An independent school and nursery in Danbury, Chelmsford, Essex for boys and girls aged 2-11

Eves Corner, Danbury

Essex CM3 4QB

01245 223131

Eves Corner, Danbury

Essex CM3 4QB

07:20 - 19:00

Monday to Friday

01245 223131

enquiries@heathcoteschool.co.uk

Excellence is at the heart of all we do

How Heathcote achieves phenomenal 11+ results

by Mrs Samantha Scott, Head Teacher, MEd. Cantab

This year has been hugely successful for Heathcote’s final year pupils with a 90% pass rate for 11+ and 100% of independent school places offered, with a plethora of awards and scholarships for academic, special talent and drama.

The pupils have worked hard for these results, supported by our outstanding provision for 11+ and secondary selection examinations.  We want to give our pupils the very best chance to attend the secondary school that will best suit them to continue their education whether this be independent (with entrance examinations), selective (grammar) or state (comprehensive or academy).

Our winning formula

This preparation starts in Form 3 with a specific 11+ style lesson each week starting to give children the opportunity to utilise skills such as reasoning, enquiry and analysis. Bond Books, CGP and Schofield & Sims resources are set as part of their homework from Form 3 onwards.  In Form 4 this progresses to two weekly 11+ lessons including English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning, and familiarisation with age-appropriate practice paper resources.  From Form 5, as well as the two weekly lessons, we provide an additional weekly 11+ club, which continues up until they take the examinations in the Autumn term of Form 6.  During this time, pupils are set past and practice tests including the most recent CSSE past papers.

Heathcote provided live on-line lessons to pupils in all year groups from Nursery to Year 6 throughout all lockdowns during the pandemic starting in March 2020, and held an extra weekly live 11+ practice sessions for the pupils taking the exams, providing them with whatever additional support they felt they needed.  The staff really do always go above and beyond for our pupils and this has been demonstrated time and time again, resulting in all pupils going to their first-choice secondary school.

Examinations for selective independent preparatory schools are similar to 11+ exams therefore by preparing pupils in this way, they are well above the standards needed for the independent exams too.

Continually enhancing our provision

Going forwards we are enhancing our provision further.  For our Form 5 pupils, from next term, we are offering practice examinations on Saturdays, where children can learn how to work in exam conditions and receive comprehensive feedback on their results.  And during the Easter and Summer holidays we will continue to hold 11+ days to enhance the pupils’ understanding and consistently support their learning throughout the holidays, with extra lessons provided to the girls sitting the separate CEM test for Chelmsford County High.

We are immensely proud of our pupils’ success this year, which truly is a combination of pupils’ hard work, the school’s provision, and the dedication of our staff.

To hear more about our amazing school, please join us at our next live virtual Open Day on Saturday 24th April at 10am – click here to register.

 

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