Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic information: Bede’s School is a co-ed day and boarding school which has Senior and Preparatory departments located in Hailsham and Eastbourne, respectively. The Prep School was established in 1895 and caters for approximately 400 pupils. Noted for its vast range of facilities, Bede’s owns a zoo, inhabited by monkeys, lemurs and various reptiles, among others. [1]
Curriculum: Bede’s Prep provides pupils with numerous learning opportunities, rooted in a broad curriculum and staff’s dedicated efforts to stimulate independent thought. The teaching provision is designed to be fun and engaging, all with the aim of facilitating children’s academic progress, particularly in the areas of science, ICT, languages and humanities.
Co-curricular: The activities programme spans across a myriad of pursuits, including climbing, chess, gardening, cookery and kayaking. Growing in a sense of responsibility and discipline, pupils take full advantage of the extensive offering and explore their abilities with enthusiasm, forging firm friendships along the way. [2]
ISI Inspection report: The quality of pupils’ personal development and achievements was rated as ‘excellent’ by the ISI, confirming the school’s strong reputation as a high-performing facility. According to the report, pupils exhibit exemplary cooperation and organisational skills and actively contribute to the culture of respect pervading Bede’s diverse community. [3]
The school’s primary goal is to produce conscientious learners who approach life’s challenges with courage, compassion and humility. Fostering a sense of belonging, regardless of children’s ethnic or financial background, Bede’s friendly ethos complements the memorable learning experience and strongly encourages the pursuit of top-tier standards across all areas of growth.
Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne BN20 7XL
County: East Sussex
Admissions info: prep.admissions@bedes.org or +44 (0) 1323 356939
School type: Independent, co-ed day and boarding school
Open days: October, March
8+ Exam date: On Taster Day
Open Events for Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Entry
Bede’s Prep holds Open Mornings twice a year, welcoming families on campus for a day packed with activities. The events typically commence with a presentation by the Head and other senior staff members and continue with guided tours of facilities, offering plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions of interest to your child. Booking is made through this page.
Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
To formally start the admissions process, you will be asked to complete a registration form and pay the £100 registration fee. Your child’s school reports will be requested.
Bede’s Prep assesses pupils for entry on Taster Day, during which they get to experience the school in action and partake in a range of activities. On the basis of Taster Day, assessments and a recent school report, your child may receive an offer of a place.
Acceptance of places includes a payment of a deposit, which amounts to £700 for day pupils and £1,500 for boarders.
Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Bede’s Prep offers a number of scholarships as a recognition of exceptional ability and potential in certain areas. At 8+, your child can apply for Academic, Music, Dance and Sport Scholarships.
Academic Scholarships are awarded following separate academic assessments, taking place in late January of the calendar year of entry. Music Scholarships are offered following a successful audition, taking place later the same month.
Drama Scholarships are offered to applicants who excel in an audition, typically lasting around one hour, while Sports Scholarships are awarded following a sports trial and interview. More details are available in the Prep Scholarship Booklet.
Families in need of financial assistance with paying the fees can apply for a bursary. For this purpose, you will be asked to complete and submit a Statement of Financial Circumstances form, available upon request. For more details, please reach out to the Admissions Team.
Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:
- English
- Mathematics
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
The English assessment examines comprehension and writing skills, including spelling, punctuation and grammar, as well as the fluency of your child’s reading and oral skills.
The Maths exam mainly assesses arithmetic skills, including your child’s knowledge of times tables.
The Non-Verbal Reasoning exam measures the ability to understand, interpret and problem-solve, testing logic and intelligence rather than knowledge.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Assessment
One of the best ways to prepare for a competitive entrance exam is to use our practice tests. Getting to know the types of questions and the format of the actual exam will help boost your child’s confidence.
Aside from becoming familiarised with the exam format, our practice tests will ensure that your child responds to the questions in an efficient and effective manner.
They also provide an excellent opportunity for your child to practise working under time pressure. Whilst doing the tests under timed conditions, children can get used to answering questions quickly, with a close attention to detail.
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 tens 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 Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.
Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for each section of the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus English assessment. They will help improve your child’s reading 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 skills within the examination context of the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus maths test:
Full Practice Tests
Targeted Skill Development
8+ Mathematics: Mental Arithmetic
8+ Mathematics: Problem Solving
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR)
The following packs will significantly boost your child’s Reasoning abilities ahead of the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning test:
8+ Reasoning Pack 1 (NVR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 2 (NVR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 3 (NVR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 4 (NVR sections only)
8+ Reasoning Pack 5 (NVR sections only)
Listening
The following pack is ideal for developing listening skills ahead of the Bede’s Prep School 8 Plus entrance exam:
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Bede’s Prep School 8+ past papers. The information provided about Bede’s Prep School 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 Bede’s Prep School:
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
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