Highcrest Academy hits 'mixed ability' intake target

3:43pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News

Highcrest Academy Headteacher Shena Moynihan Highcrest Academy Headteacher Shena Moynihan

HIGHCREST Academy will have a comprehensive intake of mixed ability pupils in September, its delighted headteacher says.

Shena Moynihan thought it would take Highcrest “two to three years to get to this stage” after implementing a controversial new non-verbal reasoning test and admissions criteria for prospective pupils.

Ms Moynihan said all September starters live within three miles of the academy in Hatters Lane, with results to the NVR test ranging from the 140 top mark to a score of 70.

She said: “It’s incredible to think of the journey we have been on, when you think all those years ago we were a failing school, with no sixth form and no-one wanted to come here.

“It’s certainly going to be a different school now, it’s a comprehensive all ability school. We have children with aspirations of becoming lawyers, as well as those who want to prepare for the world of work.

“It’s about providing the appropriate education for each child, that’s something we are now in a position to do and it shows that parents have faith in this school. It’s the next step in Highcrest’s journey.”

451 children sat Highcrest’s test before those that applied for a place at the school were placed into four bands based on their results.

35 children from each band were offered a place based on Highcrest’s admission policy - which prioritises youngsters who live closest or have siblings already at the academy - by Buckinghamshire County Council.

Once pupils start at the school, they will not be stuck in their band group. They will move subject sets based on their progression and ability.

Ms Moynihan said: “Unfortunately there will be disappointed parents and children who didn’t get a place here, but that’s because we are popular and a lot of people want to come here now.

“There’s nothing I can do about it, if I had a bigger school with more places available, we’d be able to take more children.”

Comments (23)

4:13pm Fri 8 Mar 13

wycombechick says...

Brilliant! Well done Highcrest :-)
Brilliant! Well done Highcrest :-) wycombechick

5:37pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Namaste78 says...

Highcrest is a school furled by ambitious staff which in turn nurtures te pupils into a belief that they can and will achieve whatever their personal goals may be.

I must admit that many years ago "hatters Lane" school was a feared school to attend and other scholars in the area would e in fear of being approached by pupils from this school.

Having been within Highcrest Academies environment I can hand on heart say that the pupils which I was greeted by were well presented, well mannered and proud to be part of this schooling environment.

It was for this reason that I chose for one of my children to commence their secondary education here and I as a parent are proud to state that my child attends this fine establishment.

Well done HighCrest staff and pupils. The power of dreams certainly prove to go a long way :)
Highcrest is a school furled by ambitious staff which in turn nurtures te pupils into a belief that they can and will achieve whatever their personal goals may be. I must admit that many years ago "hatters Lane" school was a feared school to attend and other scholars in the area would e in fear of being approached by pupils from this school. Having been within Highcrest Academies environment I can hand on heart say that the pupils which I was greeted by were well presented, well mannered and proud to be part of this schooling environment. It was for this reason that I chose for one of my children to commence their secondary education here and I as a parent are proud to state that my child attends this fine establishment. Well done HighCrest staff and pupils. The power of dreams certainly prove to go a long way :) Namaste78

6:20pm Fri 8 Mar 13

BecksH says...

450 applicants, yet children living as far away as 3 miles were offered a place... This probably confirms what doubters of the new admissions policy feared - that children living on the other side of Wycombe would be offered places at the school, at the expense of children for whom Highcrest is their nearest school. Comprehensive education or backdoor selection?

Highcrest certainly have a very slick PR machine and are adept at only putting out the side of the story they want the public to believe. Only once the full data is in the public domain will we be able to see which children have lost out.

My congratulations go to all the other upper schools in the Wycombe area who are not trying to skew their intake but to remain local schools for local children.
450 applicants, yet children living as far away as 3 miles were offered a place... This probably confirms what doubters of the new admissions policy feared - that children living on the other side of Wycombe would be offered places at the school, at the expense of children for whom Highcrest is their nearest school. Comprehensive education or backdoor selection? Highcrest certainly have a very slick PR machine and are adept at only putting out the side of the story they want the public to believe. Only once the full data is in the public domain will we be able to see which children have lost out. My congratulations go to all the other upper schools in the Wycombe area who are not trying to skew their intake but to remain local schools for local children. BecksH

1:02am Sat 9 Mar 13

Voyeur says...

Does anyone know how many children within a one mile radius of the school missed out on a place?
Does anyone know how many children within a one mile radius of the school missed out on a place? Voyeur

2:51am Sat 9 Mar 13

Rowratty says...

Voyeur wrote:
Does anyone know how many children within a one mile radius of the school missed out on a place?
...and the average NVR test score of those children?
[quote][p][bold]Voyeur[/bold] wrote: Does anyone know how many children within a one mile radius of the school missed out on a place?[/p][/quote]...and the average NVR test score of those children? Rowratty

10:23pm Sat 9 Mar 13

faircuppa says...

Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school. Only Rebeccs and Peter from New Labour don't seem to like it, they are just jealous that they could not acheive it!!!! Also they are too feeble to challenge the grammar schools. 3 mile radius? try 30 miles. All stats of the results are available, brilliant result.
Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school. Only Rebeccs and Peter from New Labour don't seem to like it, they are just jealous that they could not acheive it!!!! Also they are too feeble to challenge the grammar schools. 3 mile radius? try 30 miles. All stats of the results are available, brilliant result. faircuppa

10:41pm Sat 9 Mar 13

davekroll says...

Indeed, it is XShena- Warrior Princess! She walks through fire for Highcrest, will other schools now follow suite with so many being academias? XShena was vindicated after all the mowners and knockers tried to undo her. Next they will say 'Imagine you are a parent living ? miles from the school' and your child did not get a place'. Highcrest is popular and XShena needs to start another one now, obviously. That is the answer.
Indeed, it is XShena- Warrior Princess! She walks through fire for Highcrest, will other schools now follow suite with so many being academias? XShena was vindicated after all the mowners and knockers tried to undo her. Next they will say 'Imagine you are a parent living ? miles from the school' and your child did not get a place'. Highcrest is popular and XShena needs to start another one now, obviously. That is the answer. davekroll

12:02pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Voyeur says...

faircuppa wrote:
Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school. Only Rebeccs and Peter from New Labour don't seem to like it, they are just jealous that they could not acheive it!!!! Also they are too feeble to challenge the grammar schools. 3 mile radius? try 30 miles. All stats of the results are available, brilliant result.
All stats of the results are available? Where?
[quote][p][bold]faircuppa[/bold] wrote: Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school. Only Rebeccs and Peter from New Labour don't seem to like it, they are just jealous that they could not acheive it!!!! Also they are too feeble to challenge the grammar schools. 3 mile radius? try 30 miles. All stats of the results are available, brilliant result.[/p][/quote]All stats of the results are available? Where? Voyeur

1:07pm Sun 10 Mar 13

davekroll says...

Presumeably, write to the school, could do the RGS school while ur at it
Presumeably, write to the school, could do the RGS school while ur at it davekroll

6:26pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Voyeur says...

Last time I looked the RGS was a grammar school and it doesn't have its own tailored entrance exam, unlike Highcrest Academy.
Last time I looked the RGS was a grammar school and it doesn't have its own tailored entrance exam, unlike Highcrest Academy. Voyeur

10:15pm Sun 10 Mar 13

norma stitz says...

We have children with aspirations of becoming lawyers, as well as those who want to prepare for the world of work.
Just as I suspected, lawyers don't do any work, just collect loads of dosh.
We have children with aspirations of becoming lawyers, as well as those who want to prepare for the world of work. Just as I suspected, lawyers don't do any work, just collect loads of dosh. norma stitz

11:57pm Sun 10 Mar 13

HerculePoirot says...

faircuppa wrote: "Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school".
Couldn't agree more!

Voyeur: RGS and all the other grammar schools are changing their "untailored" entrance examinations for next year - shows how great the previous VR-based one was, and how right Highcrest were not to use it.
faircuppa wrote: "Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school". Couldn't agree more! Voyeur: RGS and all the other grammar schools are changing their "untailored" entrance examinations for next year - shows how great the previous VR-based one was, and how right Highcrest were not to use it. HerculePoirot

9:39am Mon 11 Mar 13

davekroll says...

HerculePoirot wrote:
faircuppa wrote: "Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school".
Couldn't agree more!

Voyeur: RGS and all the other grammar schools are changing their "untailored" entrance examinations for next year - shows how great the previous VR-based one was, and how right Highcrest were not to use it.
Yes, Hercules, this looks like another success of XShena.
[quote][p][bold]HerculePoirot[/bold] wrote: faircuppa wrote: "Well done Shena and Highcrest!! We are all thankful to you for pioneering comprehensive education in Bucks and transforming the school". Couldn't agree more! Voyeur: RGS and all the other grammar schools are changing their "untailored" entrance examinations for next year - shows how great the previous VR-based one was, and how right Highcrest were not to use it.[/p][/quote]Yes, Hercules, this looks like another success of XShena. davekroll

1:20pm Tue 12 Mar 13

HerculePoirot says...

The BCC website gives the band-by-band distances as below.

Band A (Banding test scores 140-119) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.646
miles and under rule 3 (distance) to a distance of 2.970 miles.

Band B (Banding test scores 118-110) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.854
miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.914 miles.

Band C (Banding test scores 109-99) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.166
miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.562 miles.

Band D (Banding test scores 98-70) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.664 miles
and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.477 miles.
The BCC website gives the band-by-band distances as below. Band A (Banding test scores 140-119) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.646 miles and under rule 3 (distance) to a distance of 2.970 miles. Band B (Banding test scores 118-110) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.854 miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.914 miles. Band C (Banding test scores 109-99) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.166 miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.562 miles. Band D (Banding test scores 98-70) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.664 miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.477 miles. HerculePoirot

8:18am Wed 13 Mar 13

BecksH says...

Thanks for posting that additional information. This entirely confirms what those of us who challenged the new admissions policy were concerned would happen.

For the majority of children (i.e. where the sibling rule does not apply) there is a direction correlation between their band and the distance they live from the school. More able children (Band A) living 3 miles away from the school have therefore been given a place, while children living half a mile away in Band D have been turned away. In this way, Highcrest have ensured that they don't have to take in too many children who live closest to the school of below average prior attainment, and have exercised their own form of academic selection. Just like the grammar schools, who Sheena claims so vociferously to oppose.

I guess this is 'success' if you don't have the confidence that your school can produce outstanding results by simply taking in all the children who live closest to the school.

This was exactly what opponents of the admissions policy said would happen - and exactly what Highcrest's management team and the Schools Adjudicator said would not.

Sadly but unsurprisingly, they have been proved wrong.

We are waiting for data from BCC to see just how many children are now going to have travel 3-5 miles across town each day because the school down the road wouldn't take them.

This article provides a more thorough analysis of why Highcrest's new admissions policy is bound to produce this result:
http://www.compasson
line.org.uk/news/ite
m.asp?n=16677
Thanks for posting that additional information. This entirely confirms what those of us who challenged the new admissions policy were concerned would happen. For the majority of children (i.e. where the sibling rule does not apply) there is a direction correlation between their band and the distance they live from the school. More able children (Band A) living 3 miles away from the school have therefore been given a place, while children living half a mile away in Band D have been turned away. In this way, Highcrest have ensured that they don't have to take in too many children who live closest to the school of below average prior attainment, and have exercised their own form of academic selection. Just like the grammar schools, who Sheena claims so vociferously to oppose. I guess this is 'success' if you don't have the confidence that your school can produce outstanding results by simply taking in all the children who live closest to the school. This was exactly what opponents of the admissions policy said would happen - and exactly what Highcrest's management team and the Schools Adjudicator said would not. Sadly but unsurprisingly, they have been proved wrong. We are waiting for data from BCC to see just how many children are now going to have travel 3-5 miles across town each day because the school down the road wouldn't take them. This article provides a more thorough analysis of why Highcrest's new admissions policy is bound to produce this result: http://www.compasson line.org.uk/news/ite m.asp?n=16677 BecksH

9:35am Wed 13 Mar 13

HerculePoirot says...

BecksH: I don't really see how you can claim this is "Just like the grammar schools". Apart from the 11+ itself which, is not a banding test, Wycombe High and RGS take children from at least 10 miles away. The objection to the new Highcrest admissions policy was dismissed because fair banding is allowed, even for upper schools in fully selective areas. William Ramsay is around 1.5 miles from Highcrest.

"I guess this is 'success' if you don't have the confidence that your school can produce outstanding results by simply taking in all the children who live closest to the school" - the school has never taken in ALL children who live closest to the school (or in catchment) - Bucks is a selective area.
BecksH: I don't really see how you can claim this is "Just like the grammar schools". Apart from the 11+ itself which, is not a banding test, Wycombe High and RGS take children from at least 10 miles away. The objection to the new Highcrest admissions policy was dismissed because fair banding is allowed, even for upper schools in fully selective areas. William Ramsay is around 1.5 miles from Highcrest. "I guess this is 'success' if you don't have the confidence that your school can produce outstanding results by simply taking in all the children who live closest to the school" - the school has never taken in ALL children who live closest to the school (or in catchment) - Bucks is a selective area. HerculePoirot

5:11pm Wed 13 Mar 13

davekroll says...

Yeah, we don't know enough as you could live next to Highcrest and go to a Grammar or Ramsy/Cressex, nor percentages. You would need to compair to last years admission and see full picture of all children. Also the attitudes of primaries and what they advised. beeka seems to have a personal grudge against XShena, did she get refused a job there?
Yeah, we don't know enough as you could live next to Highcrest and go to a Grammar or Ramsy/Cressex, nor percentages. You would need to compair to last years admission and see full picture of all children. Also the attitudes of primaries and what they advised. beeka seems to have a personal grudge against XShena, did she get refused a job there? davekroll

5:21pm Wed 13 Mar 13

HerculePoirot says...

And also the intake of Highcrest has gone up by 20 this year.
And also the intake of Highcrest has gone up by 20 this year. HerculePoirot

5:33pm Wed 13 Mar 13

davekroll says...

As I said XShena needs to open a new academia, maybe at the Golden Fleece?
As I said XShena needs to open a new academia, maybe at the Golden Fleece? davekroll

6:06pm Thu 14 Mar 13

susie1000 says...

A very interesting Statistic would be the number Rejected who qualified for Band A , and distances from school.
Similar Stats for Band B through D.
There are 311 students who did not make it and although not mentioned in the report there is an upward movement, should any Band not have enough pupils. Just the breakdown of the grades of the 311 might allow the public a fairer way of judging if this experiment. It really would be a great shame if a large number of "failed" students have to journey away from their neighbourhood to received an appropriate educatiion .
A very interesting Statistic would be the number Rejected who qualified for Band A , and distances from school. Similar Stats for Band B through D. There are 311 students who did not make it and although not mentioned in the report there is an upward movement, should any Band not have enough pupils. Just the breakdown of the grades of the 311 might allow the public a fairer way of judging if this experiment. It really would be a great shame if a large number of "failed" students have to journey away from their neighbourhood to received an appropriate educatiion . susie1000

8:08pm Thu 14 Mar 13

davekroll says...

As they usually do, due to lack of places or grammar scchool success! Types of school in Bucks =
Free
Comprhenmsive
Upper
Faith
Private
The rich can travel, the poor tied to their local school, don't seem fair at all.
As they usually do, due to lack of places or grammar scchool success! Types of school in Bucks = Free Comprhenmsive Upper Faith Private The rich can travel, the poor tied to their local school, don't seem fair at all. davekroll

9:45pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Rowratty says...

HerculePoirot wrote:
The BCC website gives the band-by-band distances as below.

Band A (Banding test scores 140-119) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.646
miles and under rule 3 (distance) to a distance of 2.970 miles.

Band B (Banding test scores 118-110) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.854
miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.914 miles.

Band C (Banding test scores 109-99) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.166
miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.562 miles.

Band D (Banding test scores 98-70) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.664 miles
and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.477 miles.
So, as I understand it; a child who failed to achieve a score of 70 and who also lives within approximately 0.45 miles of the school (rule three (distance)) is refused admission to the school due to a low score must now travel to the next available school, perhaps Cressex or Wye Valley, whilst a child scoring 119+ who lives approximately 3.0 miles from the school is granted admission. Is this correct?
[quote][p][bold]HerculePoirot[/bold] wrote: The BCC website gives the band-by-band distances as below. Band A (Banding test scores 140-119) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.646 miles and under rule 3 (distance) to a distance of 2.970 miles. Band B (Banding test scores 118-110) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.854 miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.914 miles. Band C (Banding test scores 109-99) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.166 miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.562 miles. Band D (Banding test scores 98-70) - All applicants offered under rule 2 (siblings) to a distance of 2.664 miles and some under rule 3 (distance) to 0.477 miles.[/p][/quote]So, as I understand it; a child who failed to achieve a score of 70 and who also lives within approximately 0.45 miles of the school (rule three (distance)) is refused admission to the school due to a low score must now travel to the next available school, perhaps Cressex or Wye Valley, whilst a child scoring 119+ who lives approximately 3.0 miles from the school is granted admission. Is this correct? Rowratty

11:19pm Sat 16 Mar 13

davekroll says...

Is there such a kid or is this scarmungering?
Is there such a kid or is this scarmungering? davekroll

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