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Original poster

Do you have advice about Oxford High School entrance exam?

12 replies

claraschu · 10/09/2012 12:22

My daughter is at our local state primary, but wants to apply to Oxford High (she knows several older girls who go there). The school doesn't give much information about the entrance exam (yr 7), and they say not to prepare, BUT I know that private schools will have been preparing children for verbal and non verbal reasoning etc,.
Does anyone have any advice about preparing for this, or the name of a good tutor who knows the school?

OP posts:

Original poster

claraschu · 10/09/2012 12:33

Sorry, I meant to say that I know it's not much fun to write about this, but I would be really, really grateful if you take the time to pass on any advice. Thanks-

OP posts:

StanHouseMuir · 10/09/2012 13:23

From what I can remember, the test consisted of Maths, English and non-verbal reasoning. We just bought a Bond NVR book for 11 year olds to give DD (State school too) some practice. She was offered a place.

English test was (I think) in two parts, one part of which was to write about a scene on a postcard - 3 old ladies having a dance on a seaside promenade.

Original poster

claraschu · 10/09/2012 13:29

Thanks so much for the information.

Can I ask if your daughter ended up going to OHS, and if she is happy there (if she went)?

OP posts:

StanHouseMuir · 10/09/2012 13:46

We opted for Headington in the end, we thought it suited our DD better.

purplesunset · 10/09/2012 14:03

Our dd went to OHS from our local state primary - as SHM did, we gave her a couple of Bond books for VR and NVR, as she hadn't seen that type of test before and she worked her way through them when she felt like it. Afterwards she said the exam was completely different in style, but I think it probably helped give her some confidence. We didn't do any preparation at all for English. I went through the Maths she had done at school during the Christmas holidays before the exam, as Maths was her weaker subject. That's all. She was offered a place and is very happy there. She is a naturally academic, slightly quirk child, and the school suits her perfectly. I think she must have done it the same year as SHM's daughter as I remember the picture on the postcard they wrote about in English.

Original poster

claraschu · 10/09/2012 16:49

Thank you so much for letting me know your experiences. I guess we will look at both Headington and OHS. My daughter thinks she wants to go to OHS because her brother's friends go there, but I had been told it's very pressurised, so wasn't so keen.
Still, people are always complaining about all schools because no school is perfect.
Thanks again-

OP posts:

purplesunset · 10/09/2012 20:05

Yes, I would advise to look at both, they are both good schools and which one suits best will depend on your dd's personality. I know plenty of people with children at one or the other, and they are all happy with their choice.

Honestyisbest · 14/09/2012 16:07

Definitely look at Headington. The 11 plus entrance process was handled superbly by Headington. We were very impressed by the lengthy written feedback that accompanied their offer letter. Very personal. We weren't impressed at all by OHSs stance. Felt completely herded around on the exam day. Didn't like the Heads talk to parents either. Repeatedly telling us we wouldn't get any feedback on our daughters exam performance etc. We turned down a place. I believe quite a few people received offers, but chose elsewhere.
We liked OHS on the open evening though and the girls seemed lovely. However, I believe in going with my gut feeling and luckily me, hubbie and my DD all agreed on this one! How unusual....

Eastpoint · 16/09/2012 12:26

You could have a look at the other high school's websites. Notting Hill & Ealing High School is part of the North London consortium for girls' schools and there are sample papers. Although they will not be exactly what OHS are looking for they will give you some idea - you can print them off. There are two consortiums, so you can get two sets of sample papers from them. The St. Albans High School for Girls website has quite a few sample papers - I've just checked. If your daughter is doing well at the 10-11 Bond papers, try the 11-12 books - she will get faster with practice. Good luck!

purplesunset · 17/09/2012 10:46

Honestyisbest, was that under the old head at OHS? I've been told she could appear rather cold although I never met her.

We didn?t feel ?herded around? at exam day ? I don?t remember it involving us much at all (which suits my non-helicoptery propensities down to the ground). I think there was a short introduction before all the girls left, all looking nervous and pale, then we left them to it. In the afternoon there was then a head?s talk before we collected the girls, which was mainly about how the offers worked, how to handle the dreaded envelope when it arrived, all about being gentle with expectations and how to minimise any disappointment among the girls who weren?t offered places. Then we had tea / coffee / biscuits etc. and the girls reappeared looking happy and relaxed. I remember being impressed that by the end of the day the admissions people knew my daughter?s name and greeted her by name when she arrived for her interview a few days later. It felt comfortable and friendly, and I liked the way they treated the children as independent people rather than as off shoots of their parents.

It's probably different expectations, but I'm pretty sure dd would have absolutely hated to have detailed feedback on the exam - she would have found that acutely embarrassing, and I'm not sure it would have been useful, it is not as though you can go and take it again if you weren't selected and there is plenty of time for feedback once they are at the school and more confident about what is expected.

I can't comment on Headington's selection as we didn't apply there - I didn't think the school would suit dd's personality so well - but both schools have good reputations, and it really is a case of finding where your dd personally will feel most comfortable.

StanHouseMuir · 17/09/2012 13:20

Our experience is the same as yours purple. Apart from the test feedback offered by Headington, I thought the way OHS handled the admission process was better and more personal (e.g DD receiving her own personal letter).

Honestyisbest · 17/09/2012 13:34

Gosh that just shows why you have to go and look for yourself!

Purple- I meant feedback for the parent rather than for the child. Then up to you if you share with the child.

One interesting thing was that speaking to other parents who had been through the process before they knew what to expect much more than we did. e.g the format of the tests, potential interview questions etc. However a new admissions person was appointed just after the test period so I guess that may change.

We also applied to a non-Oxford school, which was our first choice for DD. Their admissions process was completely different again. We ended up accepting their offer and so far my DD is loving year 7. Here's hoping it lasts.

So OP go for it and see what you think. Lots of luck.

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