Admissions FAQs

Admissions Q&A

General – visit our website for an on line prospectus and info about curriculum, extra

curricular provision, the priority we place on pastoral care and for our exam results.

Children currently in year 4 or 5 and looking for year 7 entry in the future

When are the open evenings?

The open evenings take place during September each year. These evenings are for parents and children. They involve a

presentation by students and the Head Master in the School Hall plus a tour of the school.

Will there be Open Mornings?

Yes. There will be two open mornings - in June and July 2012 and

again in the following October once the test results are known. Details will be on our

website as soon as the dates are confirmed.

When is the test?

Central Government have forced a change in date to come into line with large

cities across the country who need more time to process the results.  The test date will be advertised on the Pate's website when it has been set.

Will I get more or different information after the test if I sit the Test at Pate’s rather than elsewhere?

No. If you register for Pate’s on the Registration Form then it does not matter whether you sit the test at Pate’s or elsewhere. We will still send you all of the same information after the test and before application, whether you have sat the test at Pate’s or one of the other Grammar Schools.

Do I need to register for the test?

You will need to register with a school or the LA by 12.00 noon on 30th September using the Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Central Registration

Form. Register with the school where you would like your child to sit the test.

It does not make any difference where a child sits the test – it is the same test

on the same day etc and the scores are shared. You only need to register

once and then the test results will be shared with all of the Grammar schools

that you ‘tick’ on the registration form. The Registration Form will be available

from the County website, from the school website and will be available from

the school in September – including at Open Mornings/Evenings.

What format is the test? How long? How many questions?

On the test day there will be a short practice test of about 10 minutes that is

not marked but is to get children ‘warmed up’ and ease some of the nerves.

The children will know that the first part it is a practice test. There are then

two VR (Verbal Reasoning) tests - the first has 85 questions in 45 minutes and the second has 80 questions in 50 minutes. There is a short break between the tests when children can use the toilet, have a drink etc. Detailed information will be after you register.

Does my child need ‘coaching’?

Most parents do at least some practice with their children using some of the

VR materials available from bookshops or some of the VR style questions

that you can download from our website. As with any test, it seems likely that

at least some familiarisation will help a child to do their best. We have not

conducted a survey but are aware that many children do undertake months of

prep for the test – sometimes from private tutors and some times with the

help of primary school staff.

What percentage score do you need to pass?

There isn’t a percentage. There are 160 children who will score more than

240 as a standardised score and these children will be ‘qualified’ and

considered for a place. Places are then offered in rank order based upon the

scores and there are 120 places.

Can I come on a tour of the school with my child?

Last year we had over 3000 people attend our open evening and, unlike

private schools, we do not have a marketing team to deal with individual tours

on that scale! However, there are some open mornings (see above) when you

are very welcome to come and look round. Also, Mr Fenton, Head Master, is

always happy to talk to or meet parents who have any specific queries or

concerns.

Other Common Questions related to admission to years 7 – 11 only

Can other test data be taken into account?

No. So SATs, CATs, 11+ tests from other areas, music tests etc – I am afraid

than none of these can be considered for year 7 entry. These may be

considered alongside a test score for entry into years 8 or 9. There is not

usually any entry into years 10 or 11.

What about Siblings?

Sibling connections are not considered at all – it is purely down to the test.

Is there a catchment area?

No. Out of county applications are considered in exactly the same way but

please be aware that the dates we quote are based upon the Gloucestershire

process and there may be other dates and process in operation elsewhere.

Transport – can my child get a school bus?

The majority of students arrive at school by either public or private bus. The

Gloucestershire website has info about the public buses that run. Please see

the Admissions section of the Pate’s website for details of buses direct to

Pate’s. The vast majority of students come from the Cheltenham area but

there are some that travel from Gloucester, Cirencester, Swindon,

Tewkesbury, Stow-on-the-Wold, etc.

What happens if my child is ill on the ‘test’ day?

Please contact our Examinations Officer, Anne Dickinson as soon as possible

to let her know. She will then arrange for a ‘late test’ about a week later.

What happens if we live overseas at the time of the test and can’t be here on

that day?

It is possible to take the test overseas. Please contact our Examinations

Officer, Anne Dickinson who will advise you.

Why do you ‘pass’ 160 children if there are only 120 places?

This is to allow for movement on the list where people decline a place or

move out of the area etc.

How far down the ‘reserve list’ (121 – 160) do you go?

This varies each year depending on how many people in the top 120 decline

a place.

With the school becoming an Academy what will change?

Nothing, the change of status is not intended to change the school day,

curriculum, working conditions or anything else apart maybe from the name.

Children currently in Year 6 looking for Year 7 entry next academic year - 2012/13

What happens now, I have my offer?

Congratulations. There will be a visit day for students in the summer term

and an evening for parents. We will liaise with and probably visit your child’s primary school to find out more about your child.

We will write to you with more information but please do look on line at our

website under the Admissions Section at the info for New Students. Please

do contact us at school if you have any queries whatsoever, even small ones!

When and where are the Appeals?

The Appeal hearings will take place on either Wed 16th or Thurs 17th May 2012 at the Hester’s Way Resource Centre (exact date to be confirmed).  Please click here for further details and Appeal form.  The closing date for appeals is Mon 23rd April 2012.

How do I register my appeal?

Appeals cannot be registered until after 1st April. Please follow this link for an appeal form. All deadlines are shown on the form.  Please contact the Clerk to the Governors at the school if you do not have internet access.  Please be advised that, in order to be fair and remain impartial, we are unable to discuss details of individual cases.  If you require any information or clarification regarding the Appeals process itself please contact Mr Locke (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), but please note that school will be closed for Easter from 2nd - 16th April 2012.

What will the appeals be like?

In front of a formal panel of independent people, you will be able to present

your case and respond to questions from the school and the panel members.

The school will present its case as to why it opposes admitting people over

the 120 limit and again take questions. Any papers will need to be prepared

and submitted in advance. Very few appeals are successful.

Will my child get in from the waiting list?

There is often movement on the waiting list until the start of April but after that

there is very little change so it becomes very unlikely after the start of April. It

would require students who have confirmed their place to withdraw and this

happens but not often.

Can my child take a re-test as (s)he under performed?

No. The Admissions Policy for all of the Gloucestershire schools allows for

only 1 sitting and no re-tests.

Children looking for entry into the 6th Form

Please contact Mrs West on 01242-538219

Children looking for entry into years other than year 7 or 12

No in year admissions take place after Christmas of Year 9 because Pate’s students

begin their GCSE studies in September of year 9. There used to be some admission

in year 10 but this stopped as our curriculum model changed at the start of September 2010.

If a child took the test previously then and did not secure a qualifying score then

there is not usually a provision for a re-test unless there are no children on the

waiting list.

If a child has not taken the test before then please contact the Head Master directly

( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) to discuss a late test.

The late test is a Verbal Reasoning test but, of course, is not merely the same

one as used for year 6 students at the normal point of entry. As above, it is

recommended that parents help children become familiar with VR testing

before sitting the Late Test.