13+ entrance. totally lost as to where I should start!

[hippppy]

Ok here goes ;)

I have just had my child's progress report and parents meeting. He is at the start of year 7.

I know he is a bright boy in and has recently produced a piece of work of at least a-level standard in RE and has had a glowing first report from his school.

A friend has suggested scholarships at 13. I have no idea where to start and exactly at what level he would need to be working at.

He is my eldest child so I have no previous experience with any of this.

I know that schools offer scholarships to gifted children but I would love to know what is expected of them at age 13. National levels etc?

Also I am a single parent and would never be able to afford fee's (if I chose to go down this route!)

Just exploring our options! I have been on a few school websites but I'm starting to feel rather lost! Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thank you in advance.

Hi what area are you in? as that will help people to offer guidance.

There are 2 types of financial support offered, bursaries which are normally means tested and scholarships which are based on academic performance.

What type of school is he at now ? Lots of independent day schools set their own exam for 13+ entrance, some will base scholarships on performance in English, Maths VR/NVR, others will invite eligible candidates back for a specific scholarship test. Some secondary schools pretest (ie. screen) potential 13+ candidates in year 6 to award conditional places and registrations will have closed so you may need to rule these out.

There aren't always many places at 13+ (dc school take about 80 at 11+ and 30-40 at 13+) but others will take even higher % at 11 or only start at 13, with many more applicants than places. Scholarships can be very competitive, he would be up against prep school children who have been trained for Common Entrance exams, and you may need a bursary which is means tested instead. You need to find out from the bursar how many applicants for funded places they have at 13 and what the criteria are. Good luck

Oh I feel so dumb!! I know my sister got an assisted place years ago at a private school but thats all changed now. So if you maaged to get a scholarship would you still have to pay fee's or does this vary from school to school?

I have been told he is performing at the top of his year group. He is in a 'normal' secondary and we are in sussex.

I have looked at two school websites briefly this morning, Christs Hospital and Brighton College

Thank you again, huge help already. I see you have to pay an admin fee (how much I'm not sure!) just to enter in for the tests and I would like to know exactly where we stand and what I'm talking about before I even enquire at the schools.

Scholarships can range from a nominal amount up to about 30% remission, increasingly less often more, so presumably you'd need a bursary to cover the remaining amount you would be expected to fund (plus uniform, trips etc). 100% bursary is not unknown but hard to achieve and you would be subject to scrutiny each year. Academics aside does he have other skills to offer a school ? CH & BC are good places to start, maybe also Lancing, Hurstpierpoint, Ardingly ?

He is a keen chess player and used to play with Richmond chess club.. Would that be of interest to them?

Hmmm.. I'm going to have to do some research. As I said he is a clever boy bit exactly how smart would you need to be not only to get into one of these schools but to obtain a full bursary too..

Thank you everyone :)

It would be very competitive, he could get a place but then not the funding so be prepared for that scenario. Is getting him into a prep school for years 7 & 8 an option as that might give him the reparation to help him compete, or even into BC or similar at Year 8 ?

The obvious question is will you consider boarding? If yes then your choices because most boarding schools start at 13, It is also be easier to get significant financial assistance if your DS gets a scholarship. But places are fiercely fought over especially into the big names and most are not only very bright but also very well prepared by their prep schools, most of the big names will also expect him to be excelling across the board maths is particularly something they will look at, The other bit of good news is that many use CE scholarship papers which are readily available and those that write their own will usually give you past papers.

Hi there,

I've had very recent contact with BC about scholarships and bursaries, their registrar states that their maximum bursary award is roughly £6, 000 a year and scholarship awards are very competitive but only a small % moneywise.

CH is full boarding and check their exam dates for entry as they do close sometime before. If there is any involvement with the non resident parent then they are expected to sign admission forms etc.

Lancing is worth contacting, the registrar is lovely and doesn't mind the most ridiculous questions.

Other than that try Hurstpierpoint, Ardingly etc.

You'll be looking for a scholarship with a means tested bursary, but they are rarely 100%

Look on the websites for the phone number or email address of the registrar or bursar, they are always willing to help with information.

Do bear in mind that there is fee to register which can vary hugely between schools and isn't refundable if you decidenot to go ahead so best to asking the funding availibility questions first.
Theres also sometimes a hefty deposit of £500 + if you accept a place in addition to any assessed contribution.

Best of luck - it can be done but do have very honest conversations with the bursar and the headteachers.

Do also bear in mind that scholarships can be subject to review, and it is possible (theoretically at least) to lose them if academics or behaviour are not up to expectation.

Download some past papers from various schools and see how he scores. Academic standards are much higher in private schools with lots of competition for places.

I know that schools offer scholarships to gifted children but I would love to know what is expected of them at age 13. National levels etc?

More or less GCSE level in all subjects for scholarship

I'd agree with that and NC levels is a bit irrelevant as many independent schools don't use them.

slickrick the level varies from school to school the super selectives are expecting something pretty impressive certainly higher than GCSE I hear from friends that the likes of Eton will be certainly AS level and even beyond exams will be taken in 6-7 subjects some will be compulsory e.g. maths some optional e.g, a MFL. Most schools detail what they want on their websites.

GCSE or higher in some subjects, especially French.

Unless it changes, exam fees for CH are £50, Quite a few start in yr 9, my ds has had an extra 7 join him in his house this year. It is quite a complicated bursery system, but do not expect to have any spare cash if you do send him - It is a sacrifice, as they keep telling us!

Saying all that. it is a lovely school and my ds is doing very well there.

I think BC assessment for 13+ candidates in non-Common Entrance schools is due to take place quite soon for Sept 2015 and you need to register asap.

Scholarships and bursaries are usually both subject to good conduct and good effort (rarely, if ever good results, as schools generally know better than to add unnecessary stressors).

Richmond London? Because for London day schools (some of which do offer substantial bursaries) you're either too late for pre-tests (CE route) or will have to do a competitive exam, up against those who have stayed on at preps with experience for these exams. For year 7 competitive entry, those schools which state their NC expectations on their websites state level 5 (minimum) and level 6 if the primary enters any pupils at that level.

Unlike state schools, extra-curricular activity will be taken into account. Chess is a good one. At what level does he compete?

Get onto Isis.

If he is really, really, really bright, consider the oldest names because their scholarships and bursaries are so computed to mean that you have to pay v little of the basics if you can't.

But you have to be really, really, really bright, and understand that most of those not in College ( the scholars' houses) will be doing social things that your Ds can't.

"those not in College (the scholars house) will be doing social things your DS can't"
I'm not sure if that is true!
But you do have to be really really really really really bright to get to get into the oldest very selective big names.
Agree about extra curricular stuff a friends DS who tried for the Kings scholarship into Eton who plays chess rugby sailing etc was taken aback at the level and range of extra curricular activities children from Dragon and Summerhill claimed they did!

Dragon and Summerfields pack a lot of extracurricular activities to a high standard into the day. The Dragon is very expensive but has a particularly awesome range of activities and the children are very busy with all the different stuff they do ( even excluding the afterschool clubs) so that, from what I hear, senior schools like Eton, Harrow are almost a rest in comparison . I would very much doubt those scholarship candidates were making it up based on the boys I have heard about

I'm wasn't trying to imply they were making up perhaps over egging the pudding as my grand mother used to say.

Never heard of any boy do that

It might be an idea to check websites to find those schools which set papers for boys from state schools who haven't been prepped for CE. Boarding schools are generally more generous with money, especially the old established ones. And those outside the London and SE area perhaps less sought after. Try Shrewsbury and/or Malvern, both on good rail links.

Hi hippppy,

You’ve asked a very relevant question just at the most appropriate moment as far as your DS is concerned. Waste no time and look at Eton’s New Foundation Scholarships straight away. Now, I understand your worry about fees, deposits, money, money, money and a host of other things financial (who wouldn’t?) but believe me, if your son is really bright and is successful in winning one of the four NFS’s, then you’ll know Father Christmas is really alive and well even in this 21st century!

And what does that cost you?

Answer: Absolutely nothing! Except for two return train tickets from Sussex to Eton for yourself and son in a fortnight’s time on Saturday, 9 November to attend the NFS Open Day. Click calendar to November 9

*US = Upper School