Eltham College entrance guide
Founded in 1842, Eltham College is situated in south-east London, and provides a co-educational experience (since 2020) for over 1000 pupils aged between 7 and 18 years. Oversubscribed at all entry points, Eltham College is a very popular choice in the local area. The school is nominally separated into Junior and Senior schools, although in practice they share the same site and facilities. Most pupils who join at 7+ will continue through to the Senior school at 11+. Occasional places are available to other year groups and are likely to be highly competitive. Below you can find details of admissions procedures for entry at 7+, 11+ and 16+, and also details of our tutors who can help with this process.
Open Days and Events at Eltham College
In addition to a whole school Open Day, which takes place in the Autumn Term, there are two Open mornings specifically for Junior School entry at 7+. These are held in the Autumn Term and designed to feed into the admissions process described below. A Sixth Form Open Evening is also held in the Autumn Term for those families interested in 16+ entry.
7+ Entry to Eltham College
7+ is a popular entry point to Eltham College. Once a pupil is registered they can attend an optional ‘Taster Event’ in the Spring Term prior to entry. This gives prospective pupils a chance to experience life at the school. Following this, pupils applying for 7+ entry are invited to an assessment half-day experience which takes about two hours. Pupils are assessed in English, Maths and Reasoning. The English test includes comprehension and reading aloud, while the Maths test is completed orally. Reasoning is likely to take place within these tests. Following this assessment half-day, offers are sent out and must be accepted within two weeks.
11+ Entry to Eltham College
11+ is a popular entry point into Eltham College which provides admission to the Senior school. Prospective pupils are invited to attend an assessment day in the Spring Term of Year 6 in which they are examined in English, Maths and Reasoning (both verbal and non-verbal). The English paper consists of short and longer answer comprehension questions and a creative writing passage, and the Maths paper is non-calculator and has a mix of multiple-choice and problem-solving questions. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning papers are completed digitally. On the same day, pupils will have an interview with a member of Senior school teaching staff. Offers are sent out soon after the completion of the assessment day and must be accepted promptly to secure a place.
16+ Entry to Eltham College
In order to gain entry to Eltham College at 16+, prospective pupils must sit an examination in two of the subjects they are proposing to study at sixth form. They are also required to sit a Reasoning test (both verbal and non-verbal) which is completed on a computer. Successful completion of these exams must also be matched with achievement at GCSE, and the grades required are likely to be high. All candidates for 16+ entry to Eltham College who pass the entrance exams are interviewed on a separate day, and offers are made after these interviews have taken place.
Scholarships and Bursaries at Eltham College
Scholarships are available at Eltham College for 11+ and 16+ entry only. There are academic, sport, music, art and drama scholarships available. Academic scholarships are awarded at 11+ and 16+ to those pupils who achieve high marks in the entrance examinations detailed above. For other scholarships there is a separate assessment day, including auditions and assessment of portfolios.
Bursaries are available at Eltham College for those families who would be otherwise unable to afford the fees. An application for a bursary must be made separately and involves a home visit and careful assessment of income and expenditure. Eltham College has connections with various churches and faith-based organizations who provide specific support for families within these groups.
