Year 3/Age 7 entry - start now?

[RLHLW]

Hi,

When do I start applying for Year 3/age 7 entry to prep schools? I am under the impression that I should be attending the next available open mornings etc. My son (5) is currently in Year 1.

Any recommendations for prep schools in North London?

Thanks,
confused

Call them/check their websites and see. Easy.

Assuming you're going to sit the assessment this coming Jan, you should start to go and see the school(s) and make your interest be known.

The prep around North London are highly competitive, so sooner rather than later is best.

Where is your son currently?

Sorry that should read 'the prep schools around ...'

Start now. You need to register your son, then you will be invited to open mornings (which are a good way to find out more about the entry procedure) and of course, it's very competitive, so you need to start preparing your son. Exams for 7 plus (yr 3) happen early Jan in Yr 2 so you actually have only Yr 1 and the autumn term of Yr 2 to prepare.

Thanks for the useful responses. I've started my quest to enrol for Year 3.

Out of curiousity, is it normal to have extra tutoring to prepare for entrance exams if a child is already in an independent school? How much does an independent school prepare a child for the next level?

I think how much the school prepares probably depends in part on the age range covered by the school. At dd's independent school they did not really do particular preparation for 7+ exams because the school continued for KS2 so they were not really motivated to help you leave early. That said, I did not myself do any extra tutoring other then have her go through 1 of the Bond verbal reasoning books to get used to the style of questions, and she got through.

I think you are about half a term too early. They are still at the tail end of this year's process, so probably have not finalised dates etc for next year's process. Open days tend to be in the second half of summer term and first half of autumn term, and there is generally no need to register until early nov (although check dates!)

Re tutoring, the schools will all say not to and that they can spot it a mile off, but i think it depends on the school your ds is at. The north London pre preps will spend time in the school day doing bond papers etc, whereas prep schools that continue to 11 will have no incentive to help prepare for 7 plus Same applies to state schools, and at some state schools the children may not be far enough through the syllabus by jan to cover what is expected in the tests.

I think to put your ds on a level playing field with kids from the pre preps, it is worth doing bond papers and trying to get hold of sample papers that some schools (eg highgate and north London collegiate) put on their website (worth looking at papers even for schools you are not applying to, because not many make them available and it is good to get a feel for the range of questions. To my mind, familiarisation with papers is fine but I hate the idea of tutoring a child beyond their natural ability

While in theory I agree that a child shouldn't be tutored, in practice, everyone I know does it. And it does seem to get kids into schools kids apply for (including Highgate, UCS etc). Half the kids in my daughter's yr 1 group were being tutored (it is an independent school) because independent schools will only prepare your kids for the 11 plus and 13 plus. Before that they want the kids to stay in their own school as 7 plus results is not something they are aiming for.