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The Admissions Process
Parents who are considering Loughborough High School for their child are encouraged to visit the School and meet the Head, Dr Fiona Miles or the Senior Deputy Head, Mr Stuart Thompson.
We suggest that you request a tour of the School on a working day. We believe that this enables you to gain a sense of the character and atmosphere of the School as well as an opportunity to see the facilities and to talk to staff, current pupils and Sixth Form students. Then you will be well placed to decide whether Loughborough High School is a school where you feel that your child will be happy and thrive. The entrance examination for entry to Year 7 in September 2022 will be held on Saturday 15 January 2022. The entrance examination for entry to Years 8, 9 and 10 in September 2022 will be held on Tuesday 18 January 2022. If you would like your child to sit the entrance examination, please complete and return the Registration Form by the end of the preceding November. It is possible for applications to be considered at other times, subject to the availability of places. Please see page 8 for details of the procedure for entry to Year 12. The Registration Form can be found on the Apply page of our website. It should be completed in full and submitted online. Alternatively you can download a hard copy of the relevant form from the appropriate Admissions Timeline page, which should be completed and addressed to the School for the attention of: The Registrar Loughborough High School Burton Walks Loughborough LE11 2DU For more information or for assistance with the admissions process please contact our Registrar Miss Alison Anderson, on 01509 283800 or by email to high.admissions@lsf.org. The aim of the entrance examination is to assess, as far as possible, real academic potential, and to find out whether the candidate has the range of ability to enable them to cope happily and successfully with the courses which the School offers. We do not expect the candidate to have received special preparation or coaching to take the examinations. We do expect the candidate to be familiar with the material for the National Curriculum, but not necessarily to have followed it.
Year 7
Saturday 15 January 2022
Years 8, 9 and 10
Tuesday 18 January 2022
Entry to Year 7
We also request a report from the candidate’s current school, although the candidate will not be penalised if this is not provided. We invite parents of candidates with additional needs or disabilities, which may need to be considered for their entrance exam sitting, to discuss these needs with the School as early as possible so that reasonable adjustments can be considered. For example, a recent expert report, an educational psychologist’s report confirming dyslexia or a medical report confirming a disability, would need to be submitted to the School for consideration by the end of November. English as an Additional Language needs can also be considered where a pupil might not have yet reached fluency in the English language through living overseas for example until recently, and parents are encouraged to discuss language proficiency or related needs for any pupils applying to us so that we can consider adaptations if possible.
Examination details English
The ability to understand written passages is tested by means of comprehension questions. These will require, for example, the explanation of the writer’s meaning, the drawing of reasonable inferences and understanding and explaining the meanings of words. The ability to write well is tested by means of a composition. Qualities looked for are the ability to clearly convey meaning, to write in an interesting manner, and to show evidence of liveliness, originality, imagination and thoughtfulness. The use of a wide vocabulary, a variety of sentence structure and a reasonable standard of spelling and punctuation will be expected.
Mathematics
The questions are intended to test the candidates’ powers of reasoning and their ability to apply mathematical concepts. Candidates will not use a calculator. The requirements are:
Number: A sound knowledge of multiplication tables; fractions, decimals and whole numbers including directed numbers; an understanding of place value; knowledge of special types of number; primes, squares etc; percentages; simple proportion; estimation; an ability to be able to convert to and from Roman numerals; simple sequences; an understanding of the order of operations; the four operations applied to the above including long multiplication and division of numbers.
Algebra: Simple formulae in words; basic algebra.
Geometry: Measuring properties of shapes; area of rectangles and triangles; names of mathematical shapes; angle measure and angle facts; symmetry.
Mensuration: The metric measurements of length, area, volume and weight; working with time and money; speed, distance and time.
Statistics and probability: The interpretation, reading and construction of different types of graphs, charts and tables; probability in words and numbers.
Computer Assessment
We use a national computer assessment lasting around 45 minutes, analysing a range of subjects and skills. There is no need to prepare for this assessment.
Entry to Years 8, 9 and 10
Candidates are assessed by examination in Mathematics, English, a computer assessment analysing a range of subjects and skills and by interview.
We request a report from the candidate’s current school, although the candidate will not be penalised if this is not provided. We invite parents of pupils with additional needs or disabilities which may need to be considered for their entrance exam sitting, to discuss these needs with the School as early as possible so that reasonable adjustments can be considered. For example, a recent expert report, an educational psychologist’s report confirming dyslexia or a medical report confirming a disability would need to be submitted to the School for consideration by the end of November.
English as an Additional Language needs can also be considered where a pupil might not have yet reached fluency in the English language through living overseas for example until recently, and parents are encouraged to discuss language proficiency or related needs for any pupils applying to us so that we can consider adaptations if possible.
English
For entry into Years 8, 9 and 10, the examination format is identical. The papers themselves are different according to the age group. There are two main components of the entrance examination in English, comprehension (reading) and composition (writing). The exam lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes, with the comprehension followed by the composition.
Comprehension
Candidates read a passage and answer questions on what they have read. The answers expected will range from brief to lengthier responses. Some indication of the length of the answer required is given by the number of marks allocated and the space available on the paper for the answer.
Composition
Candidates select one title from several on offer. There will be a variety of tasks set, for example a story, a description, an essay in which an opinion is invited. Candidates should write in a lively, imaginative way, selecting words with care, and paying attention to punctuation and spelling. We are looking for quality rather than quantity, and therefore, excessively long answers to the composition should be avoided.
Mathematics
The Mathematics paper lasts for 1 hour. The papers for entry to Years 8 and 9 do not require a calculator. One is required for the paper taken for entry to Year 10. Pupils at this School will have been working from Collins ‘Maths Frameworking Book 1.3’ in Year 7 and ‘Essential Maths’ Books 8H or 9H by David Rayner and Michael White in Years 8 and 9. The following list of topics for each entrance year gives a rough guide to the content of a typical entrance examination for that year. However, not all topics mentioned will necessarily be on a particular paper. Each examination assumes knowledge of the previous year’s topics.
Entry to Year 8
Arithmetic – four operations; fractions; decimals; percentages; ratio; indices; multiples; factors; different types of number; sequences; rounding. Algebra – substitution; basic manipulation including single brackets; solving simple equations. Geometry – angles and angle facts; regular polygons; triangle construction; scale drawing. Mensuration – area; volume; speed/distance/time. Statistics & probability – bar charts; mean of a set of data; probability. Proportion – change of units; problem solving; scales. Graphs – coordinates; reading of scales; using graphs.
Entry to Year 9
Arithmetic - directed numbers; standard form; more on percentages, multiplication and division; fractions. Algebra - brackets; problem solving; sequences; more substitution and equations; formulae. Geometry - parallel lines; line and rotational symmetry; polygon angles; bearings and maps; more scale drawing. Mensuration - more area; graphs. Statistics & probability - pie charts; more on probability; averages. Proportion - exchange rates; problem solving; science problems. Graphs - drawing and using graphs; travel and information graphs. Transformations - reflections; rotations; translations.
Entry to Year 10
Arithmetic - percentage change; successive percentage change. Algebra - more brackets; algebraic fractions (and in the context of equations); simultaneous equations; more inequalities; rearrangement of formulae. Geometry - angles in a circle; similar triangles; gradients; enlargements; loci; maps and bearings; three dimensional figures. Mensuration - see algebra, bounds, volume of simple shapes, formulae for circumference and area of a circle; Pythagoras’ theorem. Statistics & probability - averages; frequency distributions; probability of single and combined events. Proportion - comparative costs; inverse proportion; more science problems. Graphs - graphs of y=ax; y=ax+b; y=2ax etc. Trigonometry - basic principles; tangent, sine and cosine ratios; solving problems.
Computer Assessment
We use a national computer assessment lasting around 45 minutes for entry into Years 8 or 9 and a slightly longer programme for Year 10 entry, analysing a range of subjects and skills. There is no need to prepare for this assessment.
Entry to Year 12 (Sixth Form)
We welcome enquiries from students interested in transferring to Loughborough High School at Sixth Form level and each year a number of new students join us at this entry point.
If you would like to visit the School to find out more, we offer the following opportunities: Students currently in Year 11 are invited to attend a taster morning to meet current Sixth Formers and staff as well as to sample Year 12 lessons.
Personal appointments with the Head, Dr Miles or the Director of Sixth Form, Mr Travis and tours of the School on a working day are available on request.
Students who wish to apply for entry to the Sixth Form in September 2022 should submit a completed Sixth Form registration form, available from the Registrar or on the School website, by the end of November 2021. Interviews will be held towards the end of the Autumn term 2021 and, subject to the availability of places, also during the Spring term 2022.
Following a successful interview, a provisional offer of a place will be made which is dependent on the receipt of a satisfactory reference from your current school and your achievement of good GCSE results. You will be asked to contact us on GCSE results day to notify us of the grades you have achieved and, provided you have met the requirements specified in your offer letter, the provisional offer will be confirmed straight away.
