Independent secondary schools in Bath - entrance exams for year 9 entry

[MrsFlittersnoop]

Can any independent school teachers/parents help me please?

We are probably moving to Bath from London this summer, and I am looking at schools for DS who is currently in Year 8.

Local state school in Bath is very oversubscribed and we would only be offered a place on appeal, so we are looking at private schools, specifically Monkton Combe and Kingswood.They both set entrance exams as part of the admissions process.

We have no experience whatsoever of the independent sector. DS is currently working at level 6 in all his academic subjects in his state comprehensive. What level would year 8 students in a selective private school be working at? Would he stand any chance whatsoever of passing entrance exams for private school?

Sorry to appear so clueless, but I don't know anyone IRL who has switched a child from state to selective independent school at this age and I really don't want to put DS through the exams if he doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of passing them.

Mrs Flittersnoop, I don't know schools in Bath but if you want an idea of the level expected you can look at the ISEB website syllabuses here Syllabus list.

Or you could look at some independent school websites which frequently have past papers online. For example:
Dulwich College or
City of London Boys.

Hope this helps!

Tnaks Metella! I will check out those links.

I don't think either of your choices are as selective as the two linked below tbh. Go and see and talk to head - schools here are not super, super selective. I reckon he'll be just fine.

I agree, ahundredtimes. Plus the papers are one thing but the pass mark is something else!

Certainly for CE the pass mark can be as low as 50% so don't despair, Mrs Flittersnoop!

Kingswood is a good school, afaik. Would your local state school be Beechen Cliff? My cousin goes there and it has a very good reputation - certainly the best comprehensive in the area.

Level 6 at year 8 is good; I think they are supposed to be working at 5/6 in year 9, so he is definitely ahead (though perhaps not miles ahead). Can you go and visit the two schools and see what you think?

hello as a former kingswood pupilwith a dad who taught at monkton(b4 i was born) i can heartily recommend both schools totally. i went to ks for 6th form as a full border and it was the making of me. both are christian schools, monkton c of e and ks methodist and this comes through in their view of the child as a whole not just an exam machine. i have nothing negative to say at all about my time at ks as i went a shy wall flower and left bubbling with confidence. i also taught there for a year so saw the other side which was equally supportive. i also did supply in bath and can also recommend beechen cliff which is all boys except 6th form. that too was a very good state school with good standards and atmosphere. good luck in your move.

Thanks for all your replies! Beechen Cliff is the nearest school to where we would be living. They have no spaces for year 9 ATM, we would have to appeal and we can't apply until we are actually living in Bath.

I like the look of Kingswood, but according to their website they don't take new day pupils after year 8 . I am going to make a few phone calls next week and see how the land lies. I've been told that the recession has meant more spaces in private schools, so they may be prepared to be a bit flexible.