Admissions process for Sherfield School
We offer rolling admissions and welcome applications from parents throughout the school year for children from 3 months to 18 years old.
You can click on the buttons below to download examples of the admissions timelines.
RECEPTION 2024 ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
YEAR 7 2024 ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
YEAR 7 2025 ADMISSIONS TIMELINE
Tour and Meeting with a member of our Senior Leadership Team
The admission process begins with a tour and meeting with an appropriate member of our SLT. We also offer Open Days as a more informative way to tour the school and meet our staff.
The next Open Events we have are as follows:
- One for entry into our Junior Prep (Reception to Year 4), held on Friday 15 November 2024;
- Two for entry into Year 7 September 2025, held on Friday 10 May 2024 and Friday 20 September 2024;
- One Sixth Form Open Evening, held on Thursday 26 September 2024 at 6:00pm.
You must register your interest to attend these open events using the form below.
If you are interested in entry into any other year group please use the form below to book a bespoke, private or group tour of the school. We can also offer video calls with members of our Senior Leadership Team if you would prefer.
We hope that our virtual tour, testimonial videos, information and images on the website and our social media will give a good indication of the warm, family-friendly atmosphere of the School.
Registration
Once you have finalised your decision, our Admissions Team will send you a Registration Form to complete, which will enable you to book a 'taster' session/day at the school. You will also be required to pay the non-refundable registration fee of £100 or, for those needing a Child Student visa, £150.
Taster Days
Once registered, we offer 'tasters' for children joining Reception up to and including Sixth Form. These range from a few hours to a full day, with overnight stays for prospective boarders. Snacks, refreshments and lunch are provided. We offer short feedback meetings for parents at the end of all tasters, and in instances where this is not possible, we provide telephone feedback.
Mini tasters
For Reception places, mini tasters are offered during the year before a child formally starts school, and most occur between September and December.
Children join our Pre-Reception for a few hours to experience and explore our setting, interact with our staff and with pupils of a similar age that will be moving up to Reception. This is also an important opportunity for us to observe a child's 'readiness' for Reception, such as their ability to follow simple routines, respond to teachers and play with others.
Sometimes, for example, where a child struggles to settle without their parents or can feel overwhelmed by a new environment, we organise an additional taster. This can be in close succession to the first taser or we may recommend leaving a longer period to give a child more time to reach some developmental milestones and organise a follow up taster towards the end of the Spring term (March-April).
Full day tasters
For places in Years 1 and 2, children spend the school day (8.30am - 3.15pm) with their current year group and experience a variety of lessons, which can include subjects such as PE, Dance and Outdoor Education. Informal assessments in Maths and English are interspersed with lessons and activities.
For places in Years 3 upwards, the school day is longer and runs from 8.30am - 4.15pm. Again, the focus is on a child experiencing a typical day at Sherfield with the opportunity to engage in the subjects and activities that they most enjoy, and to learn and socialise with pupils who would be in the same year group if they were to join Sherfield.
For Years 3 and 4, informal assessments in Maths and English form part of the taster day.
From Year 5 upwards, a student's taster day includes a CAT4 test, which is a cognitive ability test, where no preparation is required
Often, children are familiar with these standardised tests as they are widely used in primary and secondary schools. In some instances, children are invited to come on a separate morning to sit the test. If a student has sat the CAT4 test recently in their current school, we may instead request the results from the school.
For Sixth form entry, we offer a taster in Sixth form, joining classes that include the student's preferred course choices.
Students living overseas are invited to come to the UK for a taster including an overnight stay in our boarding house, if prospective boarders. If this is not possible, we provide a virtual tour of the school and organise a virtual meeting with the Headmaster.
For students where English is their second language, they undertake a Maths test and PASSWORD English test to gauge their levels in both subjects, under exam conditions, invigilated by their current school or where applicable, an Agent. This is followed by a virtual interview with the Headmaster.
Meeting with the Headmaster is an important opportunity for the student to learn more about Sherfield and for the Headmaster to gain a sense of a prospective student's character and aspirations as well as their academic potential, interests and talents.
Pre-taster
We want to make sure that a child can access the curriculum fully and thrive in all aspects of their education and life at Sherfield.
Ahead of any taster, we require school reports, and references, where applicable, and all supporting information such as specialist reports and assessments, relating to any additional needs, including Learning Support.
This information should be translated into English, for students from overseas. For entrance into Sixth form, we also request predicted grades in GCSE or equivalent examinations.
Offer a Place
Successful applicants will be offered a place in writing. After this offer of a place you would like your child to join Sherfield School we will ask you to complete our admissions forms. A deposit of £400 or, for boarders, £2500 (plus one term's fees for Non-UK residents) will be requested when the place is confirmed.
Keeping in touch
Once your child has secured a place at Sherfield School, our commitment to keeping you informed and connected begins. We will regularly provide updates and extend invitations to various events, ensuring that your family becomes an integral part of the Sherfield School community even before your child's official enrollment.
During the summer term, we not only host events for the pupils but the parents as well, as we realise it is just as important for the parents to meet each other and ask any questions they might have. Events include a bbq and games/crafting social evening and 'move up' day for the pupils and a cheese and wine evening for the parents.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any queries or concerns you may have; we are here to assist you every step of the way.
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