Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic information: The Stephen Perse Foundation is a family of co-ed independent schools in Essex. The schools have a strong academic reputation and one of their two Junior Divisions, Dame Bradbury’s, occupies a campus in Saffron Walden. [1]
Curriculum: The Dame Bradbury’s syllabus is designed to ignite independent and reflective thought, underpinning a creative community of dedicated learners who benefit from extensive teaching provision. As such, it covers languages, performing arts, mathematics, humanities and science, among others, instilling in pupils fundamental knowledge alongside essential skills.
Co-curricular: Learning at Dame Bradbury’s extends beyond the classroom, encompassing a breadth of opportunities for further development. Everything from ballet, drama and choir to Mandarin, gardening and STEM is available, aiming to meet children’s individual preferences and interests and make a relevant contribution to their lives. [2]
ISI Inspection report: According to Dame Bradbury’s recent ISI report, the educational provision at the school is of the highest standard. Pupils were characterised as confident, self-motivated and enthusiastic about learning, supported by the staff’s efforts to provide top pastoral care and both carefully and effectively track each child’s progress. [3]
Championing for diversity and equality, Dame Bradbury’s instills in pupils a global outlook and an in-depth understanding of contemporary issues, moulding them into leaders of tomorrow. Children seamlessly pursue self-improvement and celebrate individuality, obtaining a broad and memorable educational experience that increases their agency and secures their future prosperity.
Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden CB10 2AL
County: Essex
Admissions info: office@damebradburys.com or 01223 454700 ext: 4000
School type: Independent, co-ed day school
Open days: In the Spring and Autumn terms
8+ Exam date: January of Year 3
Open Events for Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Entry
Dame Bradbury’s welcomes visitors during Open Days, allowing them to explore the campus and meet key staff members following an address from the Head. Within the scope of the event’s programme, your child will also have the opportunity to meet current pupils and briefly attend lessons.
Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
The deadline for applications is in December of the year preceding entry. Registration includes payment of a £200 application fee, which is non-refundable.
8+ assessments take place in January, testing your child’s skills across three areas. As part of the admissions process, Dame Bradbury’s will interview your child and obtain a reference from their current school. School reports will also be considered.
Places are formally offered later in the same month. The acceptance deadline is in March and the acceptance fee of £300 is non-refundable. Please note that acceptance of places also includes a payment of a £500 deposit, refunded during your child’s last term at the school.
Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships are not available, but families in need of financial assistance with paying the fees can apply for a bursary award. To determine eligibility, the school will look into your finances, such as gross income, savings, assets, etc.
An independent company Bursary Administration Ltd (BAL) will conduct the evaluation process, which may include a home visit. All applications are treated in the strictest confidence. Please click here to learn more.
Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Dame Bradbury’s 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 assesses problem-solving abilities and 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 Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the Dame Bradbury’s 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 Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.
Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for each section of the Dame Bradbury’s 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Dame Bradbury’s 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 and problem-solving skills within the examination context of the Dame Bradbury’s 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 Dame Bradbury’s 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 Dame Bradbury’s 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 Dame Bradbury’s 8+ past papers. The information provided about Dame Bradbury’s 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 Dame Bradbury’s:
Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam
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