by Keyan Milanian

More than 2,000 children will be taking their 11-plus exam on Saturday.

The exam, which is now called the Medway Test, will take place at 11 schools across the Towns with 2,170 pupils sitting it as part of the selection process for secondary school.

Information packs were sent to parents at the end of last week informing them of their child’s test venue. They will receive the results by post on October 30.

The tests comprise an English writing task, a multiple choice maths paper and a verbal reasoning multiple choice paper.

The children’s scores are adjusted to make it fair for the youngest pupils.
Parents of children who do not achieve the cut-off score for a place at grammar school can ask for the assessment decision to be reviewed.

For each review case, samples of the child’s work in English, maths problem solving and science investigation will be requested from the primary school.

A Medway Council spokesman said: “We have a diverse school system and we are keen that parents should express a preference for the kind of school which provides the education which best fits the needs, interests and aspirations of their child.

"The deadline for parents to submit their preferences is November 18.
“Medway Council deals with more than 3,700 applications for places in Year 7 of secondary school each year, and more than 90 per cent of parents receive a place for their child at their first preference school.”

There are 946 grammar school places available for September 2010 compared to 976 offered in September 2009.

For more information on secondary school admissions log on to www.medway.gov.uk/mkms?sid=14