Grammar Stream Admissions
Admission to the Grammar Stream
Please click the links on this page to access the following information:
- Grammar Stream Policy
- Sample information booklet about the Kent Test. This will give parents and carers an idea of the type of questions that their child will encounter in the St John Fisher Grammar Stream test.
The Grammar Stream at st john fisher
A Grammar Stream is an educational arrangement whereby a group of students are educated in a mainstream school, but follow a Grammar School-style curriculum that is taught by subject specialist teachers. All pupils in the Grammar Stream have been identified as having the ability to understand the level at which work is taught, meaning that the teacher has less differentiation to address in their teaching and the group will make good progress together.
A Grammar Stream has the advantages of allowing more able students to receive teaching aimed at the top end of the ability stream while also enjoying the social mixing that comes of being educated in a comprehensive faith school setting. Unlike local grammar schools, our Grammar Stream is mixed gender. While academic results are very important in the Grammar Stream, our Catholic ethos also means that we take great pains to develop our students into good people who want to use their skills and knowledge to give back to society.
what does The Grammar Stream look like?
We wish to provide a challenging and bespoke academic and cultural education to children who are capable of attending Grammar school, but would prefer to be educated in a Catholic, comprehensive and inclusive setting.
A robust, highly academic curriculum delivered through an outstanding comprehensive educational context is the aim of the programme. Students from all backgrounds are welcome to apply and be a part of the Grammar Stream at SJF. The unique difference between this and the local grammar school offer is movement into and out of the Grammar Stream is fluid. Students can move in or out depending on progress and performance, making the grammar stream a ‘reality for all’ and encouraging real social mobility.
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Admission to the Grammar Stream in Year 7
Entrance to the Grammar Stream in Year 7 is determined by test outcome. Our entrance examination is written by SJF teachers but is similar in structure to the Kent Test. It comprises of three papers:
- Reasoning (1 hour)
- English and Mathematics (1 hour)
- Extended writing (1 hour)
The pass mark will vary year-on-year, with the top 30 students taking the test being offered a starting place in the grammar stream automatically.
We can only accept applications for our Grammar Stream once you have successfully applied for your child’s place at St. John Fisher. Once your child has been allocated their place, you can then register your interest.
Most people choose to register their interest by completing the paperwork sent to you when your child’s place is confirmed. If you have not done this but have decided that you would like to proceed, please email Mrs. Shaw in the Admin Office (c.shaw@stjohnfisher.school) to register your child to sit the Entrance Exam.
Your child will sit the Grammar Stream entrance exam during the summer holidays prior to starting at St. John Fisher. Parents and carers will receive notification of the exam results with 2 weeks of the test so that students who are successful in the entrance exam will begin their lessons in the Grammar Stream form from the start of their time with us.
Admission to the Grammar Stream after the first term of Year 7
Changes to student places in the Grammar Stream will be decided following each of the two data windows each academic year. Changes will be based on assessment data inputted by subject teachers. A single average of the assessment data created by all subject teachers for each SJF student will be created; these average assessment scores will be placed into rank order.
A student (not currently in the Grammar Stream) will be offered a place in the grammar stream if their ranking is 30 or higher in these assessments, and if there are less than 32 students in the Grammar Stream.
