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How to Plan for a Place at Alleyn’s Junior School for 7+ Entry: Your Complete Guide

Are you hoping your child will gain a place at Alleyn’s Junior School at 7+? This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the 7+ application process, from registration to assessment and interviews. Plus, we’ll share essential tips on 7+ exam preparation.

Introduction to Alleyn’s Junior School Admissions

Alleyn’s Junior School is a prestigious co-educational school in Dulwich, offering selective entry points at 4+, 7+, and 9+. For those aiming for 7+ entry into Year 3. It is a highly competitive entry point so understanding the admissions process is essential.

Before You Apply: Alleyn’s Open Days for 7+ Entry

Before starting the application for 7+ entry, it’s highly recommended that you attend an Alleyn’s open day. These events provide valuable insight into the school’s environment, allowing you to hear from the Headmaster and take a tour led by current students. The upcoming Autumn 2024 open days are scheduled for:

  • Saturday 21st September: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
  • Wednesday 2nd October: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
  • Wednesday 6th November: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

7+ Registration: Key Dates and Requirements

The 7+ registration process for Alleyn’s Junior School runs from 1st September to 8th November in the year before entry. For September 2025 entry, the registration deadline is 8th November 2024. Children must be 7 years old by 1st September in the year before entry and will turn 8 during the academic year.

7+ Application: How to Apply for Alleyn’s Junior School

Applications for 7+ entry should be submitted between 1st September and 8th November of the year before your child’s expected entry (when they are in Year 2). Part of the process includes the school requesting a report from your child’s current Headteacher.

7+ Assessments: What to Expect

The 7+ assessment for September 2025 entry will be held on 7th January 2025. Candidates will take tests in:

  • English: Listening exercises, oral tasks, spelling, reading comprehension, and writing
  • Maths: Number, shape, space and measure, handling data, and applying mathematical concepts
  • Non-verbal reasoning
  • Group tasks

The 7+  assessments are based on the national curriculum for Year 2, with standardised testing that accounts for your child’s age. The second stage of assessments (by invitation only) will take place on 18th January 2025.

How Hard Is the Alleyn’s 7+ Exam?

The Alleyn’s 7+ exam is known to be competitive and challenging, designed to assess your child’s abilities in English, Maths, and Non-verbal reasoning. Many parents choose to have an initial academic assessment to gauge their child’s current suitability. There are various tailored resources and an experienced 7+ tutor can you give further knowledge and insight.

Results: When Will You Hear Back from Alleyn’s?

For September 2025 intake, results will be sent out on 1st February 2025. You’ll need to accept the offer by midday on 8th February 2025. To secure the place, a non-refundable deposit of £1,500 is required.

Unsuccessful candidates will be placed on a waiting list, and if a place becomes available, they will be reconsidered based on their assessment results. The waiting list remains active until September 2025.

Destination Schools: What Happens After 7+ at Alleyn’s?

One of the key benefits of attending Alleyn’s Junior School is that students have automatic entry into the Senior School. However, they still need to sit the entrance exams alongside other external applicants. Approximately a third of the Year 7 intake at the Senior School comes from the Junior School.

How can the Happy Scholar help your child prepare for the Alleyn’s School7+ exams?

We are proud to have a remarkable track record of helping 7 + candidates secure places at Alleyn’s. It is a school we know extremely well and have personal links with, giving us invaluable insight into the admissions process and what to expect in the exam.

Our 7+ tutors are experienced Key Stage 1 specialists who understand that every child learns at a different pace and will have various levels of maturity. With plenty of patience and care, they will create a supportive and encouraging environment for your child to thrive and explore topics. Our tutors will nurture a positive “can-do” attitude, helping your child feel confident and wanting to give their best. Each lesson is tailored to your child’s needs, building good learning habits, while also focusing on the specific entrance requirements of your target schools. At this age it is so important to make the 7+ journey an enlightening and stress-free experience.

You can find some 7+ school sample papers below:

Bancrofts 7+ Maths Paper

Highgate 7+ English Paper

Highgate 7+ Maths

Magdelen College School 7+ Paper

KCS 7+ English Paper

KCS 7+ Maths Paper

North London Collegiate School 7+ English Paper

North London Collegiate School 7+ Maths Paper

The Perse School 7+ Paper

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 7+ Maths Paper

Westminster Cathedral Choir School 7+ English Paper

Westminster Cathedral School 7+ Spelling Paper

Testimonials

"Steve balances light-hearted humour with hard work, instinctively knowing how far to push so my son enjoyed lessons without feeling overwhelmed. In just six months we have seen such a big difference and feel super confident that he will be exam ready and beyond!”

Charlotte, Battersea

"We were introduced to our tutor Sam who was a teacher at Westminster Under. He focused on Ishu’s English in particular, which improved ten-fold. We were over the moon to receive an offer to KCS, which had seemed very unlikely, and he will be joining his brother in September!”

Amina, Wimbledon