Admission to Independent schools

[rose1947]

We are keen to send our son to a boarding school and shortlisted Harrow boys, Westminster school and Eton College. My son is a bright boy but not a prodigy, he is in year 5 at a prep school and always been in top set. The school is not preparing them for Pretest or 11 plus, but they do prepare them for common entrance exam in year 8. We visited Harrow boys school last week and my son liked the school, we met many parents mostly from London. They mentioned that the London prep-schools are preparing the children for Pretest with regular computer based tests. We are very worried, we are new to this, could someone with their children in these schools advice me on how to prepare for Pretest. Is this test tougher than 11 plus test, are there any resources/test papers to practice. Any advice/suggestions will be gratefully received.

Thanks a lot. What is BT. I have subscribed Bofa, bought some Bond books, will get CGP. This is a feeder for local schools and Rugby boarding, no pretest in these schools, just headmasters recommendation and common entrance result. We visited Harrow, Westminster and Eton, they said don’t prepare boys but most parents who came were Londoners, they are preparing rigorously. I was surprised to know that children work 3 hours a day and longer in the weekend. In London there are many 11 plus classes and private tutors. I have enrolled my ds to a 11 plus class, no private tutors. Did you use private tutors, is it necessary.

hi rose1947, my son recently sat the pretest. We found out today he has been invited to the Harrow test next Autumn and to meet housemasters in January. His school is a prep school, but in Yorkshire, and not used to pretest. We did a lot of the Bond ten minute test books in VR , NVR, English and Maths as well as the pretestplus website and planet BOFA. He said the tests were very hard towards the end but as they are adaptive if they get very hard questions it means they are doing well. Hope that helps

I could really do with some advice...my DS in in need of a secondary school in north London, independent or mainstream. It would be great if anyone knows of one with the 'right balance' he has HFA( high functioning autism) and needs great pastoral care and academic progression to enable him even further. Or someone might know of a very small setting. Ideally we don't want to send him to a special school, but are struggling to hv his needs met in current secondary school. Any advice would be gratefully received.😊

They should be preparing for the pre-test. Peculiar that the aren’t.

Bella you may be better starting new thread with a title of

Secondary in north London (state or Indy) for DS with HFA

What does your current school recommend? What age does it go up to?

Not all borders go home - some do after Saturday lessons and return Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Hi drkag, Thank you very much for the information and congratulations. is it possible to contact you directly, I am on gmail.