Year 7 (11+) Entry
Year 7 or Upper 3 is a very exciting time, as the pupils start Key Stage 3 and become more independent.
While most of their academic subjects will still be taught in Upper 3 form rooms, they visit the Science and DT laboratories and the Art block for lessons. The teaching from Upper 3 onwards is very much subject-based rather than form teacher-based and so their lessons will be taught by subject specialists, most of whom work in the Upper School.
Year 7 is one of our main intake years. We take 20 pupils. This usually works out as 10 boys and 10 girls, but it is not an exact science. Approx. 150 pupils will sit for the 20 spaces in Year 7, but do not let this put you off. Many applicants will sit for a number of schools.
For Year 7 (11+) entry we consider three things:
- Entrance Assessments in English, Mathematics, General Knowledge and Non-Verbal Reasoning
- an interviews morning: including group activities and 1 individual interview
- a confidential report form your child's current school
Below we set out the process for applying for Year 7 (11+). If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Team on 01372 822423 or email admissions@freemens.org
Key Dates for applying for Year 7 (11+)
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| March, May, September and October | Open Events (including Discover Freemen's for Current Year 5 students looking to join in Year 7) |
| 15 October (when child is in Year 6) | Deadline to apply |
| November | Online assessments in English, Mathematics, General Knowledge and Non-Verbal Reasoning. We will contact you with a date and time once you have registered. |
| November- January | We will request a confidential report from current school |
| January | 11+ and 13+ Music Scholarship Auditions |
|
January
|
Interviews and Activities. Once we have reviewed the exam results, we will invite you in for a two hour slot. There will be two 30-minute interviews: one individual and one group. There will also be a carousel of activities to enjoy. 11+ and 13+ Scholarship Exams |
| February (first week) | Decision letters are sent |
| March (first week) | Deadline to accept offers |
| June | Induction Day for all new pupils and welcome evening for new parents |
| September | Start at Freemen's |
HOW TO Apply
We are sorry, but registrations for 2020 entry are now closed.
To apply for a place from 2021 or any other future year, simply complete the online Registration Form and pay the £200 fee. The deadline to apply is 15 October before you wish to sit the entrance exams (eg 15 October 2020 for September 2021 entry). You can download a Registration Form if you prefer.
Once we have received notification of your registration and fee, we will send you an acknowledgement detailing the next stages of the Admissions process.
Entrance Assessments
TESTS TO BE TAKEN IN YEAR 6
Guidance for prospective parents and current teachers
2020 Entrance Examinations
Entrance examinations will take place on either Saturday 9 or Saturday 16 November. Examinations will comprise an online test of Maths, English,and General Knowledge, a Non-Verbal Reasoning test and a written English paper. We will provide more detailed information once your child's exam date is confirmed.
If your child is entitled to extra time, or special considerations, or has any Special Educational Needs, please inform us prior to the examinations and provide us with any supporting information, e.g. Educational Psychologist's report, to enable us to make the necessary arrangements.
Specimen papers are not available for these examinations and no preparation is necessary.
Interviews
Candidates who meet our academic requirements in the entrance examinations will be invited for interview on Saturday 11 January 2020. Candidates will have an individual interview with a member of staff and will also take part in some small group activities. The interview allows us to find out more about your child, their hobbies and interests and how they think. Interviews for candidates residing overseas can be conducted via Facetime or Skype.
School Report
In the Autumn term, we will request a report from your child's current school. The school report is an integral part of our assessment for each candidate and provides us with a wider picture of their academic and non-academic abilities and interests. We may also contact the Head of your child's current school for more information.
In accordance with HMC Guidelines, Freemen’s will not be able to reach a decision on an application for entry until we have received this report.
Overseas Candidates
Candidates applying from overseas who are unable to attend the entrance examinations at Freemen's in November, may be able to sit the exams at their current school, at an approved agents’ office, if appropriate, or at a local British Council Office. Interviews can be arranged via Skype or FaceTime. Please make it clear on the Exam Confirmation Form or Registration Form that you wish to sit overseas.
offers of places
Decision letters will be sent by post during the first week of February.
You will receive one of the following decisions:
- an unconditional offer
- a place on the waiting list
- a decline
Feedback
We regret, given the large number of applicants, that we are unable to give feedback on examination results.
Accepting a place
Once we have sent your offer, you will have until the first week of March to make your decision.
If you choose to accept the place, we will ask you to confirm your decision by return of a signed acceptance form, acceptance deposit and completed medical questionnaire.
We will then send you a link to the New Starter Pack, usually in May or June.This has all the information you need before starting with us.
In June, we will invite all new starters to a taster day, so that they can meet the rest of their class and their teacher. We also invite all new parents to join us in the evening for a reception where you will have the opportunity to meet your child's Head of Year and class teachers, and to meet with other new parents.
Then you will be ready to start in September. Over the summer, parents often set up activities and events for you and your children to meet before term starts and our parents' association, the Freemen's School Association (FSA) hold a welcome coffee morning on the first day of school once you have dropped your child off.
Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Admissions FAQs
We know that you will have a lot of questions when choosing a school. We are always happy to answer your questions. You can call us directly on 01372 822423 or you can email admissions@freemens.org. Here are some of the questions we get asked most frequently. (Click on the small red arrows to reveal the answers.)