Assessment Process
Preparatory School entry at age 3+
Entry to Pre-Reception at 3+, i.e. the school year in which the child will have his/her 4th birthday, is by interview and the successful completion of a trial session, which will include the relevant assessments. Places may be either full-time or part-time, with preference given to those seeking full-time. There is a minimum requirement of 6 sessions per week. A session is either a morning or an afternoon.
Preparatory School entry at age 4+(Reception) and other Year Groups
The process is as above, with a full day trial session. Assessment dates for entry can be arranged at a convenient time during any term. The assessment day will primarily be spent working with the appropriate class and experiencing daily life at New Hall.
Senior School entry at age 11+
a) All 11+ candidates
Entrance examinations in English, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning and Non Verbal Reasoning are held in late November/December for boys and mid-January for girls. Sample papers, the examination entry form and the scholarship application form are sent in the summer prior to the year of entry, to all those who have registered. The forms should normally be returned at least two weeks prior to the examinations. A report/reference is then requested from the current Headteacher, which is an important part of the assessment process. All candidates will be interviewed, usually in pairs, by a senior member of staff on the assessment day. Candidates need to prepare a short presentation or performance (approximately 3 minutes) on a topic of their choice.
b) 11+ scholarship candidates
Following the assessments in part a) above, the highest performing candidates (from those who have applied for any of the academic scholarships) will be invited for an additional assessment on a following Saturday. There will be a scholarship essay paper of 45 minutes, plus an individual interview. Candidates who are invited to the scholarship assessment will also be given a topic for a five-minute presentation to be made at interview. Assessments for music and sport scholarships are held on a separate day.
Senior School entry at age 13+
a) All 13+ candidates
The examination entry form and the scholarship application form are sent to all those who have registered, in the summer or autumn prior to the year of entry. The forms should normally be returned at least two weeks prior to the interviews and assessments in January. All 13+ candidates will be interviewed by a senior member of staff on the assessment day. Candidates need to prepare a short presentation or performance (approximately 5 minutes) on a topic of their choice. A report/reference is also requested from the current Headteacher. The interview and report/reference are important parts of the assessment process.
There are two options for 13+ examinations:
Route A: Common Entrance examinations
Candidates who are successful in the January assessments will be given a conditional offer of a place, subject to the Common Entrance examinations. These examinations take place in the May/June prior to entry in September. The expected standard in Common Entrance would normally be at least 60%.
Route B: New Hall examinations
On the January assessment day, students who have not been prepared at their current school for the Common Entrance examinations will sit the New Hall 13+ examinations. Sample papers are sent out in advance to all those who have registered
b) 13+ scholarship candidates
New Hall offers up to 10 scholarships for entry at 13+ to the Upper School. Scholarships are awarded separately for boys and girls and each scholarship is offered in both the Boys’ Division and the Girls’ Division. Both Route A and Route B candidates who apply for scholarships are required to attend the assessment day in January. Following the assessments in January, successful candidates applying for academic scholarships will normally be entered by New Hall for the Common Academic Scholarship Examination (CASE), set by the Independent Schools’ Examinations Board (ISEB). They will take the examinations at New Hall in February, on a date set by the ISEB. Route A candidates entered for CASE will not normally be expected to sit the Common Entrance Examinations in May/June. Assessments for music and sport scholarships are held on a separate day, in early February.
Senior School entry at age 16+
a) All 16+ candidates
Entrance into the Sixth Form will be dependent on GCSE results, or equivalent, an interview with a senior member of staff and a report/reference from the current Headteacher. The normal minimum requirement for students entering the Sixth Form will be six GCSE passes (grades A*-C), with grade B or above in the subjects to be studied at A Level. Students who wish to join us in the Sixth Form are invited to participate in any relevant part of the Sixth Form Experience Week, which takes place in the Autumn Term of Year 11. This also includes a Sixth Form Open Evening, details of which are available from the Registrar.
b) 16+ scholarship candidates
Scholarships are awarded in the Spring Term preceding entry and are based on interview and GCSE mock results and/or supporting school report and/or entrance examinations.
Overseas candidates
Overseas candidates may apply for entry to the Preparatory and Senior School. For details of the relevant assessment process please contact the Registrar.
