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Senior School Admissions

Exeter School – Ages 11 – 18

Entry to Exeter School is possible into all year groups where there are places available, with the largest intake being at Years 7 and 9. We will consider entry in January and April, as well as in September.

If you would like to consider a place at Exeter School for your child, the first thing to do is to come and visit us. We would be delighted to give you a tour of the school and you can apply for a place by completing the online registration form.

Exeter School is academically selective with entrance assessments taking place in January each year. Sixth form interview take place throughout the year and offers are dependent on GCSE results released in August. Late assessments can be arranged on an individual basis.

During the assessment pupils will be given an opportunity to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills as appropriate for their age.

11+ and 12+ (Year 7 and 8) entrance assessment

Year 7 (Third Form) is our largest entry year. Registrations are encouraged for Year 8 entry when places are still available. New Year 7 pupils and their parents are invited to Exeter School in June for an orientation afternoon. Pupils spend time in their forms and meet their new form tutor, followed by an afternoon of fun sporting activities which helps to break the ice. Firm friendships are soon formed.

In addition, all new pupils are welcomed into school the day before term starts. This provides the perfect opportunity to explore and discover the site at leisure. New entrants soon feel at home in their surroundings.

All forms in the Third Form (Year 7) take part in our Third Form residential with their form groups, taking part in exciting and fun team-building activities.

The entrance assessments take the form of:

English (1 hour)

This paper will contain a reading exercise designed to assess candidates’ comprehension skills. Candidates will also be asked to write a whole text such as a descriptive piece or story.

Mathematics (1 hour)

This paper will test competence in basic arithmetic and fractions (not including multiplication or division of decimals). Other questions will be designed to test the ability to solve problems using numerical skills for which no special techniques are required. Calculators are not allowed.

Cognitive Abilities Test

A computer-based cognitive abilities (CAT4) test

13+ (Year 9) entrance assessment

For pupils joining us at 13+ we offer a taster day in the autumn term, and they are invited in the day before term starts in September to meet key staff and get a feel for the site.

The entrance assessments take the form of:

English (1 hour 15 minutes)

This paper will contain a reading exercise designed to assess candidates’ comprehension skills and will also assess candidates’ writing skills by requiring them to construct a written piece of an argumentative, informative, or imaginative nature.

Mathematics (1 hour 15 minutes)

Questions are similar in style and content to those at 11+ but include some additional age-appropriate material including basic algebra, angle facts, harder fraction operations and measurement of area and volume, amongst others. Calculators are not allowed.

Science (1 hour)

Short questions based on the content expected to have been covered by the time of the 13+ examinations in biology, chemistry, and physics in the style of typical Key Stage 3 assessments. Calculators are allowed.

Cognitive Abilities Test

A computer-based cognitive abilities (CAT4) test

Interview

Candidates will have an interview with the Head either by zoom or in person.

14+ (Year 10) entrance assessment

Registrations are encouraged for Year 10 entry when places are still available.

The entrance assessments take the form of:

English (1 hour 15 minutes)

Mathematics (1 hour 15 minutes)

Science (1 hour)

Modern Foreign Language (30 minutes)

Candidates can choose to take the language paper in either French, German or Spanish.

Cognitive Abilities Test

A computer-based cognitive abilities (CAT4) test

Interview

Candidates will have an interview with the Head either by zoom or in person.

16+ (sixth form) entrance assessment

Exeter School has a very wide range of academic subjects available for study at sixth form, with small class sizes and expert careers and higher education advice through the Futures Programme. For pupils joining us at 16+ we offer a special morning prior to the start of term in September. Here new pupils have another chance to meet the sixth form team and other key members of staff. In September all Lower Sixth pupils are invited to a social evening, usually of bowling and pizza.

All candidates seeking entry to the sixth form will be required to achieve a minimum of three GCSE passes at grade 7 and three GCSE passes at grade 6, to include English and maths (or equivalent qualifications from the pupil’s own country) and provide a satisfactory report and reference from their present school.

To study certain subjects, candidates will need to have achieved a grade 7 in that subject (or related discipline) at GCSE. Please see the A Level brochure or course information on the website for details of the individual subject requirements.

The first sixth form interview day will be held on Saturday 2 December 2023. Further dates will be released throughout the year.

The Sixth Form assessments take the form of:

• Interviews with the heads of departments of the four subjects the candidate wishes to study at A Level. These are designed to discover a candidate’s motivation, future potential, and existing subject knowledge.

• An interview with the Head and Head of Sixth Form.

• Evaluation of a reference provided by the candidate’s present school.

• An assessment of extra-curricular commitments and skills already possessed by the candidate in such areas as the arts, music, outdoor activities, and sport.

• A computer-based cognitive abilities (CAT4) test.

Please bring examples of your coursework to the interview where you have studied the subject at GCSE.

Cognitive Abilities Test and Interview

As part of the assessment process for entering the senior school all prospective pupils will sit an online cognitive abilities test. The test asks questions based on verbal, non-verbal, spatial, and quantitative reasoning, which includes multiple choice, drag and drop and complete the word answers. This innovative test provides a reliable, fair, and comprehensive assessment for children whatever their educational background. The test is deliberately designed to be taken without any prior practice.

There will also be a fifteen-minute interview with the Head or member of the senior leadership team for 13+ and 14+ entry.

Where assessment has been completed remotely, we reserve the right to withdraw the place if a pupil’s academic performance is less than expected upon entry to the school.

UKiset Assessment for International Students

Exeter School uses UKiset as part of our assessment of students based overseas. All overseas pupils will have an opportunity to meet the Head during an online interview.

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