Applying for Senior Schools 

Our Headmaster, Tim Butcher has a great relationship with senior school heads and will help with decision making as to where your son will be happy and thrive after Pilgrims’. Our Deputy Head (Academic), and your son’s tutor will also have input and guide you to making the best choice.

We prepare boys thoroughly for senior school applications, making sure they feel well prepared for entry exams or interviews, should their senior school choice require this. 

Preparation for 11+

Boys go from Pilgrims’ to a variety of senior schools and we prepare them for any exams required. 

Year 6 ISEB Common Pre-test (CPT) 
Boys get excellent support and practice in the lead up to the Year 6 pre-tests so that they are prepared and achieve high results.  

Senior school interview practice
A good interview can make all the difference when it comes to an applying for senior school.  We spend a considerable amount of time helping our boys feel comfortable in conversation and teaching them the skills needed to offer an interesting exchange of views and opinions.  We consider this an important life skill where ever they go next. We encourage boys to give a considered response in conversation, rather than what they think someone might want to hear.  The most important thing for us, is that Pilgrims’ boys  come across as interested and interesting. 

Supporting 11+  entry exams    

Most Pilgrims’ boys leave at the end of Year 8 but some leave at the end of Year 6.

If your son is intending to start senior school in Year 7 intake, specialist teachers prepare him for entry tests and interviews.

This often results in a scholarship or other award.

Some boys defer these offers and delay their move until the end of Year 8 (13+), preferring the breadth and pace of the Pilgrims’ curriculum and the rich opportunities, especially since our merger with Winchester College.  

Preparation for 13+

How do you prepare boys for 13+ senior school entry? 
Boys apply for entrance to senior schools through Scholarship, Common Entrance, or a school’s own entrance examination. The process begins either in Year 6 or Year 7, depending on the choice of senior school.   

Before then, all the boys are given plenty of practice for the ISEB’s Common Pre-Test (CPT) from Year 4 onwards, which gives them confidence with computer-based tests and experience in techniques for interviews and any practical group tasks they might be asked to do.  

Years 7 & 8

Boys have now reached Upper Prep, they’re growing up fast, getting ready for senior school and roughly 2/3 board at this stage.   

All things academic go up a notch, boys are given more responsibilities around school life and the school day is designed to balance work and play in equal measure. 

We work with you to make sure the next step after Pilgrims’ is as exciting as your time with us. We’ll explain how the system works moving from a Prep school to Senior school and help your son prepare for the Common Entrance Exam for whichever school you choose.  Papers are school specific and we make sure your son is fully prepared so the process is as stress free as possible.   

Year 8 Leavers’ Programme

We work with you to make sure the next step after Pilgrims’ is as exciting as your time with us. We’ll explain how the system works moving from a Prep school to Senior school and help your son prepare for the Common Entrance Exam for whichever school you choose.  Papers are school specific and we make sure your son is fully prepared so the process is as stress free as possible.   

We run a Year 8 Leavers’ Programme every June, which is the icing on the cake for Pilgrims’ boys. There are residential and day trips away providing many new experiences for the boys, and activities designed to broaden the mind and develop independence further.

The programme culminates with Prize-Giving and the Vin d’Honneur celebration on the last day of term. Boys say goodbye to their friends and teachers – but they are always welcome back to visit.

 

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