A guide for parents and carers on admissions to Secondary School

Entrance TestsThe entrance tests will be taken at ReadingSchool.There will be three tests each of lengthapproximately one hour.They will coveri) Mathematicsii) English <strong>and</strong>iii) ScienceThe tests will be based on the NationalCurriculum <strong>and</strong> will be such that noadditional preparation is necessary. No pastpapers are available <strong>and</strong> no furtherin<strong>for</strong>mation with respect to the tests will begiven. No allowance will be made <strong>for</strong> apupil’s age.Special Educational NeedsThe <strong>parents</strong> of any child with specialeducational needs or a disability, who areapplying <strong>for</strong> a place at the School, shouldwrite to the Special Educational NeedsCoordinator so that the School can makeappropriate provision <strong>for</strong> the entry tests.Fraudulent ApplicationsAny in<strong>for</strong>mation that is subsequently provento be inaccurate will potentially invalidatethat application.Oversubscription CriteriaGrammar Schools are permitted to selecttheir entire intake on the basis of highacademic ability. To be considered <strong>for</strong>admission to the school all applicants musttake the entrance tests set by the school theresults of which will be used to allocateplaces.A cut-off point will be determined, belowwhich students will be deemed not tobenefit from the style of education providedat Reading School <strong>and</strong> these students willnot be offered a place <strong>and</strong> will not there<strong>for</strong>ebe ranked according to the over-subscriptioncriteria below.All applicants above the cut-off point whoare applying <strong>for</strong> a boarding place or who livewithin the designated area <strong>and</strong> are applying<strong>for</strong> a day place will be ranked strictly bytheir per<strong>for</strong>mance in the test, howeverpriority will be given to applicants in thefollowing categories:i) The applicant has a statement of specialneeds <strong>and</strong> has named Reading Schoolspecifically on the statement.ii)iii)iv)The applicant is a child in care orpreviously in care.Children of members of the UK ArmedForces.The applicant has a boarding need.A waiting list ranked as above will be used tooffer further places if any original offers aredeclined either by the LA, or by the<strong>parents</strong>/<strong>carers</strong> themselves.The tie-break situationThe following criteria, in the order set outbelow, will be used to allocate places asbetween borderline c<strong>and</strong>idates who cannotbe distinguished in terms of academic ability<strong>and</strong> aptitude.1. Eligible boys with a brother alreadyattending the School, at the time ofapplication.2. With regard to the historic links withthe Borough of Reading, eligible boysliving nearer to the School will beaccorded a higher priority in theallocation of day-boy places. Distance ismeasured on the straight line betweenOrdnance Survey data points <strong>for</strong> thehome address <strong>and</strong> the school usingReading Borough Council digitalmapping software.OffersReading School will in<strong>for</strong>m all parent/<strong>carers</strong>in writing how their sons have per<strong>for</strong>med inthe tests.49If you have any queries please contact the Admissions Team on 0118 937 2550 or email: admissions.team@reading.gov.ukApply online at www.reading.gov.uk/schooladmissions