Let our spirits soar high Next Steps 2024/25
...this'warmandnuturing'prepinspirespupils tomakethemostoftheirruralsetting."-Tatler "
HEAD'SINTRODUCTIONTOKITEBROOKNEXTSTEPS
MrBennjamynSmith Headmaster
The Next Steps transition to senior school can be a daunting process and one which may cause much stress and anxiety. There is never a one fit model for every child and much time and commitment is invested by the Kitebrook Next Steps team in ensuring that you and your child have a bespoke approach to secure your first choice of senior school.
Our five step approach has been designed to ensure that you not only have the information on the senior schools to make an informed decision but that you, and your child, are prepared for the application process including examinations, interviews,scholarshipsandbursaries.
At Kitebrook we believe that every child has one childhood. My philosophy is, that as educators we are responsible for the educational choices your child makes until they reach 21 years of age and they enter the work space. The foundations taught here at Kitebrook of academic rigour; soft interpersonal skills;OralEnglish andpresentation skills; collaboration and teamwork are crucial to ensuring your child is able to meet and succeed withtherequirementsofthe21stCentury.
Kitebrook prepares pupils and parents with the information they require to make an informed decision on the secondary school option which bestsuitstheirchild.
ENTRYPOINTSTOSENIORSCHOOLS
Understandingthedifferententrypointsfortheschoolsyouarepotentiallyconsidering for your child is crucial in ensuring that both you and they are prepared and ready to makethattransition.
There are several different types of senior schools; some operate a 3 - 18 model and will havetheirownprepschoolwhichnaturallyfeedsintotheseniorschool.Otherswillrun from 11 - 18 or 13 - 18. Understanding which of these schools is best for your child can often depend on the emotional development of your child and also the academic prowessoftheseniorschool.
There are a number of different pathways to enter senior schools with the traditional routessumarisedbelow:
Year5-9+Scholarshipentrypoint
Year7-11+entrytoState&Independent Schools
Year8-12+entrytocompetitiveschools
Year9-13+CommonEntrance
SeniorSchool
ENTRANCETESTING
Entrance tests can be stressful events, ensuring that you are prepared with understanding,notonlythetestingtype,butalsowhenanentrancetestislikelytobesat is an important factor in deciding if your senior school choice is the right one for your child.
Seniorschoolentrancetestingwilltaketheformatofoneofthefollowing:
ISEBPre-Test-satinYear6or7forentryat11+and13+
CAT4-similartesttotheISEBthiswillbeoperatedbytheseniorschool
CommonEntrance-offersmadewillbesubjecttothegradesachievedatCE
School own Entrance Test - will include elements of CAT 4 but will also include an
EnglishComprehension
ThefollowingschoolsrelyontheISEBPre-testasamethodofentry:
Bloxham
DowneHouseSchool
EtonCollege
HarrowSchool
HeadingtonSchool
MarlboroughCollege
RadleyCollege
StEdward'sSchool
ThefulllistofschoolswhousetheISEBPre-testcanbefound here.
THEKITEBROOK5PARTAPPROACH
ISEBPre-test
Training Interview Preparation
SeniorSchools' Fair MeettheHeads
Elevateyour studyskills
ISEBPRE-TESTTRAINING
The ISEB Pre-test is very similar to the CAT 4 test, both are provided by GL Assessment andinvolvetestinginthefollowingfourareas:
Quantitative-Mathsfocusedquestionstyles
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) - Seven sections which show how quickly a child can learnsomething
Spatial - Shape and patterns, this score is sometimes combined with the the NVR score
VerbalReasoning(VR)-Wordformattingandinterpretation
Training will focus on developing your child's NVR, Spatial and VR scores as these are often a crucial factor for senior school admissions team as a high score indicates a fast learner.
INTERVIEWPREPARATION
The interview is an integral part of the application process. Interviews can occur at any point during a visit to a senior school, with a child often unaware that they have been interviewed.Themaininterviewstylesare:
An interview with either the Head or Director of Admissions which follows a set format
Agroupinterview,focusingonatopicwhichcantaketheformatofadebate
AninterviewwithaHousemasterinaboardinghouse
A ‘chat’ on the move during a tour of the school, this could be conducted by the AdmissionsRegistrarorHousemaster
Our approach is to ensure that your child is ready for the interview style which is requiredforyourchosenschool. Thispreparationincludes:
1.
2
FormerHeadsinterviewpractice-‘Interviewtechnique’
KitebrookStaffinterviewsupport-‘Givingbespokeanswers’
3.
Interviewinperson-‘Finalrunthrough’
SENIORSCHOOLS'FAIR
To support you in finding out and comparing different senior schools we invite you to joinusforourSeniorSchools’FaironWednesday18thSeptember2024. Withover20of thetopseniorschoolsintheUKinattendance,thisinvaluableeveningwillofferyouand yourchildtheperfectopportunitytomeetHeads,pupilsandadmissionsteamsfromthe visitingschools.
The schools attending are a very good representative selection of day and boarding schools from both the local area and further afield, and include schools onto which pupils from Kitebrook regularly move. It really is the best way to gain a wealth of knowledgeaboutthenextstageinyourchild’seducation.
MEETTHEHEADS
We invite you to join a selected panel of contrasting secondary 11+, 13+, single sex, co-ed day and boarding school Heads. This is an opportunity to understand their educational philosophy and vision they have for their schools over the coming years. This event will alsoenableyoutospeakdirectlywiththeHeadandaccompanyingadmissionsteamwho will be on hand to provide a great and more personal opportunity for you to further developyourunderstandingoftheirschools.
"IsthisaHeadwhoyouwouldbuyintotheirvisionofshapingyourchild’sfuture?"
ELEVATEYOURSTUDYSKILLS
A programme that supports you and your child in understanding how to approach the differentlearningandrevisionstyles.
The Elevate your Study Skills programme is designed to provide support and reduce stress and anxiety towards studying and exams. It involves a number of workshops for both parents and children to help preparing them for Common Entrance, GCSE and A Levels.
DESTINATIONOFLEAVERS
Kitebrook has evolved over the years as new families have joined our community. This has also been seen through the choices of next school’s pupils have applied and been acceptedat.Listedbelowarethe13+Leaversdestinationsforthepast5years:
2019
Cheltenham
Ladies’ College
Kingham
HillSchool
Millfield
TudorHall
2020
Oundle
OxfordHigh
TudorHall
2021 2022 2023
Bloxham
Cheltenham College
Kingham
HillSchool
Malvern College
StEdward’s, Oxford
TudorHall
ScholarshipsandAwardsforthe2022/23cohort:
SportsScholarship,Harrow-nottakenup
SportsScholarship,Stowe
Head'sAward,EtonCollege
PhysicsAward,Rugby
AcademicScholarship,CheltenhamLadies'College
Head'sAward,MiltonAbbey
SportScholarship,CheltenhamCollege
ArtScholarship,Stowe
ArtScholarship,CheltenhamLadies'College
SportsScholarship,TudorHall
EtonCollege
Kingham
HillSchool
Oundle
Radley
StEdward’s, Oxford
StMary’s, Calne
The Cotswold School
TudorHall
Wellington College
Bloxham
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham
Ladies’ College
EtonCollege
Kingham
HillSchool
Milton Abbey
Rugby Stowe
TudorHall
