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Original poster

13+ entrance. totally lost as to where I should start!

28 replies

hippppy · 23/10/2013 13:42

Ok here goes ;)

I have just had my child's progress report and parents meeting. He is at the start of year 7.

I know he is a bright boy in and has recently produced a piece of work of at least a-level standard in RE and has had a glowing first report from his school.

A friend has suggested scholarships at 13. I have no idea where to start and exactly at what level he would need to be working at.

He is my eldest child so I have no previous experience with any of this.

I know that schools offer scholarships to gifted children but I would love to know what is expected of them at age 13. National levels etc?

Also I am a single parent and would never be able to afford fee's (if I chose to go down this route!)

Just exploring our options! I have been on a few school websites but I'm starting to feel rather lost! Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
hippppy · 23/10/2013 14:15

Oh I feel so dumb!! I know my sister got an assisted place years ago at a private school but thats all changed now. So if you maaged to get a scholarship would you still have to pay fee's or does this vary from school to school?

I have been told he is performing at the top of his year group. He is in a 'normal' secondary and we are in sussex.

I have looked at two school websites briefly this morning, Christs Hospital and Brighton College

Thank you again, huge help already. I see you have to pay an admin fee (how much I'm not sure!) just to enter in for the tests and I would like to know exactly where we stand and what I'm talking about before I even enquire at the schools.

OP posts:
LIZS · 23/10/2013 13:54

What type of school is he at now ? Lots of independent day schools set their own exam for 13+ entrance, some will base scholarships on performance in English, Maths VR/NVR, others will invite eligible candidates back for a specific scholarship test. Some secondary schools pretest (ie. screen) potential 13+ candidates in year 6 to award conditional places and registrations will have closed so you may need to rule these out.

There aren't always many places at 13+ (dc school take about 80 at 11+ and 30-40 at 13+) but others will take even higher % at 11 or only start at 13, with many more applicants than places. Scholarships can be very competitive, he would be up against prep school children who have been trained for Common Entrance exams, and you may need a bursary which is means tested instead. You need to find out from the bursar how many applicants for funded places they have at 13 and what the criteria are. Good luck

lalamumto3 · 23/10/2013 13:50

Hi what area are you in? as that will help people to offer guidance.

There are 2 types of financial support offered, bursaries which are normally means tested and scholarships which are based on academic performance.