...:
Now turn to section 1.
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You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman as the woman inquires about schools for her children.
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First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
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You should answer the questions as you listen, as the recording is not played twice.
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Listen carefully to the conversation and answer questions 1 to 5.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Good morning.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Is this the education office for the Westley area?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
That's right.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
We handle all sorts of inquiries regarding primary and secondary education in and around the Westley area.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
I'm here as I've recently moved into the Westley area and I want some advice about where I can send my two children to school.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
That's fine.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Let me take down some details onto this form and we can see what we can do for you.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Can you give me your family details and details of where you live?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
My name is Mrs. Kate Smith.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
My husband's name is Robert.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
We have two children, both boys.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
The youngest is called John and he's eight.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
The eldest is called Simon and he's 14.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
We live at 9 Webley Avenue, Westley.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Can you spell Webley, please?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
It's W-E-B-L-E-Y.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
And do you have the postcode for that address?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
It's W-E-4-6-Y-S.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
That's fine.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Now I assume, looking at the ages of your children, that you'll be looking at a primary institution for John and a secondary one for Simon.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Is that right?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Exactly.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Now, it's the middle of the school year, of course.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Will you be wanting your children to go to their new schools right away?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
If possible, yes.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
So, what is interesting is that I see on my computer that your address lies on the border of two catchment areas.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Catchment areas?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
What are they?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Each school has a geographic area around it and, if you live within that area, you have the right to attend that school.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
If you do not live within the catchment area of a particular school, it can be much harder to get your child into that school.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Now, because you live on the border between two catchment areas, you have more choice.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
That's good.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Let's look at the primary possibilities for John first.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
There are two institutions that would be available for John.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
The first is Longmead School and the second is King's School.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Do you have any information about them?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Certainly.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Longmead School will be more convenient.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
From your address, it will take about 15 minutes to walk there.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's a mid-range school with around 150 boys and girls from kindergarten and then year one up to year six.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
At eight years old, John should be going into year four.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Is that right?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Yes, he's in year four right now.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Now, King's School in the other catchment area is a bit further away.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's not really an easy walk.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
There is, however, a school bus that picks up children from a stop about five minutes' walk from where you live and they would get dropped back there at the end of the school day.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
You could drive John there yourself, of course, but you know about traffic and school runs, I suppose.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Yes, it can be just terrible.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
King's School is bigger, with 200 children, boys and girls, in the same year groups.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Those schools have availability and John will be able to start in either school once the paperwork is done.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
That should not take long.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Can we visit the schools before deciding?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Of course.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
I have information packs on both schools and in them you can find their telephone numbers.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
You can just call the school and set up a visit.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
In the packs is also lots of information about various aspects of the schools, including the latest quality inspections, the teaching staff, curriculum and extracurricular activities.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Do you have any recommendations?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Well, I'm not supposed to do that, but my wife and I have both our young girls at King's School and we are very happy with the standards of teaching there.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
When we speak to parents who have children at the other schools, we feel that we have made the better choice in that respect.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
I suppose that's really more important than how many children there are and how long it takes to get there.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
My wife and I think so.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Anyway, there's the bus for you and the class sizes are pretty much the same.
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Before the conversation continues, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 7 to 10.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
So, shall we look at secondary schools for Simon now?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Yes, please.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Similarly, you have a choice from two catchment areas.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
In the same catchment area as Longmead School, there is Walcott School.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It has 800 boys and girls and offers places for children from Year 7 to Year 13.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
You said Simon was 14, yes?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
That's right.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
So, he would go into Year 9, I think.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Is he in Year 9 or 10 right now?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
He's nearly old enough to be in Year 10, but as he's a bit weak, we've got him in Year 9.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
He's doing well there.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
What's Walcott School like?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's got a good reputation.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
They get good results in exams and they've had a successful quality inspection last year.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
The headteacher there is very progressive and not long ago, he introduced a behaviour control programme that has been very successful.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's a very up-and-coming establishment.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
And what is the other choice?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's Wesley Boys School.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's not got as good results as Walcott School, but they have a good reputation for well-ordered lessons and pupils.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It also has very good systems for helping children who are academically not as strong, so that might suit Simon.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's also near King's School, so your children can go together by bus if you decided that that's the way you wanted to go.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Wesley Boys, as the name suggests, is only for boys.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Some people like that and some don't.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
In general, I'm against that.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Well, that's quite a lot to think about.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Do you have information packs about the secondary schools for me?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
I have one for Walcott School, but we've run out of packs for Wesley Boys.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Some more arrive tomorrow, so I'll put one in the post immediately.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Today's Tuesday, so you will get it on Thursday.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
That's great.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Thank you.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
You're welcome.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Now, is there anything else?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
I will go and visit the four schools with the boys and then decide.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
What should I do when I decide?
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Do I directly approach the schools?
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Come back here and I will go through the paperwork with you.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
It's pretty straightforward.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Just bring your family birth certificates for identification and bring some proof of address.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
Don't forget that or we won't be able to process the application.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
I won't forget.
MRS. KATE SMITH:
Thank you very much and see you soon.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
You're welcome.
EDUCATION OFFICE:
See you soon.
...:
That is the end of section one.
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You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
