The New School Part of the Exeter School family
Exeter School and The New School Admissions Guide 2021-2022 Co-educational day school for children aged 3-18 years
Welcome to the Exeter School Family
Selecting a school is one of the most important decisions that you can make. Undoubtedly you will have many questions and I hope that this guide goes some way to answering them. You will also find our websites www.exeterschool.org.uk and www.thenewschoolexeter.co.uk extremely useful for providing extra information such as recent news, innovations in terms of teaching and learning, and our outstanding achievements in sports, music, and drama. The New School, based in Exminster, is a very popular pre-prep school for girls and boys aged 3 to 7 years. Having joined the Exeter School family in March 2021, the well-established relationship has been further strengthened, and we are excited that children can experience and enjoy a full Exeter School education, from the early years through to the sixth form. Exeter School is one of the leading schools in the Southwest and top performing independent secondary school in Devon (The Sunday Times Parent Power table 2020). We are academically selective and all pupils joining the Junior and Senior School sit an entrance assessment. My admissions team aim to make the process of applying for a place as smooth as possible and we are here to answer any questions you may have. Above all else, I encourage you to come and visit us – nothing beats seeing and experiencing our wonderful school in action. Whether it is for a tour of the school with our pupils, at an open event, or for a more focussed discussion with the Head, I would be delighted to welcome you to Exeter School and The New School. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.
Liz Williams Director of Admissions and Marketing
The Admissions Process
Applying for a place
Getting to know us
Once you have decided that you would like your child to be considered for entry into the school, the first step is to register them.
We encourage all prospective parents and pupils to come and visit the school as many times as they would like, in order that they feel confident about their decision.
You can complete the registration form online and the registration fee is £100 for a UK student registered before the admissions deadline. Late registrations will incur an additional £50 registration fee and will be considered if a place is available. This non-refundable fee covers the administration of your child’s application.
We hold open events and taster days throughout the academic year, and these provide excellent opportunities to talk to pupils and staff, and to view our facilities. You may also wish to visit us on an individual basis for a private tour of the school followed by a meeting with the Head or Director of Admissions and Marketing as appropriate. Meetings with other key members of staff, such as the Director of Sport or Director of Music, can also be arranged.
Key dates Please book a place online at www.exeterschool.org.uk or www.thenewschoolexeter.co.uk
2022 spring term Friday 7 January
Closing date for the receipt of scholarship applications
2021 autumn term Wednesday 29 September
Autumn whole school open evening: 5.30 – 8 pm
Saturday 9 October
Years 3 and 4 entry Inspiring Minds@Exeter School
Saturday 6 November
Year 7 entry taster morning
Tuesday 9 November
Sixth form open evening: 5.30pm – 8pm
Wednesday 10 November
Years 3 and 4 entry taster day
Tuesday 16 November Thursday 18 November Saturday 20 November
Closing date for the receipt of bursary applications
Closing date for September 2022 entry registrations to the junior school Saturday 15 January
Senior school entrance assessment day
Wednesday 19 January
‘Into the Sixth Form’ open evening: 5.30pm – 8pm
Saturday 29 January
Junior school entrance assessment day Scholarship entry assessments (tbc).
Sixth form taster day
Thursday 3 & Friday 4 February
Sixth form taster day
Year 9 entry taster day
Tuesday 15 February Friday 18 February
Sixth form interview day
Tuesday 8 March
Whole school open morning: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Saturday 19 March
Years 3 and 4 entry Inspiring Minds@Exeter School
Years 5 and 6 entry Inspiring Minds@Exeter School Scholarship taster day
Tuesday 23 November
Year 5 entry taster day
Saturday 27 November
Sixth form interview day
Friday 3 December
Whole school open morning: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 14 December
Closing date for September 2022 entry registrations to the senior school
2022 summer term Saturday 14 May
Summer open day: 1pm – 4pm
Monday 16 May
Year 5 and 6 entry taster day
Wednesday 18 May
Years 3 and 4 entry taster day
Monday 13 June
Whole school open morning: 9.30am – 12.30pm
The New School
Entry into The New School Entrance conditions There is no formal assessment procedure for The New School. Children can join the school the half term after they turn three, and no longer require nappies during the day. Taster days are always available, and we are happy to welcome new children into the school so that they can get a good feel for what The New School is all about.
Funding Parents may claim 15 hours of funded childcare (dependent on eligibility) from the term following their child’s third birthday.
Nursery 3 to 4 years The day is divided into two sessions, morning, and afternoon, with lunch included in the morning session. Morning Session (including lunch)
8.30am – 12.30pm
Afternoon Session
12.30pm – 3.30pm
All Day (including lunch)
8.30am – 3.30pm
An Early Birds session is available from 7.30am – 8.30am and the late room operates from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
Reception, Year 1 and 2 In the spring term of your child’s final year in Nursery, you will be required to increase your acceptance deposit by an additional £200, to a total of £400, to secure a place in Reception. The school day begins at 8.30am but children can arrive and join the Early Birds club from 7.30 to 8.30 am. Lunch is at 12pm and hot meals are served in the hall. Hot meals are provided by Exeter School. These are healthy, balanced meals with a vegetarian option. The school day ends at 3.30pm but your child may join the late room until 5.30pm if extended care is needed. We also offer a bus service to and from Exeter School at the beginning and end of each day.
Exeter Junior School
Entry into Exeter Junior School Entry to the junior school usually takes place at 7+ and 9+, but children may also enter at other ages where places are available. Selection is by assessment and a report and reference from the child’s current school once they have been confirmed as a candidate for entry. Registrations for 2022 entry should be received by Friday 7 January 2022; applications made after this closing date will incur an additional registration charge of £50. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to attend a taster day in the junior school prior to assessment as this provides an opportunity to meet the Headmistress, staff, and current pupils. Children in Year 2 at The New School will attend a taster day and be assessed for entry to Exeter Junior School in their class rather than at the junior school. Parents do not need to complete another registration or attend the assessment day on Saturday 29 January 2022. During the assessment pupils will be given an opportunity to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills as appropriate for their age.
ENGLISH The English tests will assess the child’s skills in all the key aspects of literacy: reading, comprehension, writing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and handwriting. The writing test comprises a planning/ introductory session with the teacher before writing. The introduction may take the form of verbal, visual or concrete stimulus which is fully discussed with the pupils before they start. A good standard of presentation, punctuation, and content of writing is encouraged rather than the quantity. Children may also read a passage from an ageappropriate text to the teacher.
MATHEMATICS The maths assessment takes the form of two papers: a general maths paper covering a range of topics. Pupils are encouraged to show their working. There is also a timed mental maths paper, assessing accuracy and speed across a variety of mathematical concepts including number work. The questions are read out and repeated by the teacher. Children sitting the 7+ and 8+ (Years 3 and 4 entry) have the maths paper read aloud by the teacher.
Children sitting the 10+ (Year 6 entry) are allowed to use a calculator for the first part of the maths test so it will be useful to familiarise children with calculators beforehand. Children joining Year 6 may also need to sit the 11+ entry assessment for progression to Exeter School. Pupils who are assessed remotely will have an online interview with the Head or Deputy Head. Where assessment has been completed remotely, we reserve the right to withdraw the place if a pupil’s academic performance is less than expected upon entry to the school.
Exeter School
Entry into Exeter School Entry to the senior school usually takes place at Years 7 or 9, but applicants may also enter other year groups where places are available. All pupils are required to sit the Exeter School entrance assessments and in addition, pupils entering Years 9 and 10 will be required to have an interview with the Head or a member of the senior leadership team. Exeter School is not just about excelling academically, the curriculum includes sport, music, art and drama, as well as clubs, activities and societies offered to all pupils to build friendships, enrich their lives and promote mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing. Attending a taster day, assessment and interview is a great way for your child to begin to experience this, and to ask us all the questions that they might have about starting a new school. Registrations for 2022 entry should be received by Tuesday 14 December 2021; applications made after this closing date will incur an additional registration charge of £50. Entrance assessments for entry to the senior school in September 2022 will take place
on Saturday 15 January 2022. Sample papers are available upon request. The following papers will be set:
11+ Year 7, 12+ Year 8 ENGLISH (ONE HOUR) This paper will contain a reading exercise designed to assess candidates’ comprehension skills. Candidates will also be asked to write a whole text such as a descriptive piece or story.
MATHEMATICS (ONE HOUR) This paper will test competence in basic arithmetic and fractions (not including multiplication or division of decimals). Other questions will be designed to test the ability to solve problems using numerical skills for which no special techniques are required. Calculators are not allowed.
COGNITIVE ABILITIES TEST (TWO HOURS) There will also be an element of testing using computers. The test asks questions based on verbal, non-verbal, special and quantitative reasoning, which includes multiple choice, drag and drop and complete the word answers. This innovative test provides a reliable, fair and comprehensive assessment for children whatever their educational
background. The test is deliberately designed to be taken without any prior practice. Pupils who are assessed remotely will have an online interview with the Head or a member of the senior leadership team. Where assessment has been completed remotely, we reserve the right to withdraw the place if a pupil’s academic performance is less than expected upon entry to the school.
13+ Year 9 ENGLISH (1 HOUR 15 MINUTES) This paper will contain a reading exercise designed to assess candidates’ comprehension skills and will also assess candidates’ writing skills by requiring them to construct a written piece of an argumentative, informative, or imaginative nature.
MATHEMATICS (1 HOUR 15 MINUTES) Questions are similar in style and content to those at 11+ but include some additional age-appropriate material including basic algebra, angle facts, harder fraction operations and measurement of area and volume, amongst others. Calculators are not allowed.
SCIENCE (1 HOUR) Short questions based on the content expected to have been covered by the time of the 13+ examinations in biology, chemistry, and physics in the style of typical Key Stage 3 assessments. Calculators are allowed.
COGNITIVE ABILITIES TEST (2 HOURS) There will also be an element of testing using computers. The test asks questions based on verbal, non-verbal, special, and quantitative reasoning, which includes multiple choice, drag and drop and complete the word answers. This innovative test provides a reliable, fair and comprehensive assessment for children whatever their educational background. The test is deliberately designed to be taken without any prior practice. There will also be a fifteen-minute interview with the Head or member of the senior leadership team. Pupils who are assessed remotely will have an online interview with the Head or a member of the senior leadership team. Where assessment has been completed remotely, we reserve the right to withdraw the place if a pupil’s academic performance is less than expected upon entry to the school.
14+ Year 10 ENGLISH (1 HOUR 30 MINUTES) This paper will contain a reading exercise designed to assess candidates’ comprehension skills and will also assess candidates’ writing skills by requiring them to construct a written piece of an argumentative, informative, or imaginative nature.
MATHEMATICS (1 HOUR 15 MINUTES) Questions are similar in style and content to those at 11+ but include some additional age-appropriate material including basic algebra, angle facts, harder fraction operations and measurement of area and volume, amongst others. Calculators are not allowed.
SCIENCE (1 HOUR) Short questions based on the content expected to have been covered by the time of the 14+ examinations in biology, chemistry, and physics in the style of typical Key Stage 3 assessments. Calculators are allowed.
MODERN FOREIGN L ANGUAGE (30 MINUTES) This will consist of a short, written test which candidates will complete in a foreign language which they intend to take at GCSE. A choice of papers in French, German or Spanish are offered.
COGNITIVE ABILITIES TEST (2 HOURS) There will also be an element of testing using computers. The test asks questions based on verbal, non-verbal, special, and quantitative reasoning, which includes multiple choice, drag and drop and complete the word answers. This innovative test provides a reliable, fair and comprehensive assessment for children whatever their educational background. The test is deliberately designed to be taken without any prior practice. There will also be a fifteen minute-interview with the Head or a member of the senior leadership team. Pupils who are assessed remotely will have an online interview with the Head or a member of the senior leadership team. Where assessment has been completed remotely, we reserve the right to withdraw the place if a pupil’s academic performance is less than expected upon entry to the school.
Exeter School Sixth Form
Entry into Exeter School Sixth Form Entrance conditions All candidates seeking entry to the sixth form will be required to achieve a minimum of three GCSE passes at grade 7 and three GCSE passes at grade 6, to include English and maths (or equivalent qualifications from the pupil’s own country) and provide a satisfactory report and reference from their present school. Registrations for 2022 entry should be received by Tuesday 14 December 2021; applications made after this closing date will incur an additional registration charge of £50. In order to study certain subjects, candidates will need to have achieved a grade 7 in that subject (or related discipline) at GCSE. Please see the A Level brochure or course information on the website for details of the individual subject requirements.
Admissions process The sixth form interview day will be held on Saturday 27 November. The day consists of: • Interviews with the Heads of Departments of the four subjects the candidate wishes to study at A Level. These are designed to discover a candidate’s motivation, future potential, and existing subject knowledge. • An interview with the Head and Head of Sixth Form. • Evaluation of a reference provided by the candidate’s present school. • An assessment of extra-curricular commitments and skills already possessed by the candidate in such areas as the arts, music, outdoor activities, and sport. • A computer-based cognitive abilities (CAT4) test.
Scholarships
Scholarships and Exhibitions The scholarship taster day is on Saturday 20 November and all applications for scholarships for the year 2022/23 must be received by Friday 7 January 2022. Scholarships are awards based on merit and excellence. They are awarded for current and new pupils entering Years 7, 9 and 12, with outstanding talent in the fields of sport, music, art and drama. Like many schools, scholarships do not have an accompanying fee remission, but means-tested bursaries can be applied for to supplement these awards.
ACADEMIC These awards take the form of a prize to top performers in the entrance assessments and examinations taken in January. These prizes are presented to the pupils, usually at Speech Day. They are awarded at 7+ (year 3), 11+ (year 7) and 13+ (year 9).
ART Candidates for art scholarships are required to attend a practical test and interview with the Head of Art. Candidates will be asked to: • Sit a practical test which will be held by the Head of Art under supervised conditions • Provide a portfolio of work to display evidence of their skill and interest in the subject • Attend a short interview where they will be asked to demonstrate their interest and experience in the subject Candidates will also have a short interview with the Head. Art scholars are expected to attend all the lessons provided and to participate in the exhibitions and trips to art galleries that the art department arranges.
DR AMA Candidates for drama scholarships are required to attend a practical test and interview with the Head of Drama. Acting candidates will be asked to: • Prepare a short monologue (approximately two minutes) from a play of their choosing, to be learnt by heart.
Design candidates will be asked to: • Produce a logbook including sketches of set, costumes, or lighting from a play of their own choice. All candidates will be asked to: • Discuss a theatrical production seen in the last twelve months Candidates will also have a short interview with the Head.
MUSIC Candidates for music scholarships are required to attend an audition and interview with the Director of Music. Candidates will be asked to: • Play or sing two pieces of their own choice on their principal instrument or voice • Play and/or sing at sight • Aural tests at a standard to match the pupil’s experience Candidates will also have a short interview with the Head. Music scholars are expected to attend all the lessons provided and to participate in the ensembles and engagements that the music department arranges. These may involve weekends and after school events.
SPORT Sporting scholarships will be awarded to those who can demonstrate a high level of ability across a range of different sporting activities, show an outstanding attitude and commitment to the school and their own development. Candidates will be assessed on their current level of competency and future potential. As part of the process there will also be an interview with the Director of Sport and the Head. Candidates will be asked to bring along a record of achievement including a reference. Full details of the sports kit candidates require will be given prior to the day. Sports scholars are expected to attend all the lessons provided and to participate in the activities and fixtures the sports department arranges. These may involve weekends and after school events.
Bursaries
confirmed their child is a candidate for the coming year, the child has been registered, and the registration fee paid. All applications for support for the year 2022/23 must be received by Friday 7 January 2022. The assessment process will include a home visit by an agent employed by the school. As a general guide, gross parental income will need to be below £60,000 per annum to be considered for a bursary.
Free Places As part of its bursary programme, Exeter School is able to offer up to nine free places in the senior school and sixth form as a result of donations and legacies from former pupils, and grants from a local charity:
Exeter School aims to be as accessible as possible to boys and girls who would benefit from its academic, cultural, sporting and wide extra-curricular provision. We encourage all families to consider Exeter School, regardless of whether they think they can afford the full tuition fees. We do our best to admit and support a wide variety of pupils from many diverse backgrounds. The Governors of the school recognise that many of its parents must make personal sacrifices to secure their children’s education and fees are set at levels which represent excellent value for money, particularly in light of the opportunities offered by the school. Awards fall into two categories:
Bursaries Bursaries are means-tested awards based on parental circumstances and are awarded on an annual basis. They are available to external candidates who meet the school’s academic entry requirement and whose parents could not afford to send their child to Exeter School without financial assistance. The financial support available through the school’s bursary programme is limited and applications must be supported by a full, written, verified statement of financial circumstances. Parents who wish their children to be considered for a bursary should make an application by completing the form available from the Director of Admissions and Marketing once they have
• The Foundation Bursaries, funded from alumni legacies and gifts, will offer free places for up to three pupils entering the school at 11+ (Year 7). • The St John’s Hospital Educational Foundation grant will offer up to three full bursaries for sixth form entry. • The George Williams Bursaries will offer up to two free places to study the sciences at sixth form. These bursaries have been made possible by a generous bequest and continuing donations from the estate of a prominent deceased former pupil. • The Bob Griffin Bursary will provide financial support for pupils entering the sixth form to study modern foreign languages. The generosity of our alumni and others with connections to the school is central to our being able to provide the large amount of support we can give to bright children from families in modest circumstances; families who would otherwise be unable to take advantage of our splendid facilities and first-class education.
The New School Fees
The New School fees list
TERMLY TUITION FEES
Registration fee Payable on registration and non-refundable
£100
Nursery
£8.75 per hour*
Reception under 5s
£8.75 per hour*
Acceptance of place deposit Nursery (applicable for all, including those in receipt of Early Years entitlement)
£200
Reception over 5s
£2,892
Years 1 and 2
£2,978
Acceptance of place deposit £400 Reception, Years 1 and 2 In the spring term of your child’s final year in Nursery you will be required to increase your acceptance deposit by an additional £200, to a total of £400, to secure a place in Reception. If your child does not progress into Reception, your £200 nursery acceptance deposit will be deducted from the final invoice as your child leaves the school, or refunded if you have no outstanding fees to pay, and the required notice period (as explained in the terms and conditions) has been given.
* We participate in the Government’s Early Years Funding Scheme (nursery vouchers) which entitles parents to a maximum of 15 free hours per week for a period of up to six terms, from the term after a child reaches the age of three years, to the term after a child reaches the age of five years. Additional hours are charged at the published hourly rate.
ADDITIONAL CHARGES Early Birds (7.30am-8.30am), per 30 minutes
£2.60
Lunches, per day
£3.40**
After school care (3.30pm-5.30pm), per 30 minutes
£2.60
Late room is free if claimed as part of your 15 hours Early Years entitlement
NURSERY SESSIONS Morning session (8.30am-12.30pm)
4 hours
All day session (8.30am-3.30pm)
7 hours
Extended late room (3.30am-5.30pm) 2 hours ** Lunches are compulsory for all children attending all day or for a morning session.
Exeter School Fees Terms and Conditions
School lunches Junior school lunches are mandatory and are charged termly in advance at the following rates Autumn term 2021
£249.60
Spring term 2022
£230.10
Summer term 2022
£187.20
Senior school lunches are optional and are charged termly in advance at the following rates Autumn term 2021
£281.60
Spring term 2022
£259.60
Summer term 2022
£211.20
DUE DATE It is a condition of your contract with the school that all fees invoices must be paid by the first day of each term. For the academic year 2021/22, the due dates are therefore 6 September 2021, 4 January 2022 and 25 April 2022. In the event of late payment, the rate of interest charged will be at 1.5% per month accruing on a daily basis. This late payment charge will be added to subsequent invoices.
PAYMENT
Exeter School fees list Registration fee Payable on registration and non-refundable
£100
Acceptance of place deposit
£400
Termly tuition fees
Fees may be paid by direct transfer into the school’s NatWest bank account. The account number is 00719722 and the sort code 56-00-49. The parent code, shown on the bill as a number, must be quoted as the reference for this payment. Exeter School no longer accepts credit cards for the payment of school fees. No charge will apply if payment is made by debit card.
EX AM FEES
Senior school (charged in three equal termly instalments of £4,900)
£14,700 per annum
Tuition fees do not include the charges for external examinations, whether modular or linear. These are paid in advance by the school on behalf of the pupil and shown separately on fees invoices.
Junior school Form One/Upper One (Years 3 and 4) (charged in three equal termly instalments of £4,040)
£12,120 per annum
NOTICE
Lower Two/Upper Two (Years 5 and 6) £12,360 (charged in three equal termly per instalments of £4,120) annum
As set out in the school’s terms and conditions, one full term’s notice in writing is required before the withdrawal of a pupil from the school, otherwise a full term’s fees in lieu of notice will be due.
TERMLY INSTALMENT SCHEME A monthly direct debit payment scheme is available to all parents to spread each term’s fees over four monthly payments. The first instalment for the autumn term is taken at the end of July. No charge is made for this convenient method of payment.
Parents are strongly encouraged to make use of this facility, the details of which are available from the Deputy Bursar.
PERSONAL ACCIDENT AND DENTAL INSUR ANCE This covers serious injury of a lasting nature occurring during term time or holidays as well as dental treatment arising as a result of a dental accident or emergency. This is included in the termly fees.
How to apply To apply for a place at The New School or Exeter School, please fill out the relevant registration forms: For Exeter School: www.exeterschool.org.uk/admissions. For The New School: email admissions@exeterschool.org.uk and request a copy of the registration form.
SCHOOL FEES REFUND SCHEME
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
This scheme provides for a proportion of fees to be refunded if five consecutive tuition days or more of schooling are lost because of illness. If you wish to opt out please complete the slip at the bottom of the School Fees Refund Scheme information sheet or notify the Deputy Bursar in writing. It should be noted, however, that a decision to opt out is now final: parents cannot opt back in at a later date.
You will need to complete the forms listed below to register for a place. For ease, we have identified the documents you will need prior to completing the forms.
PERSONAL EFFECTS The school stresses the need to ensure that the pupil’s personal clothing and property (which should also be clearly marked with the pupil’s name) are covered by family insurance. The school’s own policy protects parents only where negligence can be claimed (e.g. watch lost having been handed to a member of staff for safe custody). It is particularly important to cover for lost/stolen bicycles, musical instruments, mobile phones and the like.
HIRE OF INSTRUMENTS The Director of Music can provide assistance with the provision of private music lessons. Subject to availability instruments may be hired from the school at the following rates:
Junior size string instruments
£ per term
Special rate for clarinet/ saxophone
£17.50
n/a
Other instruments 1st year of use £17.50 2nd year of use £34 Subsequent years of use £81.50
£21.50 £43 £89
Please note: all fees are subject to change after this guide has been published.
REGISTR ATION FORM • A copy of the child’s passport or birth certificate. • Name and address of child’s current school. • Name of the current Head. • Current school report. • Recent electronic photograph. • How long child has been at their school. • Details of parent(s)/guardian(s). • Hobbies of child. • Details of any special needs or disabilities your child may have, and anu educational support they receive. • Details of any medication and/or medical conditions your child has. • Electronic signature of parent(s)/guardian(s). • A payment of £100/£150 for the registration fee.
IN ADDITION FOR SIXTH FORM APPLICANTS • Your child’s predicted GCSE grades. Please do not worry if you do not yet know these. • Your child’s preferred subjects they wish to study at A Level.
Victoria Park Road Exeter, Devon EX2 4NS 01392 307080 www.exeterschool.org.uk @ExeterSchoolUK