Admissions at 16+

Admissions at 16+ for September 2024

KEY DATES FOR 16+ ENTRY SEPTEMBER 2024

AUTUMN TERM 2023

Thursday 21st September Sixth form open evening

Thursday 5th October Sixth form open evening

Monday 9th October Registration deadline

Friday 3rd November Bursary application deadline

Saturday 4th November 16+ entrance tests (am)

Wednesday 15th November Interview invitations emailed

Friday 17th November Interviews for selected candidates (pm)

Saturday 18th November Interviews for selected candidates (am)

Monday 20th November Music scholarship auditions

Tuesday 21st November Music scholarship auditions

Friday 1st December Results emailed

Tuesday 5th December Offer holders' event

Friday 8th December Deadline for accepting offers and deposit payment

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ADMISSION TO YEAR 12 FOR PUPILS FROM OUTSIDE SCHOOLS

How do I register my child for the 16+ entrance tests?

Go to the 16+ admissions pages on the Kings website and select the ‘How to register’ section. As part of the registration process you will be asked to upload scans of the photo page of the pupil’s passport, a passport-style photo of them and a copy of their end of year 10 school report. The candidate will also need to complete three sections which ask about their achievements, their passions and why they wish to study the subjects they have specified, at King's. (maximum 200 words per section).

What is the registration fee?

£150 which can be paid by debit card as part of the online registration process. If you feel you may have difficulty in meeting the registration payment, please advise the admissions team who may be able to help.

Do candidates need to know exactly what subjects they will be studying in the sixth form?

As part of the registration process you will be asked to specify 3 subjects the candidate is most likely to study at higher level IBDP or A level.

Can the candidates change their mind about the subjects they want to study at a later date?

Yes, but we will want to use the information you supply at registration for the interviews, if offered, so the subjects you specify at registration should be ones you are most likely to want to study. If a pupil is offered a place in the lower sixth at King’s there will be many opportunities for discussion and advice about making final subject choices and whether they will choose IBDP or A level.

My child has been registered to take tests at another school around the same time as King’s tests.

If a candidate has a clash on Saturday 4th November, such as with another school’s entry tests or a public examination, please notify us by email ( sixthformadmissions@kcs.org.uk ) of the details no later than Friday 13th October 2023. We cannot, however, guarantee to accommodate such requests.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many places do you have available at 16+ and how many candidates normally take the tests each year?

We have about 60 places available for pupils from outside schools to join the lower sixth form in September 2024. Last year we had 350 candidates sit our 16+ tests.

How many pupils from year 11 will join the sixth form each year?

It varies from year to year, but typically about 155-160 pupils from year 11 move up to the lower sixth.

Do overseas residents have to travel to Wimbledon to take your tests and interviews?

Candidates who are currently living overseas and applying for entry in September 2024 have two options.They can choose to come to King's to take our tests on Saturday 4th November or they can take our tests at their local British Council office. Interviews, if offered, will be conducted online for overseas candidates. If you would like your child to take the tests at the nearest British Council office, please contact us at sixthformadmissions@kcs.org.uk.

As a family we do not have British passports. May I still register my child?

As part of the registration process you will be asked whether your child is a British or Irish citizen. If not, you will be asked for your visa or EU settlement status, since we require each child to have the right to live and study in the United Kingdom for the duration of their study at the school. The School does not sponsor pupils under the Child Student Visa Scheme.

My child skipped a year and is in a year group ahead of their age. Can they still be registered?

In the case of a pupil who is young for their year it is usually possible to register them but they cannot take the examinations again the following year if unsuccessful at the first attempt. The admissions office should be contacted in the first instance.

My child stayed down a year as they were born in July. Can I still register them?

I am afraid not. We are unable to accept registrations for pupils who are old for their year group unless there is a compelling, usually medical, reason.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

My child gets extra time for their exams at their current school. Can they have extra time for the King’s entry test?

At King’s, the concessions available to entrance examination candidates are in line with the guidance outlined by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). Click here for our Entrance Exams Concessions policy. If a candidate has a learning need you will be asked to upload a specialist report at registration, which must be less than two years old. You will also be asked to supply a letter from your child's current school to confirm their normal way of working, for example whether they have use of a word processor or extra time. Our head of learning enrichment (SENCO) will use the information supplied to make a decision about any exam concessions or access arrangements available to candidates.

What does the entrance examination consist of?

There are three sections to the 16+ test:

Mathematics paper (50 mins): The test will be restricted to core material commonly covered during the first year of a two-year course leading to higher tier GCSE. Basic skills, primarily in algebra, will be assessed. More extensive topics that might require some revision will not be assessed.

English paper (50 mins):

The English paper will consist of a choice of extended writing questions. The questions will be based on the skills included in English Language (I)GCSE qualifications.

General paper (40 mins):

The General paper tests comprehension, critical thinking, reasoning and problemsolving skills. It is in two parts: a multiplechoice section and a longer written response based on stimulus material.

Do you have past papers of these examinations?

I am sorry, we don’t have past papers, or specimen papers.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is there just one interview?

Candidates who are invited to the next stage of the 16+ admissions process will have three interviews: two will be subject based from the choices noted on the registration form. The third will be a general interview. Each will last 15 minutes. The interviews will take place on Friday 17th November in the afternoon and Saturday 18th November in the morning.

How do I apply for a 16+ academic scholarship?

You do not need to apply. Rossetti and Fawcett academic scholarships are awarded to pupils who perform exceptionally well in the entrance examinations. Rossetti Scholarships carry a £3000 reduction in fees per annum and Fawcett Scholarships carry a £1500 reduction in fees per annum.

Do you offer music scholarships?

Yes we do. You will find an application form and further information on the 16+ admissions pages in the ‘scholarships at 16+’ section from mid September.

Are there any other scholarships available?

Art, Drama & Sport Scholarships are also available at 16+ entry. Applications are invited from pupils who have accepted a place. Assessments take place in the Spring term before entry.

Is financial support available?

As part of the registration process, you will be asked if you would like to apply for a bursary - more information on this topic can be found on our website on the help with fees page. We have a number of bursaries available for pupils joining us at 16+, as the school believes that financial means should never be a barrier to considering a place at King's for sixth form.

Can I see if my child is offered a place before applying for a bursary?

The bursary assessment is carried out by a third party company at the same time as we conduct our admissions process, so it is important that we receive your bursary application by Friday 3rd November. If you feel you may require financial support, please submit a bursary application - it will have no impact whatsoever on whether we make an offer to a candidate.

What is the pass mark for your entrance test?

There is no specific pass mark. Once we have looked at the examination results and considered the supporting information we have for each candidate, we invite around 150 candidates for an interview.

Are your offers conditional on each candidate’s GCSE results?

All offers made are unconditional: in our experience, the candidates who receive 16+ offers will typically perform exceptionally well at GCSE, therefore we don't feel it is necessary to add an additional stressor ahead of GCSEs!

How do you help the pupils joining the sixth form to get to know each other and current pupils?

A comprehensive induction programme is in place, and it's designed to foster new friendships and to help new pupils familiarise themselves with the school. Events are spread out over the Spring and Summer terms, and involve events such as a barbecue and a bowling trip.

When do I have to decide between IBDP and A levels as I don’t know anything about the IBDP?

We will hold an offer-holders’ event on Tuesday 5th December when you will have a chance to find out more about the subject choices on offer in the sixth form at King’s. Final choices are only made once you have had an opportunity to examine the alternative study options thoroughly and have received plenty of advice from appropriate teaching staff.