Kingston Grammar School - Entrance Procedure

Entrance Procedure

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Admissions Policy

Kingston Grammar School is a co-educational academically selective school offering an all-round approach to education for students aged 10 – 19 years. Selection at 10+, 11+ and 13+ is decided by competitive examination and interview, whilst entry at 16+ into the Sixth Form is based on an interview and predicted GCSE (or international equivalent) grades.

The school seeks to promote accessibility, regardless of background, and provides a range of scholarships, awards and means-tested bursaries. We aim to identify and admit those students who show the potential to benefit from the academic education offered by the School, its ethos and opportunities, and to contribute to the active life of our community.

The school’s policy is to conduct its admissions on a fair and non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable adjustments, such as extra time, will be made available in the entrance assessment if supported by an Educational Psychologist’s Report or equivalent independent medical report. The school may also seek from a candidate’s current school details of normal working provision and practices for the student. Where possible the school will make all reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with disabilities have full access to the curriculum, culture, policies and procedures of the school.

Entrance Procedure

All entrance examinations are broadly in line with the expected expertise gained from National Curriculum teaching at the appropriate Key Stage in English and Mathematics for all entry levels and additionally Modern Languages (French, German or Spanish) for 13+ and 14+ entry.

Candidates are expected to join the school into the correct year of entry for their age. Applications for students wanting to join the school ‘out of year’ will be considered on an individual basis, taking account of the circumstances.

For all points of entry references will be taken up from the candidate’s current school prior to the date of the entrance examination.

Interview

The interview is an important part of the examination process at all entry levels and except in exceptional circumstances places will not be offered without an interview. All interviews are on a one-to-one basis and can either be of a general nature, or subject specific (Mathematics or English). Only candidates being considered for a place will be interviewed and not everyone interviewed will be offered a place.

Candidates applying to join the Sixth Form will have a general interview, and where necessary, additional subject related interviews.

10+ and 11+ Entrance Examinations

Pupils aged between 10 and 11 on 1st September enter the Preparatory Form (Year 6). Acceptance for the Preparatory Form ensures a place in the Main School for the following year. Entry to the First Form (Year 7) is for pupils who will have reached the age of 11 by 1st September immediately following the entrance examination.

10+ and 11+ candidates sit an examination consisting of Reasoning (a mixture of verbal and non-verbal), Mathematics and English papers. Past papers are not published, but some specimen Mathematics questions are available on request. On the basis of the examination performance, interviews will then take place for those candidates who are being considered for a place.

English

Candidates are assessed in the three National Curriculum areas:

EN1 Speaking and Listening (informally at the interview stage)
EN2 Reading
EN3 Writing

The English examination will test a candidate’s ability to: read, understand and respond to writing (EN2); construct and convey meaning in written language (EN3); spell and punctuate correctly in clear, legible, joined-up writing (EN3).These abilities will be tested by asking the candidate to answer questions on a passage and to write a short composition, usually related to the passage.The questions range from simple understanding (‘why does x do y?') to more difficult matters of interpretation (‘What reasons might there be for......?’) There may also be questions about the meanings of words and phrases. Candidates are expected to write in sentences and to use their own words. The composition is likely to be a narrative task, continuing the story of the passage or using it as stimulus material for an original piece.Emphasis will be placed on accuracy in: following instructions and retrieving and conveying information (EN2); using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation (EN3); responding with imagination and sensitivity to what is read (EN2, EN3).The scholarship paper invited candidates to explore how a writer’s choice of language, structure and form shapes meaning and to produce a well-structured, creative written composition with a technically fluent style.

Mathematics

Candidates are tested in these three National Curriculum areas:

Ma 2: Number and Algebra
Ma 3: Shape, Space and Measures
Ma 4: Handling Data

In terms of the National Curriculum, 11+ candidates are asked to answer questions based on any of the Attainment Targets up to and including Level 5, though the main focus of the paper requires a thorough understanding of work up to and including Level 4. (For 10+ candidates, the questions will largely be based on work up to and including Level 4).By way of a summary of the types of questions set, candidates may be asked to:

Add, subtract, multiply and divide a. whole numbers b. decimals c. fractions (simple fractions only)
Demonstrate an understanding of ordering and measuring.
Perform calculations involving: a. money b. time c. length d. area e. volume f. speed g. mass based largely on metric units, but including other commonly encountered units (e.g. mph).
Interpret statistical information presented in a variety of simple forms.

Calculators may not be used. All necessary working should be shown throughout.Should an interview be offered, the school is prepared to view a sample of the mathematical project work undertaken by candidates at their school over the course of the previous year.The Scholarship Paper will place greater emphasis on problem solving, and is expected to challenge all candidates

Reasoning

The reasoning paper consists of a mixture of verbal and non-verbal questions, with a short practice beforehand. The paper is set in-house, but the questions are of a similar nature to those in the books and practice papers that can be found in most bookshops.

Admissions: Decision Procedure

10+ assessments

Each component of the written entrance examination is carefully marked by a teacher specialising in that subject.
·         Age standardisation is then applied.
·         The feeder school report is evaluated.
·         An interview list is drawn up based on the examination scores and the feeder school report.
·         Applicants are interviewed individually by a member of staff. These interviews are either general or subject specific, depending upon the examination score.
·         The interviews are scored.
·         A final list is drawn up.
·         Members of the Admissions Committee decide on those that should be offered places (24). Those who are not offered a main list place may be offered a place on the reserve list.
·         Candidates on the reserve list places will only be offered if all 24 places in the year are not taken.
·         Except in exceptional circumstances places will not be offered without an interview.

11+ assessments

Each component of the written entrance examination is carefully marked by a teacher specialising in that subject.
·         Age standardisation is then applied.
·         The feeder school report is evaluated.
·         An interview list is drawn up based on the examination scores and the feeder school report.
·         Potential scholars are invited back for further assessment in Mathematics and English and are then interviewed.
·         Other applicants are interviewed individually by a member of staff. These interviews are either general or subject specific, depending upon the examination score.
·         The interviews are scored.
·         A final list is drawn up.
·         Members of the Admissions Committee estimate how many awards and main list places to offer to attempt to achieve the desired level of acceptances. Those who are not offered a main list place may be offered a place on the reserve list.
·         Except in exceptional circumstances places will not be offered without an interview.

Academic Scholarship at 11+

Those 11+ candidates who achieve a high standard in the qualifying examination will be asked to return a week later to sit scholarship papers in English and Mathematics, each of 1 hour. Candidates are advised of their selection to sit the scholarship examination by the Wednesday following the date of the first examination. All candidates sitting the scholarship examination will be invited for a series of interviews. A letter advising of the date and time of these interviews will be given to the candidates at the scholarship examination.

13+ entry

Either:

Common Entrance: for those students at prep schools. Candidates should be registered at least two years before the Common Entrance Examination (CEE). They will be asked to come for a written pre-test in the September two years before entry. Papers are taken in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. Past papers are not published, but some sample Mathematics questions are available on request.As part of the assessment process, a report is requested from the Head of the prep school and the School interviews all candidates who achieve a sufficiently high standard in the pre-test. All the successful candidates will be offered places at 13+, conditional on their achieving a satisfactory standard in the CEE taken in the June just preceding their proposed entry to the school.

Or

KGS examination: for those students not taking Common Entrance and attending other secondary schools. This examination will take place in May. The examination will consist of English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and a Modern Language (not mother tongue).

The Common Entrance Pre-test assessments

Each component of the written entrance examination is carefully marked by a teacher specialising in that subject.
·         Age standardisation is then applied.
·         The feeder school report is evaluated.
·         An interview list is drawn up based on the examination scores and the feeder school report.
·         Applicants are interviewed individually by a member of staff. These interviews are either general, or subject specific depending upon the examination score.
·         The interviews are scored.
·         A final list is drawn up.
·         Members of the Admissions Committee estimate how many places to offer to attempt to achieve the desired level of acceptances.
·         Except in exceptional circumstances places will not be offered without an interview.

The Common Entrance Examination

· Our required standard at Common Entrance is a mark of at least 60% in Mathematics, English and French with an average mark of 60% in the remaining papers.
· We would expect candidates sitting Common Entrance to sit the higher tier papers in Mathematics. Foundation papers in either English or Mathematics will not be accepted.

13+ assessments

Each component of the written entrance examination is carefully marked by a teacher specialising in that subject.
·         Age standardisation is then applied.
·         The feeder school report is evaluated.
·         An interview list is drawn up based on the examination scores and the feeder school report.
·         Applicants are interviewed individually by a member of staff. These interviews are either general or subject specific, depending upon the examination score.
·         The interviews are scored.
·         A final list is drawn up.
·         Members of the Admissions Committee decide which applicants should be offered places taking into account whole school numbers. Those who are not offered a main list place may be offered a place on the reserve list.
·         Except in exceptional circumstances places will not be offered without an interview.

Academic Scholarships at 13+

Candidates having accepted a conditional place for Common Entrance may be invited to sit the Common Scholarship examination. Decisions as to those invited to sit will be finalised in the Autumn Term prior to the year of entry, after discussions with the prep school Heads. This examination is held in the May before the September of entry. Those who sit the Common Scholarship examination are usually given exemption from the CEE.Any candidate taking the KGS 13+ examination that shows outstanding academic ability in the examination papers may be considered for an Academic Scholarship Award. Any award will be made at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.

Sixth Form entry

Entry to the Sixth Form is based on an interview with the Head of Sixth Form or Second Deputy Head, predicted GCSE (or international equivalent) grades and a report from the candidate’s current school. For certain subject choices an additional interview with a member of the subject department may be necessary. Interviews begin in November and continue until March. Prospective students will be informed of GCSE entry requirements. In general this will include A/A* at GCSE for subjects to be studied at A level and A or B grades in the remaining GCSE subjects. References will be taken up from the candidate’s current school.

Sixth Form assessments

·         Predicted GCSE grades and report from current school are evaluated.
·         Interviews with Head of Sixth Form, Deputy Head and Heads of Department are scored.
·         Members of the Admissions Committee decide which offers are to be made.
·         Offers are made conditional on specific grades at GCSE (or international equivalent)

Academic Scholarships at 16+

The Sixth Form Scholarship examination will take place in January. Current Fifth Form students can be recommended for inclusion in the examination. In addition, the Head of Sixth Form and Second Deputy Head can recommend prospective students for the examination. Following the examination successful students are interviewed by the Head of Sixth Form, the Second Deputy Head and the Head.

Other Points of entry

Year 8 and Year 10: examinations for entry into these two year groups will be held in March of the year of entry, provided whole school numbers indicate that spaces will be available. Further information can be obtained from the Registrar. Entry into Year 11 and Year 13 is only considered in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the Head.

12+ and 14+ assessments

Each component of the written entrance examination is carefully marked by a teacher specialising in that subject.
·         Age standardisation is then applied.
·         The feeder school report is evaluated.
·         An interview list is drawn up based on the examination scores and the feeder school report.
·         Applicants are interviewed individually by a member of staff. These interviews are either general or subject specific, depending upon the examination score.
·         The interviews are scored.
·         A final list is drawn up.
·         Members of the Admissions Committee decide which applicants should be offered places taking into account whole school numbers. Those who are not offered a main list place may be offered a place on the reserve list.
·         Except in exceptional circumstances places will not be offered without an interview.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships are awarded subject to achieving either the required academic or practical criteria. They are generally awarded for the duration of the student’s time at the school subject to continued satisfactory performance, good conduct and adherence to the Terms and Conditions in force at the time.

Art, Music and Sports Scholarships (see also Fees section)

a)       The Music Scholarship auditions will take place in February.
b)       The Art Scholarship tests will take place in January.
c)       The Sports Award trials for candidates will take place in January.

Bursaries

Means tested Bursaries are available for 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry. Bursaries are variable according to means, up to 100% of full fees. The award of a Bursary is subject to reaching the required academic standard in the relevant entrance examination. If the demand exceeds the number of awards available, Bursaries will be awarded with reference to the performance in the entrance examination. As parents’ individual circumstances differ, the criteria for qualifying for a bursary are not disclosed and are confidential to the School. All aspects of the family financial situation are taken into account including salary, assets including property, additional income, siblings, dependent relatives and other relevant factors.

Monitoring Arrangements

The Admissions Committee

Comprising the Head, Second Deputy, Registrar and/or Bursar and relevant Head of Year, the Admissions Committee will be responsible for establishing, monitoring and reviewing the Admissions Policy and Entrance Procedure.

Audits

The Governors will arrange random audits (independent of the Admissions Committee) on the various aspects of this Policy to ensure that it is being implemented across the school.

Review Process

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Admissions Committee. The School Governors will be advised of any review findings.

Data Retention

Entrance examination scripts, registration forms and associated documents of applicants who withdraw or who are not offered a place are destroyed after 1 year (10+,11+, L6 entry) or 2 years (Common Entrance entry).

Introduction