8 plus (8+) Exam – Sussex House School – What you need to know
Table of Contents
Introduction
Entry Level 8 Plus (8+) exam
School Name Sussex House School
Description Boys; day school
Age range 8-13
Size 180
Fees £6,200 per term
Address 68 Cadogan Square, London, SW1X 0EA
Website www.sussexhouseschool.co.uk
Telephone (general enquiries) 0207 584 1741
Admissions email registrar@sussexouseschool.co.uk
Overview
Sussex House School is an excellent, high achieving prep school with an emphasis on the arts and music. Its annual programme of events includes a production in a West End theatre, an ambulatory play around the City and a concert in the world-famous Cadogan Hall. A dedicated Arts and Sports Fund, supported by the Activities Committee (of which parents and staff are members) finances a wide range of extra curricular activities which inspire both the hearts and minds of the boys. The school has a keen reputation for fencing, amongst other sports including football and cricket.
On average each year, about 80% of leavers gain admission to Eton, King’s Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Westminster and Winchester. This is an impressively consistent track record and it’s clear why this is such a popular and well-respected school.
Admissions Process for Sussex House School 8 Plus (8+)
There are 36 places available at 8+ and this is Sussex House’ s main point of entry. About 160 boys register and, of those, about 130 take the tests and are interviewed.
Applications Boys can be registered anytime up until the end of October of the year preceding entry.
Registration Enquiries should be directed to the registrar: registrar@sussexhouseschool.co.uk. The registration fee is £180.
Entrance Process All prospective parents are met by the headmaster and enjoy an individual and personalised tour of the school.
The 8+ Assessment Process for Sussex House School
8 plus entrance exams are held in the January prior to entry. Boys are required to spend half a day at the school, where they are interviewed and have to take written papers in English, maths and verbal reasoning. On a further occasion both boys and their parents will have the opportunity to see the school in action.
Tests are 40 minutes each in length and are designed by Sussex House. There is close liaison with St Paul’s Junior, Westminster Under School and King’s College Junior School over dates and a common Mathematics Syllabus, which has been established. Copies of the English and maths syllabi are available for prospective parents.
All candidates are interviewed and this interview forms a significant part of the test. The test is set under the direction of the Registrar. The Headmaster, Deputy Headmaster and two other selected members of staff interview the candidates.
Outcomes: boys are either awarded a place, placed on a Waiting List or are not offered a place. All candidates are placed in a final order to assist in the offering of places. Age is taken into account. Creative and sporting talents (particularly musical talent) are also taken into account. Musicians are invited to perform in front of the Director of Music.
Recommended Materials
English
8+ English practice papers, ideal for Sussex House School eight plus (8+) exam preparation:
8+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
The Complete Guide to 8+ Comprehension
The Complete Guide to 8+ Writing
Mathematics
8+ Maths practice papers, ideal for Sussex House School eight plus (8+) exam preparation:
8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
Reasoning
8+ Reasoning practice papers, ideal for Sussex House School eight plus (8+) exam preparation:
8+ Reasoning Pack 1 (Verbal Reasoning sections)
8+ Reasoning Pack 2 (Verbal Reasoning sections)
8+ Reasoning Pack 3 (Verbal Reasoning sections)
Listening
8+ Listening practice papers, ideal for Sussex House School eight plus (8+) exam preparation:
Bursaries
For information on bursaries to Sussex House school, prospective parents should address enquiries directly to the bursar: schoolsecretary@sussexhouseschool.co.uk
Other Entry Points
Occasional places sometimes come up. When parents show an interest in a place for entry above the first year, their details are kept on file and they are contacted if a place becomes available. If they are interested in applying, their sons sit an English and maths test consisting of the examinations set for the most recent examination for their age group. They also sit a reasoning test and are interviewed. All candidates who apply are tested and interviewed and the strongest candidates are admitted if a place becomes available
Destination Schools
Exit schools include Eton, King’s Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Westminster and Winchester.
