Prep School Entrance Assessments

[Mumza]

Hello, this is my first post so please be kind. I've been researching independent schools for my DS and have narrowed the options down to Dollar Academy and Cargilfield. DS will sit the entrance assessments for both schools after the Easter break. He is a bright boy and has a great personality but he's not a swot (like his mum was lol!) He's quite laid back about the entrance assessments although I suspect he will be more nervous nearer the time. Does anyone have experience of the assessments for either schools in terms of entry into prep 5? Are they exceptionally difficult? Thanks in advance!

No direct experience of Form 5 entry to Cargilfield, but have had a child go through Cargilfield. At P1, certainly, it doesn't aim to be academically selective. (Nevertheless, by the time children leave at Form 8 the academic standard is high.) I think at Form 5 you should probably be thinking of "child maybe needs to be a little above average to cope with switching syllabuses and schools without too much stress" rather than "child needs to be superbright". Strongly recommend the school - hope your DS enjoys the assessment, and do feel free to PM me if you have questions.

(I don't know anything much about Dollar, but maybe someone else will be along in a moment.)

Thank you Cargundian, i appreciate you taking the time to reply. I've certainly heard amazing things about Cargilfield! I have so many questions! The new website is a work in progress so I am eagerly awaiting our visit prior to DS's assessment. I don't know how to PM I'm afraid. If you don't mind me asking, what senior school did your DC go to after Cargilfield?

How to PM depends on the way you're accessing MN: on the desktop, you've probably got a Message Poster link towards the top right; on the mobile site, if you click on the three dots to the bottom right, PM is one of the options that comes up; on the app I don't know as I don't use it.

Yes, sorry to see the new website isn't up yet! For a while you could click through to the old one in the mean time, but that option seems to have gone - maybe something expired.

It's a bit outing, but with this name it probably doesn't matter: DS is now very happy at Eton. (Not somewhere we anticipated sending him when he joined in P1, but one of the things the school is good at is suggesting schools that will suit individual pupils, and in our case they were right, though we held out against the suggestion for some years,!)

Don’t know Much about Dollar however we did have a family move from our independent school to Cargilfield. The independent school we are at has a high record of academic achievement which meant they have had quite a smooth transition to cargilfield and they absolutely love it! Their mum couldn’t understand why she didn’t move them before. If you are hoping for boarding in the future then Cargilfield is probably a very good way to go.

Thanks justquery! At what stage did their DC start Cargilfield? My DS is desperate to get started on all the sports and music opportunities independent schools have to offer. I feel guilty for not having chosen this option sooner for him!

One friend moved to p2, another two boys went to P3 and p5. I have also had friends who have started there and all have raves about it.
I truly believe when you visit a school and you or your child get ‘that feeling’ that’s we’re they should be then positive things come from it.
Is your son coming from the state sector or another independent school?

DS is coming from state and it’s not been a good one! I have visits arranged for two schools after the Easter break, I’m hoping DS will get that feeling in one of them! Quite excited about the visits. Any tips? No experience of independent schools and we are not posh! Lol!

Not everyone in the independent sector are posh. Majority are hard working families trying to give their children a good start in life.
I genuinely believe that when you visit these schools you will know which one is for you. I knew the moment I walked into the one my children attend it felt right.
Have you only looked at these 2 or have you ventured into others?

Yes you are right! We live in the countryside and are 45-60 mins away from the nearest schools. Cargilfield is the first choice from Edinburgh and Dollar is the first choice from all the other areas. Looked in to many more but discounted them for various reasons. Not sure what to expect from the entrance assessments as like I said we have no experience at all. Will be happy for him to be accepted into either as long as he is happy with either too!

good luck!
THe schools will be able to tell you more about the assessments.

Thanks justquery!