7+ Admissions Outline of Language/English Requirement for 7+ entry
Children are tested on a standardised Reading test – successful candidates usually have a reading age 12-18 months ahead of their chronological age.
Within the language pack, 7+ admissions are asked to use language in a variety of contexts:
- Be able to write simple sentences in a good legible hand with attention to capital letters and full stops, word spacing and accurate spelling;
- Read aloud a graded series of sentences to assess their fluency, intonation, expression and word building skills;
- Vocabulary awareness is tested with recognition of words of similar meaning;
- Be able to choose a suitable word from a limited selection to end sentences sensibly;
- Simple comprehension is assessed by reading a short passage to themselves and selection of the correct answers to questions on the passage.
- Children who are successful in the tests are versatile in their use of language, have a good range of awareness of vocabulary and are able to use this language in a variety of contexts as demanded by the level, pace and breadth of the Junior School curriculum at age 7+.
Outline of Mathematics/Number Requirement for 7+ entry
Children are tested on a standardised Mathematics test which is orally administered to overcome any reading problems.
They are expected to respond to questions based on a series of picture letters or numbers and need to exhibit competence well beyond the average for their age in the following areas:
- Place value – awareness of the relative size of numbers;
- Addition and subtraction inclusive of tens and units with “carrying” and “borrowing” without use of a number line or other aid. (Fingers may, of course, be used);
- Sequencing skills – the ability to order shapes, numbers and objects according to set criteria;
- Series – the ability to predict the next number or shape in a series, or perhaps the missing item in a series identified by a simple rule;
- Shape – ability to recognise congruent, ie the same shapes in different orientations;
- Language – to be familiar with and able to use the language of Maths, eg difference, twice, half;
- Time – to be able to read the analogue clock-face to half-past, quarter-past, quarter-to and o’clock;
- Sharing – the ability to use simple fractions in context and recognise quarters and halves;
- Odds and evens – the awareness of the “odd” and “even” values of numbers;
- Applied skills – to be able to use information and combine it according to set instructions
Children who are successful in tests are adept and fluent in their use of number and its applications. Conceptual awareness and facility with number are more important than “number crunching” skills.
Assessment Decisions
The Head’s decision is final in all matters relating to entry to the Junior School. Decisions will be sent to parents before the February half term.
The decision will be one of the following:
- Your child has done well enough to be offered a place;
- Your child has not done well enough to be offered a place in view of the competition;
- Your child is below the standard required for entry to the Junior School. We may consider re-assessing them the following year for Year 4 entry.
If your child has been offered a place your offer letter will include how to accept the place and the acceptance deadline date.
