Application forms and admission details for entry in September 2024 should be available directly from senior schools in the Trinity Term.
Over the last few years, Blue Coat pupils have successfully taken examinations for more than 15 different independent senior schools, though for simplicity the following details relate to the main five: Bromsgrove School, Edgbaston High School, King Edward’s School, King Edward VI High School for Girls and Solihull School.
Scholarships, Bursaries and Fees
Many independent schools offer a range of Scholarships and Bursaries. If you are interested in being considered for a Financial Award, Bursary, Assisted Place or Means Tested Place, then this should be expressed at the point of registration with the senior school. Candidates will be considered for these awards if they perform well enough in the entrance examinations.
Additional application forms are required to be completed for Music Scholarships, and Mr Nicklin, as Director of Music, should be consulted.
Solihull School has an extensive range of scholarships available. They stretch beyond Academic and Music to include Art, Choral and Sport: information leaflets are available online, and please consult Mr Hegenbarth or Mrs Bennett. The Blue Coat School wishes to support you, but we can only do this if you make us aware of your applications.
Registration & Entrance Examination Dates
Some dates of these are still to be decided but we expect that they will follow a similar pattern to previous years:
SCHOOL
|
REGISTRATION DATES
|
EXAMINATION DATE(S)
|
Bromsgrove |
To be confirmed |
To be confirmed |
Edgbaston High School For Girls |
Saturday 23 September 2023 |
Week commencing 9 October 2023 |
King Edward’s School |
1 April 2023 – Wednesday 13 September at 12pm |
Saturday 7 October 2023 |
King Edward VI High School for Girls |
1 April 2023 – Monday 25 September at 12pm |
Friday 6 October 2023 |
King’s High School, Warwick |
Registration deadline: 6 September 2023 |
Saturday 14 October 2023 |
Priory School |
To be confirmed |
November / January of Year 6 |
Solihull School |
Registration deadline: Tuesday 19 September 2023 |
Saturday 11 November 2023 |
St George’s School |
To be confirmed |
To be confirmed |
Warwick School |
Applications close on Friday 6 October 2023 at 12pm |
Saturday 18 November 2023 |
The main elements that are assessed are: English comprehension and composition, and Mathematics. Depending on the senior school concerned, there may also be specific papers in Verbal Reasoning or Non-Verbal Reasoning, but these are sometimes included within the English and Mathematics papers. Questions are written and marked by experienced staff. A discussion takes place as to whether a candidate is of an academic standard to thrive at the school, and a decision is made; results are normally known within 2-3 weeks. It is becoming increasingly common for there to be, at Open Events, presentations to prospective parents on the specific nature of the entrance tests; schools also publish on their websites guidelines as to what curriculum content may be required. Please be aware that both Old Swinford Hospital School and Bromsgrove School use computerised assessments.
Special Arrangements
If your child has an Access Strategy Plan, extra-time allowance or other support at The Blue Coat School, do discuss your applications with our SENDCos, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Ashman. Additional documentation, which could have an earlier deadline, may need to be completed.
Past Papers
Sample questions or complete papers, including some with answers, can be found on many of the school websites and are often provided at Open Events. During the Trinity Term of Year 5 and Michaelmas Term of Year 6, past papers form part of the English and Mathematics curriculum.
Interviews
These generally happen in the weeks following the examination. For Bromsgrove School and Solihull School, places are offered, and selected candidates are then invited for an interview, but for King Edward’s School, King Edward VI High School for Girls and Edgbaston High School for Girls interviews will take place before final offers are known. All Scholarship candidates will be invited for an interview, as will anyone who has applied for and scored high enough for a Bursary, candidates whose performance may be borderline, and those who are being considered for the limited Reserve Lists. All girls applying to Edgbaston High School are interviewed, as are their parents.
Supporting Information
As part of the Independent School selection process, we are asked to provide supporting information on candidates. This relates to three main areas: Academic Performance, Contribution to School Life, and Interests and Achievements Outside School. Thank you to the parents who have completed a short questionnaire to help with this.