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Entrance assessments

Entrance assessments

We conduct age-appropriate entrance assessments for every year group, the majority of which take place in the January prior to entry. Additionally, we will request a copy of applicants’ most recent school reports along with confidential references from their current schools. In some cases we may also ask applicants to sit additional assessments, for example those who are applying from overseas may be asked to sit additional English assessments.

How and when is my child assessed?

Nursery, Reception and Year 1

Applicants will be invited in for an informal assessment, which typically lasts no more than one hour. As these applicants are very young we do everything we can to make it as relaxed as possible, whilst assessing them within a classroom environment.  Nursery and Reception assessments take place throughout the year subject to space availability, whilst Year 1 assessments take place in the January prior to entry.

Years 2 – 6

Applicants will be invited in for age-appropriate assessments in maths and English (covering both reading and writing). Some parts of the maths assessment and the English reading assessment may use an online resource via a laptop or an iPad. Applicants in these year groups will also take part in some group activities and an informal group discussion. Year 2 – 6 assessments take place in the January prior to entry.

Year 7 (11+)

Year 7 is our most popular entry point and we typically receive over 200 applications each year, consisting of both fee-paying and bursary applicants. Applicants applying for a fee-paying place will be invited in to sit assessments in mathsEnglish reading and English writing, and they will also have an interview with a member of our academic team. Sample papers can be found by clicking on the relevant links above. Year 7 assessments and interviews take place in the January prior to entry. 

Year 7 bursaries
Applications for Year 7 bursaries are considerably over-subscribed so we hold a bursary shortlisting exam during the October half term in the year prior to entry. The top performing applicants in this exam will then be invited to sit the main entrance assessments and interviews in the January. 

Years 8-10

Applicants will be invited in to sit assessments in maths and English, and they will also have interviews with members of our academic team, in the January prior to entry. Sample papers can be found by clicking on the links below:

Year 8 – Maths / English 
Year 9 – Maths / English
Year 10 – Maths / English

Year 12 (Sixth Form)

Year 12 is our second largest intake, consisting of both fee-paying and bursary applicants. Applicants will be invited in to sit assessments in maths and English in the January prior to entry. Following January’s assessments, shortlisted applicants will then be invited in for an interview with members of our academic team in the February. All offers for Year 12 are conditional upon GCSE results.

For further information on our entrance assessments please see our admissions policy.

Or, if you prefer to chat to someone please call our admissions team. For Senior School call 0113 228 5121 and for Primary School call 0113 228 5113.