When should we start touring schools for 13+ (yr9)?

[MrPickles73]

DD is AR an all though school and is in year 5. There is another school we could consider which has year 9 entry. Entry is by exam in October of year 8. We viewed the school already without her. When would it be good timing to take her to have a look? Yr 6? Yr 7? Many thanks

AR = at... no clue how this corrective text thing works

We took DD in Y5 thinking it was ridiculously early for Y9 entry - turned out that we were on track. Did all the possibles last year and now seeing the ones we are really interested in again in the Spring.

A lot of the ones on our long list pre-test in Y6, although all those on our short-list don't so could have left it later. I wouldn't recommend waiting till Y7.

If you are after scholarships - especially in things other than academics - then the schools themselves often like to see the child a number of times before. Our top choice has asked to see DD annually to track her progress.

Thank you that's really helpful. As far as I know this school does not pretest and is focused on academic performance so there are no sports scholarships etc. There are bursaries are available but we would be unlikely to meet the criteria. It's good to know people start touring in year 5 thank you.