1. Kent Secondary School Transition Secondary Transfer 2017 and The Kent Test

2. Secondary Common Application Form (SCAF) Available September 2016. Completed by Monday 31 st October 2016. Offers of places will be given on 1 st March 2017. Date by which places should be accepted or declined: 16 th March 2017. So why do we need to consider this now?

3. The Kent Test Your child does not need to take the tests unless you (and they) are interested in a grammar school place. Unlike in the past, your child may now sit the tests and receive their results prior to applying for secondary school places. As a school we are here to support you through this process, but we cannot coach children for the test. Registration for the Kent Test opens on Wednesday 1 st June 2016. Children must be registered by 1st July 2016. Paper form or on-line at www.kent.gov.uk/ola All tests take place on 8 th September 2016 - English, Maths and Reasoning.

4. The Test The tests are multiple-choice with a separate answer sheet. They are marked by an automated marking machine. The first test will be an English and Maths paper and will take 1 hour. Each section will involve a 5 minute practice exercise followed by a 25 minute test. The English section will involve a comprehension exercise as well as some additional questions drawn from a set designed to test literacy skills.

5. The Test The second test will be a reasoning paper. It will take about 1 hour, including the practice sections and questions. It will contain a verbal reasoning section and a non- verbal reasoning section of roughly the same length. The non-verbal reasoning will be split into short sections, administered and timed individually. There will also be a writing exercise which will not be marked but may be used by a local headteacher panel as part of the headteacher assessment stage of the process. 40 minutes will be allowed for the writing task, including 10 minutes planning time.

6. The Test KCC produce a familiarisation booklet. Copies are available to take away, or can be downloaded from KCC’s website. This gives examples of the type of questions asked in the Kent Test, and explains the correct answers to some sample questions.

7. School Support Give you assessment results for CAT Tests, alongside teacher assessment information. Advise you of factors to consider when choosing a school for your child – where will they be happier? Where are they more likely to feel confident and succeed? Help you to understand the process. I’ve been there with my children in years 11, 8 and 6.

8. What can you do? Visit secondary schools as early as possible with your child so that they can start to consider their options. Secondary schools will advertise details about admissions on their websites as well as details of open afternoons/evenings. It is worth familiarising yourself with the websites of schools you think may be on your short-list. Get a “feel” for the environment and ethos of each school and involve your child in the decision-making process. Consider travel arrangements. Be realistic – some children are better suited to a grammar school, some are better suited to a non-selective school. Provide your child with support and guidance now, if they are sitting the Kent Test in September – they will perform better if they are prepared. Try to avoid your child feeling the pressure. They will have enough to worry about with the move to a new school. Remember that we are here to help.

9. What can you do? Visit the website by searching online for ‘Kent Test 2016’ Or visit: http://www.kent.gov.uk/education- and-children/schools/school-places/kent-testhttp://www.kent.gov.uk/education- and-children/schools/school-places/kent-test

10. Appeals Kent will still allow for a ‘Headteacher Appeal’ if a child is not successful in the Kent Test but was expected to be. We will only appeal for a child if we believe this to be the case and if we have sufficiently strong evidence to support such an appeal. If a child is awarded a school that they are not happy with, parents are able to appeal for a place at their preferred school. All information to help with this will be sent out with the offer letter on 1 st March.