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Secondary education

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Westminster School 13+ admission: are they still using Common Entrance

3 replies

Voxdeisback · 12/02/2023 10:17

Westminster School 13+ admission: are they still using Common Entrance. According to their pages there's a computer-based exam two years before final admission, but no mention is made of a series of CE papers (languages, Latin, Geog, RE). Languages and Latin are "offers" for the Queen's Scholarship/The Challenge. CE for the "normal" 13+ entrance used to be at Level 2 (French and Latin). CE is not mentioned (that I can see) by WS at all.

OP posts:
CrankyP · 12/02/2023 11:51

yes and no. It’s used for setting boys once they arrive but not for deciding on entry. Boys just need to stay in the good graces of their prep school head master who will recommend if they are keeping up the standard. Our prep is still following the Common Entrance curriculum and they will still do it.

SWL2022 · 12/02/2023 16:50

No they don't use CE anymore. Current boys take a test based loosely on CE, called Ductio Nova in May. Similar content covered to start at the Great School. External boys don't take the tests either, but need to be at similar standard at their respective prep, as confirmed by head's report. The Challenge is a different beast altogether. IMHO, a bit useless, as they'll all be covering the same curriculum once at the school, so unless attending King's coronation, etc is your thing, I can't see the point of putting a child who's not a genius (the majority are NOT) through the rigmarole. No reduction on fees either. Have looked into it very closely.

CrankyP · 13/02/2023 11:17

SWL2022 · 12/02/2023 16:50

No they don't use CE anymore. Current boys take a test based loosely on CE, called Ductio Nova in May. Similar content covered to start at the Great School. External boys don't take the tests either, but need to be at similar standard at their respective prep, as confirmed by head's report. The Challenge is a different beast altogether. IMHO, a bit useless, as they'll all be covering the same curriculum once at the school, so unless attending King's coronation, etc is your thing, I can't see the point of putting a child who's not a genius (the majority are NOT) through the rigmarole. No reduction on fees either. Have looked into it very closely.

Well, free boarding, which might be attractive to some. But it seems most boys getting it are from WUS. We were actually discouraged from the Challenge by the Prep head. It’s earlier in the year so leaves them at a loose end for a term.

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