Verbal Reasoning Guidelines
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Contents Senior School Guidance ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Communication .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 A Summary of the Key Events to Support Parents ............................................................................................................. 5 Choosing a Senior School .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Leavers’ Destinations 2001-2017 ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Senior Schools: Timetable for Tests/Entry 2017/18 ........................................................................................................... 9 Senior School Entrance ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Scholarships and Awards Guidance .................................................................................................................................. 16 Scholarship Suitability and Award Criteria ....................................................................................................................... 17 Preparation for Senior School Entrance ........................................................................................................................... 18 Verbal Reasoning Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................ 20 Thumbnail Sketches of Senior Schools ............................................................................................................................. 21 Senior School Fees 2017/18 ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Interview Points to Consider ............................................................................................................................................ 31 2 Senior School Guidance The aim of this booklet is to set out and assist parents in choosing the best school for their child. The decisions which parents make are challenging and of course deserve the full support of the teaching staff and the School. The Hawthorns strongly believes in the benefits of the full preparatory phase with transfer at the end of Year 8 into Year 9 at their senior school. Enjoying the time that Year 7 and Year 8 gives children is very precious. Being a big fish in a small pond allows for the development of character. However, we are there to help whatever the age of transfer and will do our best to prepare all children for senior school entrance without over burdening them. Individual advice is given to parents, choosing from over 50 senior schools, to best suit personalities, potential and needs. Excellent results and a healthy range of Scholarships/Awards are consistently achieved, with thorough preparation at the different entry stages for entrance examinations. An open and honest partnership with parents is valued over all aspects of their children’s education. 3 Communication It is important that options are discussed in advance so that good liaison can take place with the schools being considered. The process of choosing the right school for your son or daughter usually takes about two years in our experience. Consequently the School introduces the process to parents at the beginning of Year 4. This allows time for conversations with the School, visits, further conversations, and of course for the appropriate preparation in exam and interview techniques whatever the age of transfer. We invite parents to talk through future school options for their son or daughter with members of the Senior Management Team on a one-to-one basis. Senior Management staff are happy to meet with parents and they can be contacted directly using the email addresses below. Please contact them if you would like to meet. Visits are regularly being made by the team to suitable senior schools and Hawthorns’ pupils enjoy a good reputation at all schools. In addition to the above, meetings are held to discuss academic progress and parents receive regular Grades and Reports on their child which we hope align expectations and ensure parents have a good understanding of their child’s work, attainment and potential. Sitting entrance exams can create some pressure on your child and yourselves but we are here to minimise the worry and ensure success. All children from The Hawthorns gain a place at a school their parents want them to go to and many gain awards as well. We strongly recommend that pupils do not sit for large number of schools. Often one school is sufficient and two is a maximum. Senior School Guides A Senior School Guide is assigned to each family to meet and support parents through the process. They can advise which schools might be suitable for children of different academic aptitudes and in addition to special events and parents evenings are always happy to meet informally and support parents. There are four senior School Guides: Aled Duggan [email protected] Simon Etchell [email protected] Donna Edmonds [email protected] Simon Walton [email protected] The best way to contact your senior school guide is via email and if help setting up a meeting is needed Pat Valenti can always assist. Her email is [email protected] The Headmaster, Adrian Floyd is always happy to support and meet parents at whatever stage they need help and an appointment can be made via his PA, Pat Valenti as above. 4 A Summary of the Key Events to Support Parents Year Term Event / Discussion / etc Year 4 Autumn Year 4 Parents’ Introductory Evening Year 4 Information evening called ‘ The Next Steps’ – a guide to choosing a Senior School education “Life at the Top” – a forum to discuss the benefits of Years 7 & 8 and the curriculum at the top of the School ‘Where to Next?’ evening (or a similar event) Spring Parent Meeting with Form Teacher (and an opportunity to meet with the senior school guide regarding general discussion about the future school process) Summer Y7 and 8 working Open Morning for Year 4 parents Year 5 Autumn Year 5 Parents’ Introductory Evening “Life at the Top” – a forum to discuss the benefits of Years 7 & 8 and the curriculum at the top of the School ‘Where to Next?’ evening (or a similar event) Spring Year 5 Individual parents’ meetings with senior school guide on senior school options Summer Y7 and 8 working Open Morning for Year 5 parents Year 6 Autumn Year 6 Parents’ Introductory Evening Individual letter to parents asking for confirmation of chosen senior school/exit intentions “Life at the Top” – a forum to discuss the benefits of Years 7 & 8 and the curriculum at the top of the School ‘Where to Next?’ evening (or a similar event) On-going individual contact and meetings arranged as necessary Spring On-going individual contact and meetings arranged as necessary Compass Curriculum Evening Summer Year 6 (and Year 7) 13+ evening for parents and children to meet other families Year 7 & 8 On-going individual contact and meetings arranged as necessary ‘Where to Next?’ evening (or a similar event) 5 Choosing a Senior School The following is an outline of the process in choosing a Senior School. 1. Preliminary Questions The first questions to consider at home are: 1. Do you want: day / boarding / co-ed / single-sex? 2. Are siblings an issue and is location important? Do not be surprised: most families find that answering these questions creates a degree of compromise. Making the best choice is all about choosing what is right for your family and your child. 2. Setting out the Process and Meeting your Senior School Guide Having attended the Year 4 Information Evening and met your senior school guide at the Year 4 Parents Evening in the Spring term in Year 4, the next step is to set up a meeting with your senior school guide. This meeting can take place anytime in Year 4 or Year 5. Please email your senior school guide. This meeting will help you to gain an understanding of your child’s academic aptitude and which school academically might be best suited to him / her. Your child’s academic aptitude will be discussed with you drawing upon: the emerging talents as he or she moves through the upper forms of the Prep School; performance data from school exams, PIE and PIMs, PIPS and other standardised testing; the Headmaster’s, senior school guide’s and staff advice. 3. Visiting Senior Schools Following the meeting it will be wise to visit some senior schools. Most parents visit at least twice: an open day and a second or more individual visit. The first visit is usually without any child. When visiting a selection of schools, you may find the following points helpful. Thumbnail sketches of senior schools are available at the end of this document before the data on school fees. After an initial round of visits parents are able to short list their selection, refer back to the senior school and then take their son or daughter on a second visit. Take your child’s reactions and views into account but do remember the best choice is usually