Senior Schools Procedures

This should be read in conjunction with The Guide to Senior School Choice.
If you would like a hard copy of The Guide to Senior School Choice, please contact the School Office.

Senior school entry procedures vary. Sometimes it is as simple as sitting a scholarship or Common Entrance in Year 8. Often there are opportunities to win different awards, and there are often a number of stages children must go through to win a place.

The notes below are based on our experience over the last two years. Schools do change their systems, and so past practice is not a guarantee of future performance!

Should you have any questions about the details given below, please do get in touch: cmw@moorpark.org.uk

Ampleforth College

Academic Scholarship
This takes place in February of Year 8.
Children sit the ISEB Common Scholarship papers.
There is an interview (with a panel), and a debating/ critical thinking exercise and a VRQ test.

The Basil Hume Award (All-Round scholarship)
This takes place towards the end of February.
All candidates are interviewed and undertake a number of initiative and teamwork activities.
All candidates are assessed in any areas of strength: one or more of Sport, Theatre, Art, and Music.

Moor Park's experience of this process:
07-08: we sent two candidates, one took the academic scholarship and the Basil Hume award, and the other took only the Basil Hume award.
Both candidates won a Basil Hume award.

Bedstone College

Children sit entrance papers (Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning) in March of Year 8. They are also interviewed.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of their performance in the entrance papers and interview.
Moor Park's experience of this process:
07-08: We sent two candidates. One was awarded an academic scholarship, and the other an all-round scholarship.

Cheltenham College

In March of Year 7: Candidates for Year 9 entry take Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning tests at Cheltenham. On the basis of their performance, they are given a green, amber or red light for Year 8 entry (which will be conditional on Common Entrance performance).

Moor Park's experience of this process
07-08: One of our children went through this process and secured a green light.

Cheltenham Ladies College

Candidates for Year 9 entry sit an informal assessment in October of Year 8 (or sometimes in Year 7). Cheltenham provide feedback as to how they feel candidates may perform in the entrance exams on the basis of this.
In January of Year 8, girls take entrance exams in English, maths, French and Verbal Reasoning. On the basis of their performance in these papers, a handful of candidates may be invited to take further tests (at the beginning of February) for the Academic Scholarship.
The Art Scholarship takes place in February. Candidates take a portfolio of four pieces, and do a still life whilst at Cheltenham.

Moor Park's experience of this process
07-08: We sent one candidate, who won an art scholarship and gained a place through the entry exams.

Christ College (Brecon)

Candidates for Year 9 entry sit Christ College exams (In Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning) in February of Year 8. They also have an interview.
Sports awards and Science awards are also available.

Moor Park's experience of this process
06-07: We sent 3 candidates for scholarships: one won an All Rounder Scholarship, one a Sports Scholarship and one a Science Award. We sent one additional candidate for entry who was successful.
07-08: We sent four candidates for entry. All were successful. One gained an Academic Scholarship and The Science Award, and one won an Academic Exhibition.

Eton College

In Year 6, candidates for Year 9 entry sit a computer-based test of verbal, numerical and perceptual fields of intelligence, and have an interview. On the basis of their performance they are placed on one of three lists. Those on the A List have a place conditional on Common Entrance performance; those on the B List are placed on a waiting list for a place; and those on the C List are not offered a place.

Moor Park's experience of this process

07-08: We have sent two candidates this year. Both gained a place on the A list.

Hereford Cathedral School.

Candidates may enter via HCS' own exams in May of Year 8: Maths, English, and verbal reasoning papers. Alternatively, candidates may sit Common Entrance in June.

Art scholarship involves portfolio with home and school work, 3 hour still life and brief interview with head of art. The Art scholarship is in May of year 8

Moor Park's experience of this process
06-07: We sent one successful candidate through the May entrance exams.

Malvern College

Academic scholarship
Year 8 Children sit exams at Malvern toward the end of February. They take papers in English, French, Humanities (or separate papers in History, Geography and Religious Studies), Maths (1 compulsory paper, 1 optional), Science (1 compulsory paper, 1 optional), Latin (optional). They may take a Science practical and have an interview.

Malvern College also offers scholarships in Art and Sport.

Moor Park's experience of this process:
07-08: One of our children took the Sports Scholarship and the Academic Scholarship. She won a Sports Scholarship and was offered a place at Malvern on the basis of her performance in the academic scholarship. Two other girls sat for the Art Scholarship - both were awarded an Art Scholarship.

Marlborough College

Candidates for Year 9 entry take a computer-based aptitude test and have two short interviews (one with housemaster/mistress, one with senior teacher) in February of Year 7. After this assessment, children are placed on one of three lists. Those on the A List have a place conditional on Common Entrance performance; those on the B List are placed on a waiting list for a place; and those on the C List are not offered a place.

Moor Park's experience of this process
07-08: We sent one Year 7 candidate who gained a place on the A List.

Monmouth School

Academic Scholarship
In March, Year 8 candidates (for Year 9 entry) sit 6 Compulsory papers: English, French, history and geography, maths (2 papers) and science. Optional papers are RE, Latin and Greek.

Moor Park's experience of this process
06-07: We sent one candidate who won an Academic Scholarship
07-08: We sent one candidate who won an Academic Scholarship.

Moreton Hall

Entry (into Year 9)
Girls may sit Moreton's own entry papers or Common Entrance in June.
Moreton's exams take place in January (of Year 8). The girls sit compulsory papers Maths, English, Science and the General Paper. (When sitting the General Paper, the girls must answer questions on 3 of Geography, History, RE and general knowledge). In addition to these 4 papers, girls may offer French and/or Latin.
Academic Scholarships are awarded on basis of performance in these entrance papers.

Art and Sport Scholarships: these assessments take place in January of Year 8.

Moor Park's experience of this process
06-07: We sent 4 candidates. One won an all round scholarship; two won academic scholarships and art scholarships; and one won an art scholarship
07-08: We sent 5 girls. Between them they won an academic scholarship, 3 art scholarships and two all-round scholarships.

Rugby School

In October/ November of Year 7: Candidates for Year 9 entry take a computer-based aptitude test at Rugby
In Feb of year 7: Candidates for Year 9 entry have an interview with a Rugby Housemaster/mistress.

In March of Year 7: Parents are informed whether or not there is a place for the candidate at Rugby in Year 9. Any places offered are conditional on performance in Common Entrance (taken in June of Year 8).

Academic Scholarship
This takes place in May of Year 8. Further Maths, Greek, Spanish and German are optional papers.
Rugby also offers scholarships in Art, Music, Design and Sports. Mr Wright has further details.

Moor Park's experience of this process
07-08: Four of our year 7 children went through the Year 7 assessment process. All were offered places.

Moor Park parents who have recently visited report that one needs to visit early (certainly before Year 7) if one wants a wide choice of boarding houses. That said, if you choose a house too early then the Housemaster/ Mistress may have changed by the time your child joins the house.

Shrewsbury

Academic Scholarship
Exams are taken at Shrewsbury in May (of Year 8)
Children take: 2 English papers, 2 maths (one is optional), French - written paper, listening comprehension, oral including voluntary presentation. A Science paper and perhaps an interview. Exams in History, Geography, RS, Latin and Greek.

Moor Park's experience of this process
06-07: We sent two candidates, each of whom won an Academic Scholarship.
07-08: We sent two candidates, each of whom won an Academic Scholarship.

Stowe

Art Scholarship
Year 8 children sit this at the end of February. It takes place at Stowe, over one day. Candidates take an art exam, and talk through their portfolio.

Roxburgh Awards
Stowe offer Roxburgh Awards to children of outstanding all round ability and leadership potential.

Stowe also offers Academic scholarships and Music scholarships.

Moor Park's experience of this process:
06-07: One of our children took the Roxburgh award and won it.
07-08: One of our children sat for the Art Scholarship and won it.

Uppingham

Candidates for Year 8 entry sit Maths and English papers and have an interview at Uppingham in October of Year 7.
Moor Park's experience of this process:
07-08: Two of our Year 7 girls sat the papers in October. Both were offered places conditional on performance at Common Entrance.

Winchester College

Candidates for Year 9 entry take tests and an interview at Winchester whilst in Year 6.
Moor Park's experience of this process:
07-08: We sent one boy in Year 6 to the assessment process. He was successful in gaining a place - subject to Winchester Entrance exam taken in the summer term before entry.

Should you have any questions about the above, or any questions about other schools and their procedures, please do get in touch.

Chris Wright
Director of Studies
cmw@moorpark.org.uk

last updated: 10 July 2008