Birkenhead School 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details
Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic information: Birkenhead School is an independent co-ed day school in Oxton, Wirral. It was established in 1860 and boasts a considerable list of notable alumni, including politicians, architects, university professors and novelists. [1]
Curriculum: In Birkenhead Prep, the curriculum reflects the school’s aims to produce independent thinking, lifelong learners who will use their strengths for the benefit of their wider communities. As such, it features a varied selection of disciplines, including DT, humanities, computing, MFL and Classics. The programme’s highlight, the Future Skills syllabus, allows children to engage in a philosophical enquiry of various academic concepts and master problem-solving skills through a cross-curricular approach to learning. [2]
Co-curricular: Beyond the classroom, the school encourages pupils to discover new interests and talents, engaging them in everything from orchestra, chess and climbing to debating, drama and judo. The broad selection of enrichment activities also includes trips at home and abroad, maximising children’s cultural understanding, knowledge of historical data and social versatility. [3]
ISI Inspection reports: The most recent ISI report for the school acknowledges the extensive learning opportunities on offer. The teaching provision was deemed as outstanding and relationships were characterised as warm and secure, resulting in excellent outcomes across all areas of pupils’ academic and non-academic development. [4]
Regularly featured among UK’s top independent schools, Birkenhead nurtures resilience and a rigorous approach towards educating, underpinned by a welcoming ethos and a cohesive community where ambition thrives. The education is delivered in the broadest sense, enabling children to identify their passions and pursue brilliance while remaining respectful of traditional values.
Birkenhead School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: 58 Beresford Road, Oxton, CH43 2JD
County: Wirral
Admissions info: prepadmissions@birkenheadschool.co.uk or 0151 652 4114
School type: Independent, co-ed day school
Open days: In the Spring and Autumn Terms
8+ Exam date: February of Year 3
Open Events for Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Entry
All prospective families are advised to attend Open Events to get a flavour of life on campus prior to applying for a place. During these, you and your child will hear from the Head, see the school in action and tour its facilities. To register your interest, please follow this link.
Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
8+ applicants are assessed during Taster Day, taking place in February of the year preceding entry. To have your child considered for the assessment, you will be asked to complete an application form and pay a £50 (non-refundable) fee.
As part of the admissions process, Birkenhead Prep will request a reference from your child’s current school. Please note that to accept a place, you will be asked to pay a deposit.
Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships are only available to Senior School applicants. Please reach out to the school to learn if you can apply for a bursary.
Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:
- Maths
- English
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 Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Assessment
To prepare your child successfully for the Birkenhead Prep School 8+ entrance exam, we suggest that you make use of our targeted resources. Our practice tests enable familiarisation with the types of questions and the format of the actual exam, which will help your child gain confidence in the lead up to the big day.
With the use of our practice tests, you will be able to precisely identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses, which will guide you in devising a carefully thought-out revision plan that focuses on studying ‘little and often’.
Moreover, our practice tests will help your child get used to answering questions quickly and under time pressure.
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 word-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 Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.
Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for the Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus English assessment. They will help improve your child’s comprehension and writing skills:
Full Practice Tests
Comprehension Skills
8+ English: Vocabulary and Grammar
The Complete Guide to 8+ Comprehension
Writing Skills
The Complete Guide to 8+ Writing
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 Birkenhead Prep School 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 Birkenhead Prep School 8 Plus entrance exam:
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Birkenhead Prep School 8+ past papers. The information provided about Birkenhead 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 Birkenhead 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
