Introduction
Basic information: Denstone College is a co-ed independent boarding and day school in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. Better known as The Prep at Denstone, the school’s prep division opened in 1902, featuring a number of spacious facilities and a friendly ethos. [1]
Curriculum: A plethora of academic subjects are on offer at The Prep, complementing a broad curriculum that aims to maximise children’s intellectual agility. Disciplines, ranging from humanities and languages to ICT and science, are delivered by experienced staff who provide children with a preview of the demands of the world beyond school.
Extra-curricular: The activities programme is characterised by a wealth of opportunities for social, cultural, aesthetic and sporting development. Lamda, choir, Zumba and gardening are just a few to mention, equipping children with an array of fond memories and practical skills. [2]
ISI Inspection report: Recently, the ISI inspected the school and established that its provision is excellent in many aspects, including in regards to the quality of the cohort’s academic and extracurricular achievements. The extensive pastoral care produces emotionally mature children, whose manners and conduct are also highly regarded in the report. [3]
Inspiring both endeavour and kindness, The Prep at Denstone provides pupils with a pleasant learning experience, allowing them to flourish across all areas of their growth. The balanced offering is grounded in simplicity, which nevertheless inspires success and is one of the school’s biggest strengths, setting it apart from its competition.
The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Uttoxeter, ST14 5HN
County: Staffordshire
Admissions info: admissions@denstonecollege.net or +44 (0) 1889 590484
School type: Independent, co-ed prep school
Open days: In the Summer and Autumn terms
8+ Exam date: In the Spring term of Year 3
Open Events for The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Entry
Open Mornings and personal tours offer families the perfect opportunity to learn more about the school’s philosophy and ethos. All types of visits include a tour of facilities and meetings with staff from the teaching and admissions departments. Please contact the school for more details.
The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
You and your child will attend an interview with the Head during your visit to the school. In the following stage, you should register your child for the assessments. Please note that a non-refundable fee of £100 is payable.
The Prep will then reach out to schedule a Taster Day, during which your child’s skills in two areas of the curriculum will be formally assessed. Based on their performance and the quality of their current-school references, your child may be offered a place. The acceptance deposit is £400, refunded during their last term at the school.
The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries are not available to 8+ applicants.
The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:
- English
- Mathematics
The English assessment examines comprehension and writing skills, including inference, punctuation and grammar, as well as the fluency of your child’s reading and oral skills.
The Maths exam assesses problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including your child’s knowledge of times tables.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Assessment
At Exam Papers Plus, we recommend that students follow a structured approach towards preparation for the 8+ entrance exam. Such an approach includes practice tests, which consist of thoroughly researched and up to date questions that reflect a competitive 8+ examination format.
By covering all the key skills and the range of question types your child will encounter in the actual test, our practice tests will help them get used to answering questions quickly and effectively.
The majority of our 8+ resources are accompanied by detailed step-by-step video tutorials for every question. These are available for free with all purchases. It’s like having a world-class tutor explain each question to your child at no extra cost!
Our practice tests are used successfully every year by hundreds of thousands of students targeting schools with a competitive entrance exam. They are age-appropriate, reflecting the demands of the actual exam.
Our recommendations to help your child prepare for The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.
The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus English assessment. They will help improve your child’s comprehension and writing skills:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension Skills
8+ English: Comprehension Pack 1
8+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
The Complete Guide to 8+ Comprehension
Writing Skills
The Complete Guide to 8+ Writing
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
Mathematics
We highly recommend the use of the following packs to help develop your child’s arithmetic and problem-solving skills within the examination context of The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus maths test:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
Listening
The following pack is ideal for developing listening skills ahead of The Prep at Denstone 8 Plus entrance exam, helping your child learn how to follow instructions carefully:
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in The Prep at Denstone 8+ past papers. The information provided about The Prep at Denstone was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
Other entry points for Denstone College:
Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 7 entry via the 11 Plus (11+) Exam