Guide to grammar schools and the Secondary Transfer Test

Access arrangements are adjustments designed to support children with particular needs to access the Secondary Transfer Test.

The arrangements agreed must not advantage the child. They should also be based on what normally happens in class at school.

The Secondary Transfer Test is not compulsory, so you may wish to consider withdrawing them from testing (if you do not plan to include grammar schools in your child's application).

Access arrangements may be appropriate for pupils:

• with an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• for whom provision is being made in school using the SEN Support system
• whose learning difficulty or disability significantly affects their ability to access the tests
• who have behavioural, emotional or social difficulties.

Access arrangements may also be needed to support pupils with specific needs, for example difficulty with reading or concentrating or who have a hearing or visual impairment.

Normal way of working is the support a child receives in class on a regular basis. For example, rest, movement breaks or an adult helping a child to stay on task.

Adjustments fall into 3 broad types:

• changes to the way the test is administered (for example, allowing for short breaks during the test or extra time)
• changes to a physical feature (for example, providing a larger-size test paper)
• providing extra aids or services (for example, reading pens or readers)

View the full list of adjustments available for the Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test in the Headteacher’s Guide (PDF, 217 KB).

If your child attends a Buckinghamshire primary school or a Partner school and adjustments are made for them in class, the headteacher will apply for access arrangements for your child – you do not need to do anything.

If your child attends any other school, select the option for the headteacher to receive the Access Arrangement Request Form when you register for testing. If this was not indicated when you registered, contact us.

The deadline for headteachers to submit a request for access arrangements is:

• 2 June for state-funded Buckinghamshire primary and Partner schools
• 16 June for all other schools

Headteachers should not delay submitting a request because a child is awaiting an assessment. This will not be accepted as grounds for a late submission. The form should give details of the support already in place at school.

Special Access Panels (SAPs) review applications for access arrangements. The panels comprise people with experience in primary education and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and an educational psychologist. They review the application and decide whether the adjustments requested can be agreed.

Decisions will be shared with before the end of the summer term with:

• Buckinghamshire primary schools
• Partner schools
• parents

If access arrangements are agreed by the Panel, these will be administered by the school. The school will do this following the protocols provided by The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools and GL Assessment for all test sessions, and also the additional guidance provided for access arrangements. Some access arrangements may mean that a child needs to be tested at a different date or time to other children. This decision is made by the school depending on the number of adults and availability of rooms for testing.

If your child attends any other school, your child will be tested at their own school, provided the school agree to this. If your child’s school cannot administer the test, your child will be tested at one of the grammar schools or at another central venue. Testing may be later than for main testing. In all cases the test will be administered using the protocols and guidance provided.