Creative writing assessment for Sherborne

[LeicesterDad]

Hi there,

My DS is in Year 5 and we have just registered with Sherborne for Year 9 entry. DS will sit the pre-test at his prep school in November and will attend an assessment day in January.

DS is very dyslexic and getting him to write anything meaningful or legible beyond a birthday card is impossible. However, this year his prep started to allow him to type his work using an iPad and it has been a game changer. He still struggles, but you would not recognise the work he produces using an iPad and using a pen and paper as being by the same child, and I don't just mean the handwriting.

My concern is that part of Sherborne's assessment day is a creative writing task. I have spoken to Admissions and the LSU at Sherborne and, while they would be very accommodating of DS's needs once he is at the school and for exams, for the purposes of the assessment day they make no concessions at all. He cannot use a tablet to prepare his answer and he will be given no extra time. They see this as being fair as it allows them to compare boys using a standard measure from which they can establish what needs each boy has. Personally I disagree with this view, but rules is rules.

My question is if anyone who has been through the Sherborne assessment process in recent years could share with me the creative writing questions that the boys were expected to answer on the day? This is just to help me prepare my son with a basic structure to follow. I ask this because "creative writing" could cover any number of question types from "Describe a nice day out" to "Write a science fiction story in the first person" and I want to give him the best possible chance to do well, given all of the disadvantages that he will have to deal with in completing the assignment. I would be super-grateful to anyone willing to share.

Also posting this on the Boarding School forum.

I don't think its the right place for him if that's their attitude, by imposing such a discriminatory rule during application, they effectively screen out those children who need greater support. So you can infer that their support for students has a limit !

"they would be very accommodating of DS's needs once he is at the school and for exams,"

Take their approach to the assessment as indicative of how supportive they will be !

Hi OP, if it's anything like GCSE, there will be a story prompt and/or a description prompt - so could be either of the ones you suggested. I would suggest preparing for a descriptive piece and also for how to write the opening of a story. I agree with the other posters though, it's shocking that they're not willing to make access arrangements in the application process.

Given the paperwork needed to establish if access arrangements are legitimate or not from a large volume of applications, then it probably makes sense to have a standardised method of completion.

My understanding of Sherborne's admission process is that the writing element is only one part of a number of different elements.

Surely by that logic, no employers should be obligated to make reasonable adjustments at interview?

I don't know enough about employment law to comment.

Guess it depends on if Sherborne feel like they have or not. Looking at Admission Policies for other schools they make mention of access arrangements so perhaps the OP should make that point to them if they have evidence to satisfy the JCQ framework.

So if OPs child had a physical disability, it would be equally ok for the school not to accommodate that disability, until they offer the child a place?

Did I say that? No. So don't move the goal posts. You will also see in my additional post that I made reference to access arrangements and making that point to the school if the OP has evidence to support.

Don't hurt yourself falling off that high horse.

There's no shortage of dyslexic boys at Sherborne and they are well supported to flourish there. Nor is it a particularly selective school- it's not seeking to exclude dyslexic potential pupils. If a candidate does well on other areas of the assessment but struggles with creative writing when unassisted that will tell them what they need to know. They are looking at candidates in the round, not just one aspect of their academic performance. I wouldn't worry too much, @LeicesterDad

It’s a private school so they can do what they want

why on earth would you want to send your DS there when he clearly won’t fit in or be accommodated for

All schools are different so choose the one that fits your DS as that is essentially what you’re paying for

I know Sherborne well with two DS there. They have numerous schoolmates with dyslexia all of whom managed to pass the assessment- they won't reject boys for dyslexia if strong in other areas, but they need a realistic understanding of their unassisted performance. It's unfair to suggest to OP his son wouldn't fit in or be accommodated, what's more, it's terrible advice as the school goes out of its way to support pupils with different needs.

Hello again.

Again, not sure how this is relevent to the topic of this thread either.

Perhaps start your own thread on access to technology rather than threadbombing everyone else's? I'm sure the topic would spark lots of interest.

How is your DS getting on, @LeicesterDad ? Just came on to say Sherborne is terrific for dyslexia and LS. I have sons there with quite a few friends with this and they are really well supported. It's not a very selective school so if he has reasonable standards in other subjects I don't think the dyslexia impact on creative writing will be an issue for Admissions. I just think they want to use the test as a benchmark to understand what LS he'll need.

Some people are really unnecessarily negative and discouraging- don't let them.put you off your course of action.

Thanks @OtterFerry80 for those comments. We applied for Sherborne last summer and DS was assessed in January. We were really happy to hear that he was offered a place in Year 9. 🎉

I confess his prep school did an amazing job in supporting him preparing for the assessment day, including with creative writing practice, so I am not sure whether it was down to that, or whether Sherborne would have accepted him in any case, or a combination of both, but we are very happy with the outcome.

It's also great to hear that when he gets there the support he has enjoyed at his prep will be matched by support at Sherborne. It sounds like a great school for full boarding boys in his position and we are looking forward to him joining.