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Secondary education

Bugger - clash of 11+ exams

10 replies

willow · 30/09/2010 21:28

Two of the schools we are considering for DS have exam on same day. Anyone else had to deal with this - what usually happens? (Oh, and before anyone starts in on the private vs state debate, believe me, if we had a free option we'd be going for it.)

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Caoimhe · 30/09/2010 21:32

Are they both private? Speak to the schools - they will probably be aware of the clash. It is usually possible to sit one on an alternative date.

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RatherBeOnThePiste · 01/10/2010 05:17

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Needmoresleep · 01/10/2010 08:24

It happens a lot. See it as a positive. Send a nice email to both. In our case we lived equidistant from comparable schools which were quite far apart. Both were very oversubscribed and would have expected us to apply to more than one school. I used the opportunity to explain to our preferred school why, even though we lived some way away, transport links were much better than the more obvious choice. They came back saying that they tried to ensure that they did not clash with neighbouring schools, but there were always some problems and then offered us the reserve date. (Which they hold both in case of clashes and when children are sick.)

I suspect the state sector would not be able to offer the same flexibility, though you could try.

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Acanthus · 01/10/2010 09:32

State sector offers the same options round here

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willow · 01/10/2010 16:20

Apparently we will have to make a choice - there can be no option of a second-sitting, as it where.

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MrsTweedy · 01/10/2010 16:36

Which schools? Have I missed something? We're looking at the same ones mostly so now I'm worried!

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frakkinnakkered · 01/10/2010 16:39

There must be a reserve date somewhere. What if your DC was ill that day?

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LetsEscape · 01/10/2010 17:41

We had this problem. If you are in a prep school speak to your headteacher and they will speak to the school for you, special arrangements are made in this situation. Some schools do this on purpose as they don't want to be used as a back up/second choice.

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MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 01/10/2010 18:23

We had this situation and like you, tried to negotiate with the schools, and neither would budge. So... you probably just have to pick the one you prefer and do that one...

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willow · 01/10/2010 20:18

There is nothing that can be done, apparently. We've just got to make the choice. Think may well end up doing so at last minute - it is the last exam(s) and they are quite different schools. If DS feels he's done ok we can put him in for the more academic of the two. If he's had a mare we'll put him in for the one that has more places and is considered a safer bet. Christ, I am sick of this lark already and it's only 1st of October.