ELEVEN Plus exams will go ahead as planned this weekend.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has announced the six selective schools within the county will be holding 11+ testing sessions over the weekend of November 7 and 8, for children who are due to start secondary school in September 2021.
There are no plans to postpone these sessions in light of the government’s recently announced national lockdown, which will commence on Thursday (November 5). All venues have conducted stringent risk assessments before opening for the examination.
Candidates will already have received information in the post to confirm the details of their allocated testing sessions, as well as information related to Covid regulations at each test venue.
A further email has been sent since the announcement of the national lockdown to assure parents that the examination would still be taking place.
The testing sessions were initially scheduled for September. However, the council took the decision to push that date back in line with government guidance to give pupils – many of whom had been out of school since March – the chance to have some time in school to prepare them for the examination.
WCC education and learning spokesman Coun Colin Hayfield said: “I am pleased we are able to proceed with the 11+ tests.
“The venues have strict Covid-secure regulations in place and parents and candidates have been contacted and advised of all the strict measures put in place to ensure theirs, and everyone’s, safety.
“Warwickshire took the decision to give candidates a bit more time in school before the examination. We felt that the disruption of not being able to attend school, followed by the reopening after the summer holiday, was enough for the children to deal with.
“The additional time gave them the chance to settle back into education so that they would have every chance of doing themselves justice at the exam.
“I’m pleased that the children taking part do not need to face any further disruption so my thanks go to all who have worked so hard to ensure that they can sit their tests this weekend.
“I wish all candidates the very best of luck.”
