In no particular order, the three most stressful things anyone can go through are divorce, moving house and getting your child into the right secondary school.
We are unqualified to help you with the first issue, and lack the inclination to help you with the second, but we are expert and eager to help demystify the issue of getting your child into the right secondary school. Here is a timeline that we hope will help clarify the process.
Year 4
Don’t panic! We are not saying that you need to start tutoring in year 4, nor do you need to know which schools you’re going to apply for. You might, however, consider the following:
A thorough academic assessment at some point in year 4 will give you a clear idea of your child’s potential, their strengths and weaknesses, as well as matching them with a good selection of schools. ‘But where does such a marvel exist?’, I hear you ask.
Watch this space …
FAQ
Do I need tutoring to get my child to the right school?
Although we’re loathe to say it, the reality is that your child will be up against children who are being rigorously prepared. A good, experienced tutor, who has been trained, can help prepare your child, whilst taking the pressure off both parent and student. Ask Clarendon for further details.
NB
There are a handful of schools that offer places at 10+ (City of London School for Boys, Emanuel, Whitgift etc.). There are less places available at 10+, and proportionally less pupils sit the exams. Start preparing a year out, which is typically January of year 4.
Year 5
November: Depending on the level of your child, and which school they are applying for, we’d recommend to start tutoring here. This will give you a year before the pre-tests.
February-June: School open days – School open days can book up fast, so check Admissions sections of school websites well ahead of time. It’s vital to visit a school before registering. League tables and websites will only tell you so much; the atmosphere and the manner of the staff are crucial indicators. It’s important to book yourself on an open day with the head, so you can develop a personal connection with both the head and the registrar.
May-June: Registration deadline for boarding schools.
FAQ
Is it better to go for the 11+ or 13+?
For many, this won’t be a question. Most schools only offer one or the other. You either enter in year 7 / 11+ (St Paul’s Girls, Godolphin & Latymer, Latymer Upper, James Allen Girls’ School, South Hampstead, etc.) or year 9 / 13+ (Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington, Radley, etc.). It may also be that your child’s prep or primary school stops after year 6, or that your child is enjoying it so much that they would hate to leave before year 8, in which case there is no decision to make.
However, if your child is indifferent about their prep school and you are aiming for schools that offer entrance to year 7 and year 9 (St Paul’s Junior and Senior, Westminster Under and Westminster Great School, King’s, Dulwich etc.), then you have a choice to make because you can’t apply for both the 11+ and 13+ as they are both sat in year 6.
We can’t offer you a silver bullet here. Most competitive schools start at around 5 candidates for every place, rising to more than 8 or 9 applicants per place for the most in demand schools. There are usually more places at 11+, but with more candidates for these places and, for some schools, obligatory state primary places made available, the ratios are usually very similar for 11+ and 13+.
Year 6
September-October: School open days – Many London schools conduct open days very close to registration deadlines, so not much time to choose.
September-November: Registration deadline for London schools.
October-December: ISEB common pre-test.
FAQ
What is the ISEB pre-test and can I prepare my child for it?
The ISEB common pre-test is taken in either year 6 or 7. It is an online, adaptive, multiple choice test in English, Maths, non-verbal reasoning and verbal reasoning. These four sections take roughly two and a half hours to complete. Schools use the test to filter which students will sit their individual entrance exams. A list of the schools that use the test can be found here.
The test was designed to test a child’s cognitive ability, negating the impact of preparation. However, whilst some children might be naturally proficient at one or multiple aspects of the test, we’ve found that preparing children with online, adaptive, multiple choice tests in English, Maths, NVR and VR improves both confidence and performance.
December-March: Individual schools’ entrance exams and interviews – the format of these individual entrance exams varies from school to school. The more academically selective schools tend to go for further tests in English and maths, with problem solving and some form of writing usually featuring. For those slightly less academically selective schools, the emphasis is on interviews and group exercises.
Year 7
Autumn and Spring: Some schools (Harrow, Sevenoaks, etc.) conduct their entrance tests in year 7.
Year 8
November-February: School specific entrance exams (Wycombe Abbey, Brighton etc.). These are more comprehensive exams and can include sciences, humanities and languages.
Summer: Common Entrance – This is required by most schools to check that your child is still on track.
FAQ
Can my child lose their place if they fail Common Entrance?
In theory, yes, but in practice, it’s very uncommon. Your child shouldn’t need tutoring for Common Entrance, unless they are really struggling in one of the core subjects.
And. Breathe.
We know this has been longer than our usual missives, but there’s a lot to cover. Remember that these procedures change almost every year, so do get in touch if you’d like some more specific info.