West Hill Park School

Years 3+4 - The Shells'(Year 3) and Lowers' (Year 4) curriculum dovetails with the National Curriculum and the children's progress is assessed internally against these national criteria to monitor their progress. We exceed national expectations for this age group, whilst nurturing and guiding the children, at this early stage, towards the ultimate goal of passing their Common Entrance Exams at 13 or their day school 11+ entrance. Children are provided with support and extension, as required, in mixed ability classes.

Years 5+6 - Learning in Year 5 (Inters) and Year 6 (Middles) is based on the KS2 syllabus and is extended beyond that into the syllabus set out by the Independent Schools Examination Board for Common Entrance examinations. There is no formal Key Stage 2 testing as this inhibits the stretching of our pupils and can slow down the pace of learning across the Year group. The children are regularly assessed using the Key Stage criteria, however, to enable us to monitor the children against a national standard. Since November 2007 West Hill Park have used diagnostic testing in Year 6 using Cognitive Ability Tests which show potential in three areas: quantitative (numbers), verbal (words) and non-verbal. Some are prepared for external 11+ exams if required.

Years 7+8 - Pupils embark on the final two Years heading for Common Entrance (CE) exams in the vast majority of cases. Despite the name, Senior Schools can vary tremendously in their expectations and pass mark in CE and parents are advised as early as possible on finding the right school for their child. Some pupils may be recommended by staff to sit academic, sporting, design, art or all-rounder scholarships at the end of Year 6, and this may well take some pupils down a different path of study as they are extended to fulfil their potential. In some cases pupils are required to sit pre-tests where Senior Schools require more information prior to the June CE examinations. If these require preparation then pupils are given it as appropriate.