ADMISSIONS PROCESS

DOWNSIDE’S ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE AIMS TO ENSURE THAT BOYS AND GIRLS WHO JOIN THE SCHOOL ARE ABLE TO BE HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL AND SECURE WITHIN ITS ACADEMIC, CULTURAL, PASTORAL AND SPIRITUAL ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER THEY ARE BOARDERS OR DAY PUPILS.

First to Third Form admission to the School is normally at 11+ for the First Form (Year 7) or, at 13+ for the Third Form (Year 9).

Places occasionally become available for boys and girls for admission at 12+ into the Second Form (Year 8).

VISITING DOWNSIDE We would love to welcome you to Downside to enable you to learn more about our School, giving you an opportunity to meet the community who live, study and work here. You can choose from a private visit (in person or online) or come to one of our Open Mornings which are held throughout the year.

Following your visit, if you wish to apply for a place at the School we would ask that you register your child for entry by completing our registration form. Following registration, we invite all candidates to complete entrance assessments and attend an interview.

TASTER DAYS Your child can also experience what a real day at Downside is like, from attending academic lessons, tutor time and meals to taking part in sporting and co-curricular activities.

REGISTRATION & ASSESSMENT: FOR FIRST FORM (YEAR 7) Registration is advised at least one year ahead of the start date. Pupils will be invited to an assessment day in January in the year of entry where they will be required to complete an online CAT assessment and attend an interview. A reference will also be sought from the pupil’s current school. REGISTRATION & ASSESSMENT: FOR SECOND FORM (YEAR 8) Registration for Second Form entry is accepted in the year of entry, or earlier if possible. Pupils will be asked to complete an online CAT assessment and attend an interview. A reference will also be sought from the pupil’s current school.

REGISTRATION & ASSESSMENT: FOR THIRD FORM (YEAR 9) Registration is advised at least two years ahead of the start date. Pupils will be asked to complete an online CAT assessment. Both of these can be completed at a pupil’s current school. A reference will also be sought from their current school. Pupils will be asked to complete an online CAT assessment. Both of these can be completed at a pupil’s current school.

For pupils joining us whose first language is not English, we will also ask them to complete an English assessment.

SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES Downside offers a number of scholarships for pupils hoping to join the School at 11+ and 13+. Financial support, through means-tested bursary, is open to parents who are able to demonstrate, through application, that they could not otherwise send their child to the School.

We believe a scholarship should not only be a recognition of your child’s achievements to date but also their potential, and a bursary should be there as financial support.