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There are two year groups
in Plunkett House, the junior section of Downside School.
First Form or Year 7 (Age
11- 12)
Second Form or Year 8 (Age 12 -13)
Boys and girls are admitted in both Year Groups as boarders
and day pupils when places are available. Admission,
either at 11+ into the First Form (Year 7) or at 12+
into the Second Form (Year 8), is via the Downside Junior
Assessment Test, consisting of papers in English , Mathematics,
and general reasoning. The Junior Assessment Test is
held at Downside, although assessment papers can be sent
to schools overseas.
Subsequent
admissions to the Senior School: It is expected
that all the boys and girls who have met the 11+ admissions
criteria will pass into the Senior School. Second Form
(Year 8) pupils are prepared for the Common Entrance
examinations and/or for the Common Scholarship examinations.
Guaranteed
Places are offered to those who have performed well
in the Downside Junior Assessment Test. Pupils holding
a Guaranteed Place will not be required to pass a further
entrance examination to the Senior School. However, it
is expected that their academic attainment will surpass
the Common Entrance examination threshold (a minimum
of 50% across all subjects); the results are used for
setting purposes in the Third Form.
Conditional
Places are offered to those who fare less
confidently in the Downside Junior Assessment Test but
who Downside feels will make good progress in Plunkett
House and so secure entry to the Senior School. The pupil
is required to pass the Common Entrance examination threshold
(a minimum of 50% across all subjects). A pupil awarded
a Conditional Place may be offered a Guaranteed Place
prior to sitting the Common Entrance examinations if
he/she is clearly making good academic progress.
Step
1 Visit Downside at an Open Day or arrange a private
visit with the Registrar.
Step
2 Complete a Registration Form (online or from the
Prospectus) and send it to the Registrar.
Step
3 Year of entry: Downside obtains reports and references
from the applicant's current school and applicants sit
the Downside Junior Assessment Test, in English, Mathematics
and general reasoning, usually six months prior to entry,
although this can be taken at an earlier or later date.
The assessment is usually held at Downside but assessment
papers can be sent to schools overseas.
Step
4 Applicants are offered a Guaranteed Place or a
Conditional Place (see above) or their application is
rejected.
Step
5 Applicants are invited to an Introduction Day
for a chance to familiarise themselves further with the
School by attending some classes, activities and sports,
and to meet other pupils and members of the boarding
and teaching staff.
Step
6 Confirmation of entry: Parents are asked to pay
a £900 deposit to confirm the acceptance of their child's
place. £450 is returned against the first term's fees,
the remainder against the final bill on leaving Downside.
Step
7 The pupil starts at Downside in September in the
Michaelmas Term.
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