The schools "admission number", which sets the planned admission limit, is 150 boys. Only boys who attain the required standard in the arrangements for selection by reference to ability and aptitude will be eligible to be considered for admission to the school. Admission to the school is determined by the Governors. The school's assessment arrangements are set out below and will be conducted by Wirral Local Education Authority (see useful links).
The assessment is based upon the results of two verbal reasoning tests. The tests are taken during the Autumn term of the final year of primary education. In order to ensure that children are not disadvantaged because of their date of birth, in each case the score is adjusted by the use of conversion tables to take account of each child's exact age in years and months. The two test scores are then added together.
Pupils who achieve the required score or higher will be deemed to have achieved the grammar school standard, unless their primary school head teacher refers them to the Independent Assessment Board.
As soon as the test results are known, primary school head teachers are informed in confidence of the scores of their pupils and the required score for the grammar school standard. They will be invited to comment on behalf of any boy whose test results do not reflect his ability, it is expected that these cases wll be quite rare. The matter will then be referred to an Independent Assessment Board.
The Independent Assessment Board comprises four headteachers (two from primary schools and two from grammar schools) and is chaired by an Inspector from the Education Authority. None of the members will have any personal interest in any of the pupils whom they are asked to assess. The board will decide in each individual case whether or not the boy has reached the grammar school standard. (CONTINUED)
