Ratcliffe College Preparatory School 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Exam Information – Key Details
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Basic information: Ratcliffe College is a co-ed independent boarding and day school, based near the village of Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicestershire. Set on 100 acres of land, it occupies magnificent buildings designed by the Victorian Gothic revivalist Augustus Welby Pugin. [1]
Curriculum: Ratcliffe Prep provides a relevant and varied curriculum, covering everything from art & design and ICT to mathematics and Latin. Children’s successful transition into Senior School is secured through dedicated and individualised teaching, characterised by merit and realistic expectations.
Co-curricular: Exacting academic efforts are balanced with a broad co-curricular programme, which features vigorous and stimulating activities. Pupils get to choose from LAMDA, Taekwondo, cookery, swimming, hockey and chess, among others, growing in self-esteem and profound understanding of their own abilities. [2]
Facilities: Ratcliffe College boasts impressive facilities for the benefit of pupils’ all-round development. A 25-metre swimming pool, tennis courts and a state-of-the-art sports hall are just a few to mention, ensuring that the overall wellbeing of the cohort is nothing short of exemplary. [3]
Pastorally, the school provides extensive care and attention, mainly thanks to the robust structure supported by experienced staff. Links with parents are strong and standards of behaviour are high, resulting in a vibrant community of able learners that ground all their intentions, as well as actions, in traditional Catholic values.
Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Exam Information
Address: Fosse Way, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Leicester, LE7 4SG
County: Leicestershire
Admissions info: admissions@ratcliffecollege.com or +44 (0)1509 817072
School type: Independent co-ed day and boarding school
Open days: September, March
8+ Exam date: January of Year 3
Open Events for Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Entry
Open Mornings offer the ideal opportunity to explore the school’s facilities and meet key members of the senior staff, including the Head. Families will also have the opportunity to speak to teachers and enjoy refreshments & snacks. Booking is made through this page.
Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Admissions
8+ is not the school’s standard point of entry. You are thus advised (by the school) to get in touch with the Admissions team to learn if places are available.
Subject to availability, you should register your child for the entrance assessments by completing an application form. The fee of £99 is non-refundable.
The exams will test your child’s skills across two areas of the curriculum. If they perform well, an offer of a place may be made, to be accepted with a payment of a £1000 deposit.
Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Scholarships and Bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries are not available to 8+ applicants.
Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Exam Format
The Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) exam consists of the following assessments:
- English
- Mathematics
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.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus entrance examination.
How to Prepare for the Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Entrance Assessment
Our practice tests help students become familiar with the style and layout of the Ratcliffe Prep 8+ exam, which can help boost their confidence in the lead up to the big day. They cover all the question types that could be asked in the entrance exam and can be used to identify any weaker areas that require additional work.
The benefits for your child are numerous: the tests provide focused practice and familiarity with a wide variety of possibilities and examples, serving as an indicator of any weaker areas that require additional work ahead of the exam. We suggest starting early with your revision so that you have plenty of time to identify subject areas that need additional work.
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 Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus entrance exam can be found below.
Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus (8+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for each section of the Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to prepare successfully for the Ratcliffe Prep 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 Ratcliffe Prep 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 Ratcliffe Prep 8 Plus entrance exam, helping your child learn how to follow instructions carefully:
Get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250. Use the code eppdiscount at checkout.
Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in Ratcliffe Prep 8+ past papers. The information provided about Ratcliffe Prep 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 Ratcliffe 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
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