MOVING UP TO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2020

1. MOVING UP TO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2020

2. Safeguarding our Children

3. Terminology of concerns • Child’s welfare • Sexual Exploitation (Adam Johnson) • Radicalisation (Jo Cox) • Physical Abuse • Sexual Abuse • Neglect • Emotional Abuse • E-Safety • Bullying/Cyber bullying • Grooming • Sexting • FGM

4. Grooming • Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse or exploitation • Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know - for example a family member, friend or professional. • Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age. • Many children and young people don't understand that they have been groomed, or that what has happened is abuse.

5. How grooming happens • Grooming happens both online and in person. • Groomers will hide their true intentions and may spend a long time gaining a child's trust. They may also try to gain the trust of the whole family so they can be alone with the child. • Groomers do this by: • pretending to be someone they are not, for example saying they are the same age online • offering advice or understanding • buying gifts • giving the child attention • using their professional position or reputation • taking them on trips, outings or holidays.

6. How grooming happens • Once they have established trust, groomers will exploit the relationship by isolating the child from friends or family and making the child feel dependent on them. They will use any means of power or control to make a child believe they have no choice but to do what they want. • Groomers may introduce 'secrets' as a way to control or frighten the child. Sometimes they will blackmail the child, or make them feel ashamed or guilty, to stop them telling anyone about the abuse.

7. Online grooming • Groomers can use social media sites, instant messaging apps including teen dating apps, or online gaming platforms to connect with a young person or child. • They can spend time learning about a young person’s interests from their online profiles and then use this knowledge to help them build up a relationship. • It’s easy for groomers to hide their identity online - they may pretend to be a child and then chat and become ‘friends’ with children they are targeting.

8. Online grooming • Groomers may look for: • usernames or comments that are flirtatious or have a sexual meaning • public comments that suggest a child has low self-esteem or is vulnerable. • Groomers don’t always target a particular child. Sometimes they will send messages to hundreds of young people and wait to see who responds. • Groomers no longer need to meet children in real life to abuse them. Increasingly, groomers are sexually exploiting their victims by persuading them to take part in online sexual activity.

9. E-Safety • E-Safety is about education of the dangers of children using the world wide web. • School has the County net-safe which helps to protect children at school. example • You-Tube is not to be used in school unless this has been uploaded and is full screen mode– advertising and possible content around smaller screens may not be appropriate.

10. E-Safety • E-Safety is about helping children to use the Internet safely, - search engines • Being aware of the dangers of social networking (Facebook/Snapchat), gaming, blogging (You Tube), etc. • Understand the importance of not sending/uploading images • Only communicating with people you know • Checking privacy settings.

11. E-Safety – Keeping children safe • Monitor the use of mobile phones/devices, internet access • YouTube blogging, Snapchat, Facebook and many other forms of social communication are for children aged 13 and over. • Do not upload photos that can identify a person’s name/location (club/school uniform, maps). • Discuss the reasons for the precaution with the children. • CEOP - consequences

12. The Application and Offer Processes Timelines, Preferences and Offers

13. Key Message! Apply on time: by 3pm on 31 October – the deadline

14. How to apply online • If you live in Buckinghamshire, visit www.buckscc.gov.ukbetween 10 September and 31 October 2019 • If you live elsewhere apply via your own LA’s website. • All you need is an email address

15. Applying online is easy • You can apply on your phone or PC • Make a note of which email account you used and your password! • You will be reminded if an application has not been submitted • You can accept the place online • You will see the outcome of all school preferences

16. Making an application When you apply online you can: • List up to 6 schools • Include grammar, upper, all-ability and out of county schools • Put the schools in the order you prefer them Consider: • The order of your preferences carefully • Including a local (catchment) school that you have a good chance of being offered

17. Think about… • Does your child need to sit or pass a test to be considered for a place at the school? • Do you know where your child fits on the school’s admission rules? • Do you need to complete a supplementary form? • Do you live in-catchment? (Check this on the website)

18. How will your child get to school? Transport given to the nearest secondary school if: • Over three miles away, or • Under three miles but the route is an ‘unsafe walking route’ • Check on www.buckscc.gov.uk/findaschoolplaceto find your nearest school for transport purposes • All secondary schools are treated equally (grammar/upper/comprehensive/free) • Paid-for bus tickets can be purchased

19. The offer process – Step 1 • Local authorities share offer information • Each school preference is treated separately • Schools are not told where they are placed on the preference list by the parent • All admission authorities apply their admission rules to the children with a preference for their school and sort the children into ‘ranked order’ • The schools tell the ranked order to their council

20. The offer process – Step 2 • Where a child can be offered more than one school place - the higher ranked preference school is offered • The lower preference school is declined • The vacant place created is offered to another child • Children who cannot be offered any of their preferences are then offered a place at the nearest school with vacant places remaining

21. Offer Day – 2 March 2020 Online applicants • Offer emails sent 2 March • Can log on and accept the school place online Postal applicants • Offer letters posted 2 March All applicants • Automatically added to waiting list for higher preferences that could not be offered • Can register an appeal • You have 14 days to accept the offer.

22. After Offer Day • You can appeal for any school you have been refused • This includes where your preference is a grammar school and your child has not qualified • We will automatically add your child to the waiting list for any school on your application above the school we have offered

23. About Appeals • Appeals are heard by a panel of three people • Panel are independent and unpaid volunteers who have no connection with the school or the LA • You can put your case in person but it can also be held in your absence if you prefer

24. Application summary • Apply by 3pmon 31 October 2019 • Apply online at www.buckscc.gov.uk or on your home LA’s website • List schools in true preference order • Consider including your catchment/local/nearest school • Be realistic, understand the rules • Consider transport arrangements • Visit the schools • Don’t rely on the opinions of others

25. The Secondary TransferTest

26. Testing Timeline

27. The Secondary Transfer Test • The Secondary Transfer Test is a test to determine whether or not a child is suited to a grammar school. • The test is produced by GL Assessment • Buckinghamshire County Council undertakes the administration on behalf of the 13 grammar schools

28. Do all children have to sit the Secondary Transfer Test? • No, only if parents want their child to sit the test • A grammar school will not suit every child so think carefully about whether sitting the test is going to be a positive experience for your child

29. What does the Secondary Transfer Test measure?

30. Familiarisation booklet • Explains what the questions, test papers and answer sheets will look like and how the answer sheets should be completed • Includes example questions with answers It will not be looked at in school GL Assessment provide free familiarisation on their website: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-familiarisation

31. On the test days • Two papers with a 15 min break between • Each paper approximately an hour including instructions (practice shorter) • CD/MP3 gives worked examples and test instructions • Paper A – Verbal Skills – taken first • Paper B – Mathematical and Non-Verbal Skills – taken second • Practice test is not marked

32. Illness during the test period • If a child is ill on either practice or transfer test day they can sit the test later • Children should not sit the test when unwell (even if they want to!) • Always do the practice test first • Schools will advise parents of the new date

33. What do I do if I think something has affected my child’s performance in the Transfer Test? • On the test day let your headteacher know and also collect evidence, for example a doctor’s letter • Once you have the test results, talk to your child’s headteacher

34. Special Arrangements • Adjusted testing for children with disabilities can be requested • Apply via headteacher • Discuss NOW! • Application must be completed as soon as possible • Decision made by a panel of experts in SEND, primary teaching and an educational psychologist

35. Coaching • Primary schools that undertake testing on behalf of the grammar schools are asked not to tutor or coach the children in their school prior to the test over and above enabling the children to follow the national curriculum relevant for their age. • The Secondary Transfer Test is designed to enable all children to demonstrate their academic potential without the need for excessive preparation.

36. Marking and Standardisation • Tests are machine marked (scanned) • One mark is given for each correct answer • Each pupil will have three raw scores • verbal skills • mathematical skills • non-verbal skills • Each score is age standardised and weighted to produce score (STTS)

37. Weighting Each score is weighted as follows: • Verbal – 50% of the STTS (Secondary Transfer Test Score) • Mathematical – 25% of the STTS • Non-verbal – 25% of the STTS • Qualifying score is 121 • Scores range between 60 and 170 approx

38. Results and qualification 18 October • Results sent by letter addressed to parent/carer • Handed out at end of school day • Contents confidential to parent and child • Approximately 34% of children scored 121 or more in 2019 intake

39. What can I do if my child does not qualify? You can either • Ask for a Selection Review OR • Just appeal The procedure is explained in the results letter in October The Selection Review Panel can decide a child is qualified and once agreed this qualification is for any grammar school

40. Selection Review Panel • Panel sits November-January • 3 headteachers - two grammar one primary • Decision included in 2 March allocation • Decision applies to all grammar schools • At the end of the process and following Selection Reviews, approximately 38% qualify for grammar school • Can still appeal and IAP will consider whether review process was ‘fair, consistent and objective’

41. Non-qualified Appeal • Possible to go straight to appeal • Appeal heard after 2 March • Most schools will already be full by then • You would have to prove academic potential AND give reasons why you believe a place should be offered above number

42. More information • ‘Moving up to Secondary School’ leaflet • Schools’ websites • TBGS website https://www.thebucksgrammarschools.org/ • School open events dates: See School Directory in ‘Find My Child a School Place’ https://services.buckscc.gov.uk/school-admissions/schools • By end of August - more information on the council’s website www.buckscc.gov.uk/movinguptosecondaryschool

43. How to contact us Web: www.buckscc.gov.uk/movinguptosecondaryschool Email: Fill in the ‘Contact Us’ form: www.buckscc.gov.uk/contactadmissions