Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

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1 Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Entry at 7+ & 11+ Q: When should I apply for my daughter to join the school? A: There is no advantage to early applications, all candidates are considered based on their performance in the admissions process. It is recommended applications are made between early March and end October of the year preceding the proposed year of entry to the school. Applications will be accepted from January of the year preceding the proposed year of entry to the school and the deadline for applications for entry at 7+ and 11+ is 1 st December of the year prior to entry. For example, applications for entry in September 2017 should be submitted during 2016, before 1 st December Q: How many places are available at 7+ and 11+? A: There are approximately 48 places available for entry to the Junior School at 7+. There are approximately 100 places available for entry to the Senior School, of these approximately one-third go to girls from our own Junior School with the remaining twothirds being offered to girls joining LEH at 11+. Q: What format do the assessments take for entry at 7+ and 11+? A: For entry at 7+ the girls complete Mathematics and English tests and may be invited to attend an activity session which will involve group activities to assess learning potential. For entry at 11+ girls complete entrance examination papers which may cover Mathematics, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning and problem-solving. Candidates may be invited for individual interviews with a member of staff. Q: Do you recommend tutoring before the assessments? A: We do not recommend tutoring, although it is sensible to ensure your daughter is prepared for examination-style conditions and to working in a timed environment. If your daughter has never worked in timed conditions before the entrance examinations you may wish to prepare her at home for this style of working. The setting for the entrance examinations aims to ensure each girl is relaxed and able to work at her best. Girls take the assessments in small groups of approximately 25 in a classroom setting with a teacher in the room and breaks are given in between the papers. Q: What is the pass mark? A: There is no pass mark, entry is competitive and we are looking for the best candidates from the applicants for the approximately 48 places at 7+ and approximately 70 places at 11+.

2 Q: Will you contact my daughter s current school, if so, when? A: For all entries to the Senior School we request a reference from the Head of your daughter s current school in December preceding the entrance examination. For entry at 16+ into the Sixth Form we request this reference before the entrance examination in early November. For entry to the Junior School we may request a reference from the Head of your daughter s current school during December or January. Q: Do you give extra time to girls with special educational needs (SEN)? A: If your daughter has a documented special educational need please send a copy of the educational psychologist s report with your application. If the report recommends additional time in the entrance examination, then this will be offered in line with any regulations covering such areas. Please do get in touch with the Registrar if there are any specific issues affecting your daughter s application to the school before the entrance examination. The granting of extra time for your daughter when she sits the school s entrance examination papers cannot, regrettably, be taken as a guarantee of the award, by the public examination boards, of extra time in her GCSE, A level or other public examinations. The school is subject to regulations dictated by the JCQ, and is required to follow a process of evidence gathering which may or may not lead to a successful application for access arrangements in public examinations in due course. Q: When can I apply for a bursary place? A: Financial support may be available to candidates applying to join the Senior School. You should indicate on your application form if you wish to apply for a Bursary. The bursary application forms are made available on the website from September and should be completed and returned with the relevant supporting material prior to end October for Sixth Form applications and prior to end November for all other Senior School applications. Q: How do I apply for an academic scholarship? A: Academic scholarships are only applicable for entry at 11+ or 16+. All candidates who complete the entrance examinations at 11+ and 16+ are automatically considered for academic scholarships. Q: How do I apply for a music scholarship? A: Music scholarships are only applicable for entry at 11+ or 16+. You should indicate on your application form if you wish to apply for a music scholarship. There is a separate music scholarship application form which should be completed and returned, together with supporting references from music teachers, as part of your application. Candidates may be invited for a music audition after completing the academic selection stage of the admissions process.

3 Q: Are there other scholarships available? A: At 16+ there is an Art Scholarship and a Drama Scholarship available for both external Sixth Form applicants and existing pupils within the school moving to the Sixth Form. Candidates for the Art Scholarship will plan to study Art & Design A level. Also at 16+ pupils within the school moving to the Sixth Form are able to apply for a Sports Scholarship. Details of the application process can be found in the Sixth Form Prospectus Information booklet given to all Year 11 pupils to assist with their A level selection process. In summary, Sports Scholarships are awarded for excellence in a chosen sport and commitment to school sport. Q: Can my daughter take the entrance examination at her current school overseas? A: If your daughter is applying for the Junior School it is a requirement that she attends LEH on the entrance examination day. If you are travelling from overseas and we have been notified of this we are able to arrange for her to complete the group activity assessment on the same day so there will be no requirement for you to remain in the UK or return to the UK for a second time. If your daughter is applying for the Senior School it may be possible for your daughter to complete the entrance examinations at her current overseas school, this will need to be agreed between the Registrar and your daughter s current school. If your daughter is successful in the entrance examinations she will be required to attend an interview at the school before a place is offered. If your daughter travels from overseas to complete the entrance examination at LEH and we are made aware of this we will arrange to interview her on the day of the examination. Q: From which schools do girls typically join LEH? A: At 7+ the girls join from a wide variety of both state and independent schools. At 11+ the girls also join from a wide variety of both state and independent schools, with approximately one-third of girls joining the Senior School moving from our own Junior School Pupils at the school Q: From what areas do girls attend LEH? A: There is a wide catchment with many pupils travelling to school from Turnham Green, Chiswick, Kew, Richmond, Hounslow, Isleworth, Twickenham and Teddington and others travelling from Wimbledon, New Malden, Surbiton, Esher, Claygate, Osxhott, Cobham, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge and Leatherhead. Our coach service details can be found on our website by selecting About Us, Location and Transport, Coach Services and then clicking on the link to download or view the coach route map. If there is a coach from your area then there will be girls attending the school from your area.

4 Q: How do girls travel to school? A: There is a joint coach service between LEH and Hampton School for Boys. Approximately 50% of girls use the coach service to travel to and from school, although this % is slightly higher in the Senior School and lower in the Junior School. The school is also very well connected with local transport links. There are two bus routes that operate along the Hanworth Road, the R70 from the Richmond area and the 111 which runs from Kingston via Hanworth and Hounslow. In addition, the 285 operates along the Uxbridge Road and the R68 along Hampton Hill High Street. The nearest railway station is Hampton, which is connected to LEH by the 111 bus or is a 15-minute walk. Additionally, late coaches operate as an option for girls in the Senior School. These run along five routes leaving school at 6pm, route details can be found on the website. The late coach services will continue to operate as long as there is sufficient demand to make them economically feasible. Q: Is there any before and after school care available? A: There is a breakfast club and a tea and prep club for girls in the Junior School, available at an additional cost. For girls in the Senior School they are able to enter the school after 8am and work in their classrooms or the library. After school girls in the Senior School can work in the library. Entry to Sixth Form at 16+ Q: When should I apply to join the Sixth Form? A: All candidates are considered on the basis of their performance in the admissions process. Applications are accepted from January of the year preceding the proposed year of entry and must be received at school before the October half-term holiday of that year. For example, the deadline for applications to join the Sixth Form in September 2017 is Thursday 20 th October Q: What format do the assessments take for entry at 16+? A: For entry into the Sixth Form all girls complete a general Data Analysis paper along with four subject papers for the 4 subjects they propose to study at A level. If two of the proposed subjects are Mathematics and Further Mathematics girls will choose a fifth subject to study and will take an entrance examination paper in that subject. If a candidate proposes to study Art at A level there is no entrance examination paper but they will be required to display a portfolio if they are invited for interview. If a candidate proposes to study a new subject they have not studied before, such as Philosophy, Psychology or Economics they will complete an entrance examination paper which is seeking to identify aptitude for the subject rather than specific subject knowledge.

5 Q: Where do girls go when they leave LEH? A: We are extremely proud of the girls who leave school who go on to a wide array of prestigious universities and other distinguished career opportunities such as internships, both in the UK and overseas. The vast majority of girls go on to Russell Group Universities with others moving to study overseas. The girls study a wide range of courses including medicine, engineering, Classics amongst others. Full details of the destination and subjects of study of recent leavers can be found on the website by selecting About Us, Senior School, Careers and Future Destinations.