopted child) who
permanently lives at the same address and for whom the parent also has parental responsibility. For Year 7
admission, the school follows the application process and time lines set out in the County Scheme. Previously
Looked After Children are children who were Looked After, but ceased to be so because they were adopted (or
became subject to a residence order or special guardianship order).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION FORM

This form will be used to help us confirm your residency qualification for admission to the school:
Our Admission Policy states:
a) In order to qualify for admission under rules referring to the schools catchment area, the applicant must
have been resident at their home address continuously since 1 April of the year preceding proposed
admission.
b) If a family still owns a property within 20 miles of the school which has been the main family home, a
property closer to the school will not be accepted as the basis for a legitimate residence qualification even if
the former property is leased to a third party.
c) The school may require a higher standard of evidence for residence qualification than that outlined in
the county scheme if there are reasons for casting doubt on the accuracy or completeness of an
application.
Full Name
of child:

Surname

First Name

Date of Birth
__/__/__

Current School Name

Date Started
__/__/__

Schools previously attended (most recent first)

Date Started
__/__/__

__/__/__
Name of
Parent(s)

Home
Address

Postcode_____________

Contact
details

Phone Numbers:
Home ________________________ Mobile/Work: __________________________
e-mail:_______________________________________________________________

Date family
moved to
the above
address

___/___/___

Previous addresses in the last 5 years:

I have attached a current utility bill as required:

Do you still own this

property?

If no, date of
disposal:

YES / NO
__/__/__
YES / NO
__/__/__
YES / NO
__/__/__
Declaration:
I/We confirm the information provided on this form is complete and accurate.
I/We have read the above information and confirm that the address used for this application
complies with the residency rules as set out in the schools Admissions Policy.
Parent
Signature
Print
Full Name

Please return this completed Supplementary Form to:

Admissions Office, Dr Challoners Grammar School, Chesham Road, Amersham HP6 5HA
For inclusion in the first round of allocations this form must be received by the end of the school
day on 31 October 2015.