Entry Assessment

Entry Assessment / Admissions Criteria

The principal aim for all applicants to be accessed is to ensure they meet the minimum entry requirements which will enable them to access the curriculum and to succeed academically, while contributing to school life through sports, art and social interaction. The level of spoken English is a determining factor though other factors such as standards of behaviour, work ethic and past academic achievement also play a role in the decision to enrol the applicant or not.

An Entry Assessment is the process of assessment which will include meeting with a member of the Leadership Team from Preschool & Primary or Secondary (parents may be invited to join). Confidential School Reference Forms and reports from their existing school will also be reviewed as part of the assessment. The final decision on Entry Assessment rests with the Head of Preschool & Primary or Head of Secondary. The initial placement of an accepted student into a specific class or year group is usually on a trial period that will be assessed according to a monitoring schedule determined by the Head of Preschool & Primary or Head of Secondary and discussed with the parents.

If the assessment is unsuccessful, parents will be informed by telephone and an email will be sent. In certain cases, a second assessment may be offered at an interval specified by a member of the Leadership Team from Preschool & Primary or Secondary.

Early Years – Preschool (ages 2 to 4)

Priority will be given to students with native or high levels of English, though at these ages more flexibility with the level required is applicable. The assessment consists of 2 trial sessions in an informal classroom setting with in a classroom setting will be taken into account. A phased entry to settle children is normal.

During assessment, we will look for simple number and letter recognition (mainly ages 3 and 4), standard of behaviour such as school readiness, language and communication as well as willingness to explore and play.

1) Pre-nursery and Nursery

Day 1 – Trial Session (8:30 to 10:30 am / 2 hours)

Day 2 – Trial Session (stay for lunch)

Prior to starting Trial Session, children should be out of nappies for Nursery

2) Reception

Day 1 – Trial Session (8:30 to 11:00 am / 2.5 hours)

Day 2 – Trial Session (stay for lunch)

Prior to starting Trial Session, children must be fully toilet-trained

Key Stage 1 – Year 1 and Year 2 (ages 5 & 6)

At these ages it is expected that an applicant has an adequate command of the English Language, being able to communicate and receive instructions from teachers. Standards of behaviour and social interaction are also taken into account.

The assessment will focus on age-related expectations such as mathematical understanding through answering a series of questions, sentence construction and recalling key events through a writing task, answering questions relating to text through reading and sharing about a book, recalling graphemes / phonemes and applying them to reading (phonics).

•     1 Trial Session only

•     Day 1 – Trial Session (8:30 to 11:30 am / 3 hours)

Key Stage 2 – Year 3 to Year 6 (ages 7 to 10)

At these ages, it is expected that an applicant has an adequate command of the English language, being able to communicate and receive instructions from teachers. Applicants may take an online CAT4 assessing their English, Maths and Logic.

If transferring from another curriculum, the applicant may be required to do further assessments in Maths and English. There will also be a 30-minute writing task and a short interview to converse about favourite hobbies/things.

Key Stage 3, 4 (IGCSE) and 5 (A-Levels) – (ages 11 to 17)

At Key Stage 3, the applicant is expected to have Lower Intermediate level of English. At Key Stage 4, the applicant is expected to have Upper Intermediate level of English. At Key Stage 5, the applicant is expected to have good command of English with knowledge of academic vocabulary.

Students applying for IGCSE or A-Level must demonstrate a potential to succeed in the examinations, with a capacity to reason and handle complex issues and subject matters.

1) Year 7 to Year 10

Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) and English (reading, listening, writing task)

30 minutes Maths test (for Year 7 to Year 9)

2) Year 11 to Year 12

Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) and interview

3) Year 13

Interview will be considered for applicants from similar A-Level system and programmes