Sevenoaks School tutors
Sevenoaks School entrance guide
Educating around 1200 students in a prime commuter town just thirty minutes from central London, Sevenoaks School is a proud winner of numerous awards for its co-educational and IB provision in particular. Indeed, the International Baccalaureate is the only option at Sixth Form. Sevenoaks School was founded in the 15th Century and counts many well-known academics amongst its alumni. Catering for both boarders and day pupils, Sevenoaks School is popular with local families and as it is only half an hour from London Gatwick, also has many international students. Entry is competitive, with around three prospective pupils for every place at each entry point, 11+ (Year 7), 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ (Year 12). Boarding is available for both girls and boys from Year 9 only, with day places available from Year 7.
Open days and events at Sevenoaks School
There are a number of options available if you wish to visit Sevenoaks School. For international families, there are online, virtual tours available, alongside videos on the school website which showcase different entry points and pupil experiences. There is a school-wide open day each Summer, bookable on the website, which offers tours, talks and taster activities. Additionally, prospective families are able to visit on Saturdays for an open morning; these specific dates also need to be booked on the website. Individual visits are also possible for those who cannot attend on Saturdays.
11+ Entry to Sevenoaks School
Prospective families hoping to apply for their child to sit the 11+ entry to Sevenoaks School need to register at least a year in advance. The assessment day takes place in the January of Year 6 and involves Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning assessments, alongside some group activities and interviews. Sevenoaks publishes past papers on its website – the format of these changes regularly, especially for the English paper. The Maths paper is non-calculator and includes some stretch and challenge questions designed to identify academic scholars, who do not need to sit another exam. Following the assessment day, offers are sent out in February.
13+ Entry to Sevenoaks School
13+ entry to Sevenoaks School is possible for both day and boarding pupils, meaning this entry point is popular for international families. Registration is necessary two years in advance, and the assessment day is held in the Summer Term of Year 7. There are Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning papers, with Maths and English past papers available on the school website. Again, as with the 11+ exams, the format for these papers changes regularly, and the exams are designed to identify potential academic scholars, who will then be invited back to sit further exams the following year. Following the assessment day, offers are sent out by the end of the school year.
16+ Entry to Sevenoaks School
16+ entry to Sevenoaks School is a popular entry point, with pupils coming from both UK and international families. Applications need to be made at least a year in advance of the proposed
start date, and the entrance exams are held in the Autumn Term of Year 11. All sixth form students at Sevenoaks School follow the IB programme, so they must take specific entrance exams in English Literature, Thinking Skills (with some subject options contained within the paper), Maths and Science. There is also an interview, which the school aims to have on the same day as the exams. Following this, some pupils will be invited to sit scholarship exams soon afterwards, and all offers, including scholarships, are sent out by the end of the Autumn Term.
Scholarships and Bursaries at Sevenoaks School
Scholarships are available at Sevenoaks School for entry at 11+, 13+ and 16+. However, it is worth noting that there is no fee remission for scholarships, with the exception of music scholars, who receive some free music tuition. Academic scholarship candidates at 11+ are assessed on the basis of their entrance exams, whereas 13+ and 16+ candidates will sit a specific academic scholarship exam, to which they will be invited by the school. There is an exception for 13+ pupils applying directly from a UK prep school; they are nominated by their school, rather than being selected by Sevenoaks. Music scholarships are available at 11+, 13+ and 16+; Drama, Sport and Art scholarships are only available at 13+ and 16+, although internal candidates can apply for these. There are staged processes for each scholarship application which are detailed on the school website.
Bursaries are available at Sevenoaks School for day pupils only. There is a detailed policy available on the school website with a staged application process.
