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).
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 January, February and 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. All-through schools may admit pupils from their junior departments to the senior school without examination. Special entry arrangements apply for pupils from overseas and for those whose first language is not English. For further information, you can download the leaflet, Entry Procedures and the Admissions Process, on the right.