7 plus (7+) Exam – The Perse Prep – What you need to know

Entry Level 7 Plus (7+) exam

School Name The Perse Prep

Description Co-ed; day school

Age range 7-11

Size 280

Fees £4,845 per term

Address Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8EX

Website https://www.perse.co.uk/

Telephone (general enquiries) 01223 403920

Head Mr Ed Elliot

Prep School Head James Piper

Prep Head’s PA Ms Sarah Dannert

Email prephmsec@perse.co.uk

Overview

The Perse Prep School is located in spacious parkland in Trumpington Road in Cambridge. Described as a ‘relaxed yet purposeful’ school, a Perse education is challenging and inspiring. The striving for academic excellence is balanced by an emphasis on developing breadth and depth through first-rate sport, clubs (they have over 60), music, art, drama and outdoor pursuits.

A 2016 ISI inspection report concluded that The Prese Prep offered an ‘exceptional’ education.

Admissions Process for The Perse Prep at Seven Plus

About 30 external applicants join existing pupils from the nursery and pre-prep in Year 3, making a year group of approximately 60 in total. This is the main point of entry.

Spaces sometimes become available in Years 4 and 6 if a current pupil gives notice to leave; and there’s usually about 3 spaces available in Year 5. All entry points require candidates to sit an entrance exam.

Applications and Registration

The deadline for 7+ applications to The Perse Prep is in December and the registration fee is £100.

Please click here for a link to the Perse Prep’s 7+ registration form.

Click here for the prospectus.

Open Days/Visits

The Perse Prep Autumn term open day is takes place in October, 9.30am – 12pm. There is no need to book.

Alternatively the Head is always happy to give personal tours of the school. To arrange one of these, please fill in the form here. Once you have submitted the form, the school will contact you with an available time. Alternatively you can book by contacting the head’s PA, Sarah Dannert direct on 01223 403922 or by email: prephmsec@perse.co.uk

Activity Mornings

These are for children in Year 1 and their parents. Parents are required to stay for the whole morning. Activities are based around science, art, music, cookery, PE/games and drama, and designed to enable children to be creative and have fun. There is also a chance for parents to chat with the Head and staff and see some current Year 3 work.

The Activity Morning normally takes place in June.

Taster Mornings

These are for children in Year 2 and are held in November specifically for external children who are thinking about joining the Prep in Year 3. The children work in groups and sample science, PE, art, music and drama activities. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the School, meet some staff, and for parents to chat with the Head, Director of Admissions, Deputy Head and other current parents.

To find out more about either the Activity Mornings or Taster Mornings, contact Sarah Dannert, the Head’s PA, on 01223 403922 or prephmsec@perse.co.uk

Entrance Exams

The 7+ entrance tests for entry to the Perse Prep take place in January, either as a morning or afternoon session.

Children are assessed in English, maths and both verbal and non-verbal reasoning. As an academically selective school, it will be looking for children to be working at least one year above the national average, have potential and general academic curiosity. During the testing, children meet with the Head informally, but there is no separate interview.

Parents are invited to submit any special information which they believe relevant to their child’s application, and a reference will be sought from their current school. Pupils entering Year 3 are expected to have completed Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum and to be working at Level 3.

The children are tested in small groups, under test conditions, with appropriate help given if required. Children stay with the same teachers in the same classroom for all sessions. Although sessions are formal, the atmosphere is relaxed and opportunities are given for the pupils to chat to each other and the staff. Breaks take place during the session when pupils are given refreshments and the opportunity to play.

The English test consists of: a reading comprehension; reading aloud for accuracy and understanding; and a short piece of creative writing based on pictures and written prompts.

The maths test consists of: mental arithmetic and a written paper based on SATs format covering levels 2 and 3.

Recommended Materials

7 plus English practice papers, ideal for The Perse Prep 7+ exam preparation:

7+ English: Punctuation

7+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar

7+ English: Spelling

The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Comprehension

The Complete Illustrated Guide to 7+ Writing

7 plus Maths practice papers, ideal for The Perse Prep 7+ exam preparation:

7+ Mathematics Pack 1

7+ Mathematics Pack 2

7+ Mathematics Pack 3

7+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic

7+ Mathematics: Problem Solving

7 plus Reasoning practice papers, ideal for The Perse Prep 7+ exam preparation:

7+ Reasoning Pack 1

7+ Reasoning Pack 2

7+ Reasoning Pack 3

7 plus Listening practice papers, ideal for The Perse Prep 7+ exam preparation:

7+ Listening Pack 1

Destination Schools at 11+

The Perse School goes onto 18 and the senior school is sited approx 2 miles from the centre of Cambridge. It is assumed that pupils will move on to the senior school.

Bursaries and Scholarships

The Perse does offer a number of means-tested bursaries for families of limited means from Year 3. Financial support ranges from 5% to 100% of annual fees. All applicants requesting a bursary are subject to the standard assessment criteria. Places are only offered to applicants who meet the admissions criteria. All applications for bursary places are assessed on a means-tested basis and successful applicants will be invited for an interview at the School. All bursary awards made are subject to annual means-testing thereafter. As an approximate guide, families with a combined income of more than £71,250, with one school-aged child, are unlikely to qualify for financial assistance.

The school operates a sliding scale, which it reserves the right to vary in special circumstances. All awards are made at the school’s discretion. The number of awards made each year are limited. If applying for assistance with fees, you should complete and return the registration form and fee to the Admissions Office before the registration deadline in the year prior to entry. Do ensure that you tick the box on the Registration Form which indicates that you are applying for ‘means-tested assistance with school fees’.

The Bursary will then contact you directly. The Bursary will need a detailed means-test form returned before a child’s entrance test, in order to have time to review and to advise parents as soon as possible after any offer of a place of the amount of financial support they are eligible to receive.