Pupils are accepted into the school at any level where there are vacancies. The most common points of entry into the Junior School are the Nursery, Reception and Year 3 and into the Senior School Year 7, Year 9 and the Sixth Form.
Entrance to Junior School
Following your initial visit to the school, arrangements are made for children to spend time with the Junior School so that they can learn something about the school and so that we can get to know your child.Children for entry to Nursery are invited for a brief visit with a parent.
Children for entry to Reception through to Year 6 are invited to spend half a day with a class of children of their own age. During this time one of our experienced teachers will carry out an informal assessment to find out about your child’s present attainment. This is nothing to worry about - we take very great care to put children at ease and to give them a positive view of the visit. We will give you feedback on your son or daughter and will confirm in writing, within one week, whether we are able to offer your child a place.
For children who are entering the school in Years 1 to 6 it is usual for us to request a report from their present school.
Entrance to Year 7
Entrance to Year 7 is by Assessment and Interview. In addition, a report is requested from each candidate's Head Teacher.Pupils who are already in the school in Year 6 are normally accepted into Year 7 unless there are exceptional reasons why this is not appropriate. All Year 6 take the entrance tests for assessment and scholarship purposes. Entrance Day is held in January/February.
To find out the date of this year's entrance examinations, please contact the school (0191 567 4984). The tests on that day consist of a Reasoning Test, an English Test and a Mathematics Test. The standard of the tests will be appropriate to pupils who are completing Key Stage 2. Specimen questions are sent to everyone.
In the fortnight following the tests, pupils will be asked in to school for an interview. Candidates will be interviewed by a senior member of staff who will ask them about such things as their interests, what they like to read, what they enjoy about school, etc. The purpose of this interview is for staff to form an opinion as to the "teachability" of each candidate. While this is happening, parents may wish to take the opportunity to meet the Head on a one-to-one basis to discuss entry in more detail, particularly if this is the first opportunity they have had to meet the Head.
Offers of places are posted to families during the first week of March.
Number of places in Year 7
It is usual for almost all, if not all, Year 6 pupils to stay within the school and so the number of places offered to those coming from other primary schools is usually between 25 and 30. Applications are particularly welcomed from those who attend maintained schools.
Entrance to the Sixth Form
Entrance to the Sixth Form is by Assessment and Interview. In addition, a report is requested from each candidate's Head Teacher. When a candidate is made an offer of a place in the School it is provisional, normally dependent on the candidate obtaining C grade or higher in at least five GCSE subjects.Applications are particularly welcomed from pupils attending maintained schools and from those who are considering an academic alternative to college.
Pupils who already attend Sunderland High School in Year 11 are usually accepted into Year 12 unless there are exceptional reasons why this is not appropriate. Students in Year 11 are invited to take the entrance test for scholarship purposes. The Sixth Form Scholarship and Entrance test is usually held in February.
To find out the date of this year's entrance examinations, please contact the school (0191 567 4984). The test will consist of a general paper and a paper specific to each candidate's first choice of subject. The standard of the papers will be appropriate to pupils who are in Year 11. It is the policy of the School not to issue past papers.
In the fortnight following the tests, students will be asked into school for an interview with the Head. The purpose of the interview is for the Head to form an opinion as to the level of academic interest and scholarship. Candidates will be judged by their ability to express and support an opinion. The School is looking for Sixth Form students who are independent and well motivated in their approach to study. Parents of candidates coming from other schools may take the opportunity to meet the Head on a one-to-one basis to discuss entry in more detail, if they have not already had that opportunity.
Offers of places are posted to families during the first week of March.
Choice of Subjects in the Sixth Form
For Sixth Form candidates, much depends on each candidate's choice of subject. It is the policy of the school that the Sixth Form timetable is created in response to students' choice and so, for this reason, students are encouraged to discuss this as soon as possible. The School takes a great deal of care to give prospective students as much information and advice as possible and the Head and the Head of Sixth Form welcome the opportunity to discuss possible subject choice at any time, even when students and parents are still unsure of their final choice of school.Entrance to Year 9 and other levels in the Senior School
Entrance to all other Years in the Senior School is also by Assessment and Interview. In addition, a report is requested from each candidate's Head Teacher.The assessment process for candidates at these levels is arranged on an individual basis in order to suit the needs of pupils and their families. It is quite usual for candidates to spend a morning or a day in school. Some of that time is spent in talking to teachers about the work in various subjects. It is helpful if candidates can bring with them exercise books and evidence of work from their current school. Some of the rest of the time may be spent in an appropriate class in order to allow the candidate an opportunity to see what the school is like.
