PARMITER'S SCHOOL

Admissions Arrangements for Year Seven Entry in September 2010

Families are asked to complete the Supplementary Information Form (SIF) entitled "Application for Admission to Parmiter's School", available from the School on the Open Evening or via the link below. This blue card should be returned direct to Parmiter's School by 23 October 2009 marking the envelope "ADMISSIONS". The completed form can be returned by email to admissions@parmiters.herts.sch.uk or by post to: Parmiter's School, High Elms Lane, Garston, Nr Watford, WD25 0UU. Parmiter's DfES number is 919/5404.

Application Form (72 kb)

All applicants must also complete Hertfordshire County Council's COMMON APPLICATION FORM (CAF) (formerly known as an STF form) indicating the three preferred schools, including Parmiter's in rank order of preference. The CAF can be returned online to Hertfordshire County Council at www.hertsdirect.org/admissions or by post to: HCC, Admissions & Transport Team, Apsley One, Brindley Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9BF by 23 October 2009.

Students will be admitted at age 11 into Year 7. The number of intended admissions for each year, commencing in September, will be 186. Applications will be welcomed from the Ancient Parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green.

Governors will fulfil the legal obligation to allocate a place to an applicant who has a statement of special educational needs which names this school.

Where the number of applications for admission exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated by the Governing Body in accordance with the following criteria, in the order set out below:

1. "Looked After Children". Students who are in Public Care and have a Public Care Order which names this School.

2. 10% of places to be allocated on the basis of proximity to the school, as designated by the Hertfordshire Local Authority's measurement system. (Places will not be offered, under this criterion, to applicants who qualify under other criteria.)

3. Students with an elder brother or sister attending the school at the time of application, unless the sibling is in the last year of Parmiter's age-range, ie. Year 13. (The twin or other full brother or sister, born in the same academic year as an applicant offered a place, will qualify under this criterion. A sibling means the brother, sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister or a child of the parent or partner, in every case living in the same house from Monday to Friday).

4. Students for whom it can be demonstrated that there is a compelling medical reason for attending the school (supported by independent medical evidence).

5. 25% of places shall be available in merit order by reference to academic ability. Candidates will be required to take a verbal reasoning test and a mathematics test, which will be used to assess their academic ability. No minimum score will be required to gain admission, places being offered strictly in descending order of each applicant's standardised test score.

Preparation for the tests is unnecessary. (The tests will be administered jointly by Parmiter's School, Watford Boys' Grammar School, Watford Girls' Grammar School, Rickmansworth School, Queens' School, Bushey Meads School and St Clement Danes School and they will be taken by all children applying to any one or more of the seven schools under the relevant admission criterion.) Information about the tests and the arrangements, including examples of the questions, will be sent to applicants prior to the date of the Entrance Tests.

6. Up to 10% of places to be allocated on the basis of proven aptitude in Music to be determined by prescribed tests. All applicants for places under criterion 6 must sit a written test of musical aptitude. The test is of approximately 40 minutes' duration and does not require any previous knowledge of music or music theory. There will be 60 questions in total in four sections: pitch, rhythm, texture and melody. Further details are to be found at the end of these notes.

There will be one test session in November 2009. Applicants will be notified in advance of the test venue. Those unable to attend on this date due to compelling religious, medical or other reasons will be offered one alternative date.

Applicants who achieve the qualifying mark in the test will be invited to an audition to perform a single piece on their chosen instrument or vocally. This will be a free choice of piece, which should last no longer than three minutes. As there is a free choice of instrument and piece, candidates of all abilities and all cultures will have equal opportunity to succeed.

Those applicants invited to audition will be given an individual appointment during the school day towards the end of November.

With reference to Criteria 5 and 6: In order to distinguish between applicants who attain the same, lowest ranking score, which would qualify them for admission, the proximity of the home address to the School will be the deciding factor. The home to school distance will be measured using the shortest designated route. The definition of the shortest designated route is that which is defined by the Hertfordshire Local Authority's measurement system.

7. Remaining places will be allocated on the basis of proximity to the school.

Parents who are applying under Criteria 2,4,5,6, or 7 will need to provide proof that the home address quoted is the permanent residency of the applicant; this proof should include a photocopy of (custodial) parent's driver's licence or child benefit letter and utility bill.

Parents/Guardians who will be allocated a place for their child under Criterion 1 (Looked After Children) or Criterion 3 (Sibling) should make an appointment to meet the Head of Year. This will be very helpful for the induction of their child to the School. Please contact the School Office to arrange an appointment.

Special Consideration for the Admissions Tests: If you consider that your child may be disadvantaged under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act, or has special educational needs you must provide the School with independent evidence, together with the completed Application Form (SIF) so that appropriate provision can be made.

This written evidence must be given to the Admissions Secretary by the closing date for applications. You will be informed in advance of the test date of any appropriate special arrangements that will be made for your child.

Further Information about the Test of Musical Aptitude: The test consists of 60 questions of four types: Pitch, Melody, Texture and Rhythm.

Pitch: for these questions, candidates listen to two sounds and have to indicate whether the second sound is the same as the first, or whether it is higher or lower. There are twenty of these questions and some of the pitches are less than a semitone apart.

Melody: for these questions, candidates listen to two tunes consisting of five notes. Candidates have to decide whether the second tune is the same as the first or if one of the notes has been altered. If there is a change, candidates will be expected to identify which note has been altered, by giving the number of the note. There are ten questions in this section.

Texture: for these questions, candidates listen to a number of notes played together at the same time; this is called a chord. Candidates need to decide whether or not each chord has two, three or four notes. There are twenty questions in this section.

Rhythm: for these questions, candidates listen to two patterns of notes and have to decide whether the second pattern is the same as, or different from, the first, and where any difference occurs. Each rhythm will be four beats (or pulses) in length. There are ten questions in this section.

For applicants who satisfy Criteria 4, 5 and 6:

95% of the places available will be allocated to applicants from the following post code areas:
WD3 to WD25 inclusive
AL1, AL2, AL3
HP1, HP2, HP3 and HA6

A continuing interest list will be maintained until the applicant reaches the end of the Autumn Term in Year 10.

PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL AGAINST NON-ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL.

It may be helpful for parents to know the number of places that were allocated under the separate criteria for September 2009, although the numbers will vary from year to year:-

Children with a Statement of Special Education Needs: 5

The Admissions Secretary, Parmiter's School, Garston WD25 OUU Tel: 01923 665756
Admissions Answerphone Service: 01923 665764

Top of page