1. Year 5 Kent Test and Hilltop Information Session Tuesday 19 th May 7.00pm

2. How do I register my child for the Kent Test? Online at www.kent.gov.uk/olawww.kent.gov.uk/ola You can register on paper by contacting the KCC Secondary Admissions Team on 03000 41 21 21

3. You must register your child between Monday 1 st June and Wednesday 1 st July 2015.

4. Key Dates Registration opens1 st June 2015 Closing date to register for tests Wednesday 1 st July 2015 Children sit the Kent TestThursday 10 th September 2015 Kent Test results emailed / posted to parents Wednesday 14 th October 2015 (letters to arrive Thursday 15 th October) National SCAF closing dateFriday 31 st October 2015 National Offer DayTuesday 1 st March 2016 (letters to arrive Wednesday 2 nd March) Waiting List Requests17 th March 2016 Acceptances / Refusals17 th March 2016 Appeals13 th April 2016

5. Kent Test The test format changed in 2014 to introduce an English test. The test has: Reasoning Test 60mins (multiple choice) one Verbal reasoning section and five Non-Verbal, separately timed. Last year included a spatial reasoning section which was new. English Test 30mins and Maths Test 30mins (multiple choice) Written exercise. The multiple choice test papers are marked by an automated marking machine. The written test will not be marked, but may be used by a local headteacher panel to review borderline cases. The test is on one day and there is no Practice Paper. There are practice questions at the beginning of each paper.

6. Kent Test In 2014 the pass mark was: An aggregated score of 320 or more, with no single score lower than 106. Scores in this year’s standardisation ran from 69 to 141 in the Maths and Reasoning tests, and from 69 to 138 in the English. 420 is therefore the maximum score any pupil can achieve. NFER Scores are based on 120 – 141 being the expected standard.

7. Test Preparation There is much useful information on the following websites: www.kent.gov.uk/education-and- children/schools/school-places/kent-test www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/14513/K ent-Test-familiarisation-booklet.pdf There are paper copies of the Familiarisation Booklet to collect tonight if you wish to.

8. Test Preparation We will complete a verbal and non-verbal reasoning paper in June. This will be for all children. It will be in the hall under exam conditions to replicate the day of the test. We will also complete a ‘test’ paper on 7 th, 8 th or 9 th September in the hall to again replicate exam conditions. We return to school, after the summer holidays, on Friday 4 th September. We will also complete NFER tests in English and Maths the week beginning 1st June. Both these tests are under formal exam conditions and help the children get used to being timed. The standardised scores and discussion with your child’s teacher, will help inform your decision on whether to enter the test. We have an equal balance of English and Maths teaching which should prepare the children well for each test. We are aware of any gaps in the Year 5 summer term maths National Curriculum and these have been integrated into our curriculum.

9. Parental Support Parents’ Evening 22 nd and 23 rd June 2015 Opportunity to discuss your child’s current attainment in relation to entering the Kent Test. Mr Reid or other members of staff always happy to meet and discuss your child at anytime. It is a parental decision to enter for Kent Test not the school’s. We hope to be able to support you so that you can make an informed choice. To decide on possible secondary schools, you must visit them with your child. We encourage these visits!

10. If your child took the test and was successfully grammar school assessed, a grammar school will consider your application. However, this does not guarantee your child will be offered a place. If more children qualify for places than the number of places available, the school will use its admissions criteria to decide which children to offer places to. If you are not offered a place at a preferred grammar school you can appeal to explain why you think that school is a suitable option for your child. You can only go on the waiting list for schools that you applied to. If your child was not successfully grammar school assessed, the grammar school will turn down your application, and you'll be offered a different school. You have the right to appeal to explain why you think grammar school is a suitable option for your child. You can not go on the waiting list for a grammar school if you child didn’t pass the test.

11. SchoolAmherst Pupils Attending Sept 2015 Bennett Memorial4 Hillview3 The Judd School6 Knole Academy10 Hayesbrook1 St Gregory’s4 St Olave’s1 The Skinners’ School10 Tonbridge Girls Grammar15 T Wells Boys Grammar6 T Wells Girls Grammar3 Weald of Kent Girls Grammar8 The Trinity School14 Independent Schools5 Wrotham1

12. Hilltop 2015 Now for something lighter! Monday 13 th June – Friday 17 th June 2016

13. Hilltop Film

14. Cost will be approx. £400. This can be paid in three instalments: Oct, Jan and April. If you have any concerns over payment please speak to Mr Reid.