Welcome We know it can feel daunting when looking at schools and trying to decide what is best for your daughter. And never more so than during these uncertain times, when visiting schools in person is not possible. We deliberately share much of school life on our website: www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net
News, blogs written by the students, video clips and photo galleries are posted there, so that you are able to see the sorts of activities that go on in the classroom and beyond to make an education at Wimbledon inspiring, and to make the young people who leave us aged 18 ready to face the world and shake it up a little.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
A GDST school We are proud to be a beacon school of the Girls’ Day School Trust, a unique family of 25 schools across the country and specialists for nearly 150 years in girls’ education.
The GDST’s Values are: • We always put Girls First. They are the focus of everything we do. • We are Fearless. We act and speak with conviction and commitment and we are not afraid of thinking differently.
• We are Forward-thinking. We stay ahead through purposeful innovation. • We are a Family of schools. We support each other and share our learning across our unique network.
In sharing these values, we have specific Aims as a school, which guide us in everything we do.
Wimbledon Aims Stepping In
We aim for every girl to feel known, supported, confident and able to shine at Wimbledon High.
Striding Out We aim for every girl to leave us prepared to shape the society in which she lives and works. We will do this, across the whole school by: • Encouraging resilience, independence and kindness; • Nurturing curiosity, scholarship and a sense of wonder; • Promoting excellent teaching and learning; • Running a broad, inspiring co-curricular programme. In this guide, rather more prosaically, we’ve gathered together the day-to-day info you need: fees, scholarships, bursaries; how to apply, registration deadlines and contact details of our Admissions team. Please do pick up the phone if you have questions that are not answered here. Colleagues will be glad to help: 020 8971 0900. Or email senior-admissions@wim.gdst.net 5
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
School Fees Our school fees are set by the Girls’ Day School Trust and cover tuition, school text books and public examination fees. They are reviewed annually; a term’s notice is given of any increase. Senior School fees for Autumn term 2020 are £6,578 per term, currently frozen at the 2019 figure. They will be reviewed by the GDST in July 2020 and a term’s notice will be given of any increase.
In non-Covid times, lunch is compulsory for girls in Year 7 and Year 8 and optional for Girls in Year 9 - Year 13. The charge in 2019-2020 was £231 per term. In a normal year, there is also a termly trips charge which is approximately £90 a term in Year 7. In Covid times, school trips are currently suspended. In addition, families may opt for individual instrumental tuition for their daughters. These fees are charged separately by visiting music teachers.
Fees are payable termly: Autumn, Spring and Summer or monthly in 12 equal payments per year.
Help with Fees For families needing help with the payment of fees to the Senior School, we have a number of means-tested bursaries available for Year 7 and beyond. Our colleagues at the GDST assess eligibility; you can find the criteria on the GDST website. These bursaries are granted to families for the duration of the student’s time at Wimbledon High School, providing those same eligibility criteria are met annually. Depending on need and family income, it is possible to get the whole fees paid, plus assistance towards other costs, such
as uniform, school meals, music lessons and travel expenses. If you are on a low income, and can demonstrate this by being in receipt of benefits e.g. Universal credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Free School Meals, and you wish to make a bursary application, we are happy to consider waiving our school registration fee of £125. However, a full bursary application must be received before 5 December 2020 or the registration fee will be payable in advance of the candidate sitting the Assessment in January 2021.
Please contact the Registrar: isla.brown@wim.gdst.net before submitting your application. She will send you a separate information booklet detailing bursary support. 5
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Year 7 Academic Scholarships Every year we offer a number of academic scholarships at year 7 entry. All 11+ applicants are considered for these, and
they are awarded by the Head to those girls who achieve the highest scores in our assessments.
You do not need to make a separate application for an academic scholarship. 5
MUSIC SCHOLARHIPS
Music Scholarships Music Scholarships are available for entry into Year 7, worth 5-10% (max 20%) of annual school fees. We recommend girls try for them if they are keen and skilled musicians. The deadline for applications is Midday 13 November 2020 for 2021 entry. Please fill in the Music Scholarship application form linked on your portal login. This will be added once you have submitted your 11+ Registration. Invitations to audition will be sent to candidiates with the results of Stage 1 of our academic testing. Music auditions will take place in January 2021.
What skills should I have to be a Music Scholar? • Your standard of instrumental/ vocal performance should be at least ABRSM Grade 5 merit in your principal instrument. Musicians showing significant potential will also be considered. • Applications from Brass/Lower Woodwind/Lower String players are particularly welcome. • Playing a second instrument is an advantage but is not essential. • Candidates will be asked to submit a short 3-8min video of themselves playing their instrument(s) and telling us why they are passionate about Music, with their application.
What is expected of a Wimbledon High School Music Scholar? • You will make a significant contribution to co-curricular music-making by being involved in the various different
ensembles, being an ambassador for the subject. • You will perform as a soloist at the termly Music Scholars’ concerts. • You will attend and/or perform in the four competitions throughout the year – set for Piano, Strings, Woodwind & Brass and Singing. • You will study academic music to at least a GCSE standard.
Music Scholarship Open Afternoon We are holding a Music Scholarship open afternoon on Tuesday 6 October 2020 at 1pm. Girls who will be in Year 6 at that time may come with their parents to find out more about music at WHS and the 11+ Music Scholarships. Please visit our Admissions portal from 1 July 2020 to book onto this event. NB this event may become a virtual event if we are not still able to welcome you to the school in October.
Further information Separate online application forms for Music and Sports Scholarships and further information can be found on our website. Applications must be received by the registration deadline:
Midday on 13 November 2020. Invitations to audition for Music and Sports Scholarships will be sent after the Assessment in January 2021.
If you wish your daughter to be considered for a Music and/or Sports Scholarship, you must make a separate application.
SPORTS SCHOLARHIPS
Sports Scholarships Sports Scholarships are available for entry into Year 7, worth 5-10% (up to 20%) of annual school fees. We recommend girls try for them if they are already performing highly in a particular sport or if they show considerable potential at their primary school. The deadline for applications is 13 November 2020 for 2021 entry. Please fill in the Sports Scholarship application form linked on our website. You must already have registered for 11+ at Wimbledon High School. Invitations to attend Sports Scholarships assessments will be sent to candidates after the assessment in January 2021. At this point families will be asked to submit references from school or club coaches. The assessments will take place on the morning of Monday 18 or Tuesday 19 January 2021.
What skills should I have to be a Sports Scholar? • A sport scholarship candidate should be regularly representing school A teams and ideally competing for a club. Our main competitive sports at WHS are Netball, Hockey, Gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis, Cricket and Rowing, however exceptional athletes in other sports are welcome to apply. • Applicants should be able to demonstrate a clear commitment to sport (with a reference from their team coach / PE teacher) and regularly attend external clubs, but we are looking for candidates who show potential, therefore it is not necessary to already be competing at a high level.
What is expected of a Wimbledon High School Sports Scholar? • To be an ambassador for the subject, make a significant contribution to co-curricular sport and be committed to mid-week and weekend fixtures throughout all three terms. • To take on leadership, coaching and umpiring/refereeing responsibilities within curriculum lessons and cocurricular activities.
What happens at the Sports assessments? During the Assessment every candidate will be asked to demonstrate their skills in one or more of their chosen sports (Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Swimming, Tennis); all girls will participate in some Netball skills and game play as well. During these sessions, girls will be assessed on their team work, skills under pressure in competitive game play, work ethic, tactical application where appropriate, as well as their skills in isolation.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
11 for 11+ top tips
1
Apply for no more than 5 schools (of different academic ranges - make sure there is at least one “back-up” school within those).
2
Avoid wholesale tutoring. It’s no way to spend a childhood and if your daughter needs loads of tutoring, then it’s not the right school.
3
Don’t be swayed by friends. Find the school that works for your daughter, not necessarily the one that friends are choosing.
4
As a family, keep calm. Think positively but realistically As a parent, keep perspective and avoid catastrophising (ie: what’s the worst thing likely to happen, will all this matter, six months down the line?).
A few years ago, we wrote a Ladybird-style 11+ Toolkit Guide. You’ll be given a copy when you register with us, but we thought we would replicate here our ‘11 for 11+’ top tips.
5
Have fun conversations round the dinner table - musing on life, the universe and everything. This will not only be enjoyable during Covid especially, but stands girls in good stead in interviews.
8
Emphasise the importance of sleep, hydration, exercise, diet - the message being to eat well and look after yourself, maintaining balance and definitely keeping up co-curricular activities and new interests that might have emerged in lockdown!
9
Don’t believe the playground, dinner party or online chat. Rumours are rumours. Talk to the school if you have any questions!
6 10
Consider an 11+ “swear-box” too much mentioning of 11+ and you pay a fine! Perhaps the total can go towards a family treat when the exams are all over.
7
Explore with your daughter some deep breathing and mindfulness techniques – particularly valuable in uncertain times
Stick letters from the schools you are applying for somewhere prominent and make sure you all know what your daughter needs on the day. Leave plenty of time for your journey.
11
Don’t send your daughter to sit an exam if she’s unwell.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Making an application If you would like to enter your daughter for our 11+ assessments, please register with us before noon on Friday 13 November 2020 for 2021 entry. The registration fee is £125 and covers our administrative costs. It is non-refundable. The fee if applying from overseas is £200 (non-refundable). On acceptance of a place, a nonrefundable deposit of £1,500 is payable. We cannot accept registration forms after the deadline has passed.
Our online registration forms can be found on the Senior Admissions pages of our website. Before you begin to complete our registration form please make sure you have the following to hand: • A scan of a head and shoulders shot of your daughter in JPEG/PNG format. • A pdf of any relevant medical or Educational Psychologist reports you wish to submit. • A VISA/Mastercard Debit or credit card to pay the registration fee.
Deadline for Entry into Year 7 in September 2021: Midday Friday 13 November 2020. Bursary or Music and Sports Scholarship Application Deadline: Friday 13 November 2020 - you must apply for Music or Sport Scholarships separately so please ensure your application is completed well before the deadline if applying for these.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Our Admissions Process for joining Year 7 Please read this section carefully as we have altered our Admissions process slightly, in the light of Covid-related disruption to pupils’ education and uncertainty over what social distancing rules will be in place in the Autumn.
The wellbeing of candidates is our priority and we aim to give the girls a fun experience where possible. For September 2021 we have combined our testing into one stage for all candidates, with assessments taken in January 2021.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Assessment Days: 9 or 11 January 2021 During our assessment morning, girls will, as usual, be tested in Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning (these will continue to be paper based) and this year we will combine this with various elements from our Creative Assessment. Our aims continue to focus on enabling the girls to show us their academic potential and allowing us to really get to know the individuals, in a relaxed environment. Our Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning exams form the core deciding factors in the assessment process. We recommend that all applicants familiarise themselves with Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, by practising a few papers in advance of the exam date. Copies of such papers can be purchased online and there is no specific brand we recommend. Please note we are not able to give out details about the Creative Assessment part of the day in advance. Our aim with all our entrance tests is that girls are able to sit them without the need for extensive preparation or practice.
For the Creative Assessment, the girls will participate in fun and inspiring activities to assess the following: curiosity, clarity of thought and communication, risk-taking, creativity, teamwork, integrity and problem solving. We will also be testing literacy and numeracy in short tasks as part of the morning. After the exam, and before offers are made, we may contact candidates to come in for an interview, to help with our decision making. Our 11+ offers will be made around 5 February 2021 and our acceptance deadline will be noon on Wednesday 3 March 2021. We hope that the adaptations to our Year 7 2021 entry process will give families a little longer to settle back into school before embarking on their 11+ journey.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Our decision making For our creative tasks, the teachers who would be teaching your daughters are part of the decision making process - they observe a group of 8 girls as they participate the activities we set for them. Scores from the creative tasks are combined with scores from Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning to give us a rounded picture of the academic potential of each girl.
Alongside, the Head and Registrar will take into careful consideration a candidate’s reference from her current school. Please note that in fairness to all, we are not able to give preferential treatment to siblings. Our full Admissions policy may be viewed on our website.
Occasional vacancies While 11+ is our entry point, for entry into Year 7, occasional vacancies may sometimes arise, as families move overseas or out of London with work. If you are interested in a place in Years 8, 9 or 10 the first step is to express your interest to the Admissions office: senior.admissions@wim.gdst.net or by completing our Occasional Vacancy enquiry form on our website. We assess girls in Maths, English and Verbal Reasoning for entry into Years 8, 9 and 10.
Entry into Year 9 or 10 is increasingly common and we do usually see vacancies for this entry point. We do not accept girls into Year 11 but we have a thriving Sixth Form, with a number of girls joining us in Year 12, following our 16+ assessments. Please see the Sixth Form Admissions booklet for more information.
Important information • On the website you will find all school policies on matters such as safeguarding, special educational needs, data privacy and health and safety (hard copies available from the school office should you wish), as well as information about the curriculum, co-curricular activities and pastoral care, the terms and conditions of acceptance of a place and practical details about the school day, school uniform and school meals. • On the Senior Admissions pages of our website you will find Frequently Asked Questions.
Alternatively, for further information about any aspect of our Admissions please contact one of our team: senior-admissions@wim.gdst.net or our registrar: isla.brown@wim.gdst.net
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Our ethos and academic results School life is about so much more than examination success: fun and friendships, finding passions for life within a rich and varied cocurricular programme and having opportunities to volunteer within the local community.
We are extremely proud of our outstanding academic results, yet we are prouder still of the grounded young women who wear their success lightly, who find and use their voices for good and who stride out of Wimbledon to a huge range of academic courses and careers beyond.
GCSE 2019
A level 2019
75% of grades were A*, 9 or 8 91% were A*, A, 9, 8 or 7 99% were A*, A, B, 9 – 5 99% were A*, A, B, C, 9 - 4 12 girls achieved all 9s / A*s
32% were A* 72.3% were A* - A 89.6% were A* - B 36% of the year group went to study STEM* subjects at university 15% headed to Oxbridge
For a complete list of GCSE and A Level results by subject, please see our website - the Senior and Sixth Form areas respectively: wimbledonhigh.gdst.net
STEAM Passionate believers in the need for inter-disciplinary learning and creativity to tackle problems, Wimbledon High’s STEAM focus ensures the Arts are at the heart of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. We are interested in what happens when subjects work cross-curriculum together.
For GCSE, students take 9 GCSEs, allowing them space and time to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics in a bespoke, non-examined course during Year 10, which opens their eyes to the big picture and universal themes, as well as specific modules on personal finance and other life skills.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Project Ex Humilibus From small things, greatness… Building the future at Wimbledon High School. As part of a long-term strategy we are currently undertaking Project Ex Humilibus – reconfiguring and building space to enhance the site for all.
Our areas of focus are: • Creating a STEAM Tower, a unique space for cross curricular study and research – completion: September 2020. • Enhanced facilities for Assembly and Dining. • A new Sixth Form Centre that offers an inspiring, sophisticated, and appropriate space that bridges school and university life. • A new, beautifully enclosed and secure, ‘playground in the sky’ for Junior girls.
You can find out more at: wimbledonhigh.gdst.net/project-ex-humilibus.
SENIOR SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Senior Leadership Senior Leadership Team Head (until 31 August 2020) Mrs Jane Lunnon BA Hons Bristol Senior Deputy Head (Head from 1 September 2020) Ms Fionnuala Kennedy MA Oxon Director of Finance and Operations Mrs Stella Lawton AInstAM(Dip) Head of Junior School Ms Claire Boyd BA Hons Royal Holloway Director of Sixth Form Dr John Parsons BMus MA PhD Cardiff
Senior Management Team Senior Management Team includes all SLT plus... Director of Marketing & Communications Mrs Rachel Brewster BA Oxon, MA Leeds Director of Co-curricular/ Partnerships Miss Jenny Cox BSc Brunel Director of Studies Mrs Clare Duncan BSc Hons Sheffield
Director of Digital Learning & Innovation Mrs Rachel Evans BA Hons York, MA UCL Deputy Head Junior School Ms Taryn Lombard BPrimEd Witwatersrand Assistant Head (Teaching & Learning) Ms Suzy Pett MA Cantab Assistant Head (Pastoral) Mr Ben Turner BA Hons London, MA London
Governors Mr Grenville Williams BA (Econ) Manchester (Chairman) Mr Robert Bowles MA(Cantab) CEng MIStructE Ms Nicole Brigandi MSc UCL BA Pittsburgh Ms Julia Colgate-Stone MA Oxon, PGDip Law Mr Chris Hutchinson BMet Sheffield, MInst P, FRSA Mrs Rebecca McKinlay BA Hons Hull Ms Latha Parvataneni MB BCh BAO UC Galway Prof. Alethea Tabor BA, PhD Cantab
Wimbledon High School is conveniently situated in the heart of Wimbledon. The station is a few minutes’ walk away, serving National Rail, London Underground and Tramlink. Buses 93, 493, 200, 57 and 131 stop nearby. If you are driving to Wimbledon to visit the school, please use one of the two public
Wimbledon High School Mansel Road, London, SW19 4AB wimbledonhigh.gdst.net
car parks marked on the map and allow plenty of time. Parking in Mansel Road and surrounding roads is limited to a few metered bays. We regret that there is no visitor parking available on the school site. Our playing fields are at Nursery Road, a ten minute walk down Worple Road.
Head Mrs Jane Lunnon
Contact T 020 8971 0900 E info.@wim.gdst.net
GDST, 10 Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DH United Kingdom . The Girls’ Day School Trust is a Limited Company. Registered in England No. 6400. Registered Charity No. 306983. www.gdst.net
wimbledonhigh.gdst.net