Entrance Procedures
Entrance procedures and popular entry stages
Each school has its own admissions policy and entrance procedures which will be given in its admissions pack and on its website. You can make an application for entry at any stage, provided places are available, although the most popular entry stages are usually at nursery (age 3/4); Primary 1 (age 4/5); Primary 6 and 7 (ages 9/10 and 10/11) and at Senior 1 (age 11/12). In Scotland, most children start school in the year when their 5th birthday falls between 1st March and 28th February. However, it is quite common in the independent sector for some of the youngest children, especially boys, to be deferred until the following year, since boys tend to develop more slowly than girls. Each school will have its own policy about this and you are advised to check with individual schools.
Early application is strongly recommended
Applications for entry at the start of a new academic session (late August or early September, depending on which school) should preferably be made during the autumn months of the previous year, to give schools sufficient time to process applications and organise entrance assessments. However, since many schools have waiting lists at key entry stages, early application is strongly recommended. Application deadlines should be checked with individual schools.
Entrance assessments
Assessments and interviews are usually held in the spring term - in late January, throughout February and into early March, although this varies from school to school. Your child's age will determine the nature of their entrance assessment and whether it is formal or informal. While some schools are academically selective, the majority admit children of mixed abilities and use entrance tests to judge how each child's needs can best be met. Entrance to senior schools is usually by way of a written examination, often combined with an interview. At Senior 1, the entrance exam often comprises an English paper, a Maths paper, and one that tests reasoning. Some schools use national, standard tests while others have developed their own form of assessment. Individual schools will be able to provide more information about the nature of the assessment at different ages and stages, what is likely to be involved and what you can do to help prepare your child.
Please download the leaflet, A Guide to the Admissions Process, on the right, which gives information about:
- visiting schools
- application deadlines
- entrance assessments
- enrolments
- induction days
- the admissions cycle