St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Entrance Exam Information
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Table of Contents
Introduction
St Helen & St Katharine is an independent day school for girls in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Founded in 1938 as a result of a merger between two schools, it is widely recognised for its broad academic and co-curricular programme. [1]
St Helen’s strongly encourages dialogue in the classroom, inspiring intellectual inquisitiveness as a vital part of learning. Accordingly, the curriculum facilitates expression of ideas, making a plethora of disciplines, such as technology, science, Classics and languages, accessible to girls as they discover and enhance their academic strengths.
Over 100 clubs and societies complement the extracurricular programme, providing students with the opportunity to discover a multitude of further interests. Ranging from MUN, debating and Astronomy Club to Politics Society, sailing and philosophy, the selection of activities maximises the learning experience and helps girls find their niche while having lots of fun in the process. [2]
Grounded in Christian values, the school’s ethos welcomes pupils from a range of backgrounds, catering for their academic, personal and emotional needs through a holistic approach. Mistakes are understood as essential to intellectual growth, hence taking risks both in and out of the classroom is firmly embedded in St Helen’s culture of high achievement.
St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Exam Information
Address: Faringdon Road, Abingdon, OX14 1BE
County: Oxfordshire
Admissions info: admissions@shsk.org.uk or 01235 530593
School type: Independent day school for girls
13+ Open day: In the Spring and Autumn terms
13+ Exam date: November of Year 8
13+ Exam board: School’s own
Open Events for St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Entry
The school hosts a number of Open Events throughout the school year, welcoming prospective families on campus for tours and informal meetings with staff. They typically commence with an address from the Head, during which you will learn more about the school’s educational philosophy. Personal family visits can also be arranged. Please click here to learn more.
St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Admissions
It is recommended that you register your daughter for a 13+ place at least one year prior to her entry date. The formal registration deadline is in November of the year preceding entry.
All registered applicants will be invited to attend a Taster Day, during which they will partake in fun activities and attend a short interview. The entrance assessments are held on a separate occasion. Prior to this, St Helen’s will obtain a reference from your daughter’s current school.
Please note that your daughter’s results will be communicated within ten days of the exam and you will be asked to confirm your acceptance as soon as possible.
St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Scholarships and Bursaries
At 13+, the school offers Academic, Sport, Art and Music Scholarships and an All-Rounder Award. These are made as a recognition of excellence, hence they don’t hold a great monetary value – they are worth £500 per annum.
Academic Scholarships are awarded on the basis of performance in the entrance examinations and don’t require a separate application. All-rounder awards are made at the discretion of the Headmistress and require no formal application, as well.
The deadline for applications for Music, Art and Sports Scholarships is in November of the year preceding entry. Music award applicants will be auditioned and expected to perform at a Grade 6 standard on at least one instrument. Art and Sports awards are offered following a practical assessment and interview. More details are available on this page.
Bursaries are also available, offered to students from low income families after a thorough means-testing procedure. These range from 20 –100% of fees, and may include financial assistance for the cost of some extras.
Completed bursary forms should be submitted by the deadline in November of the year preceding entry. Please follow this link to access the form.
St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Exam Format
The St Helen and St Katharine 13+ entrance examination consists of the following assessments:
- English
- Mathematics
The English paper examines comprehension and writing skills, including inference, vocabulary and punctuation. Marks will be awarded for good use of imagination, creativity, form, purpose, organisation, cohesion and sentence structure.
The maths exam assesses your daughter’s problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills. The paper will include questions on number, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the St Helen and St Katharine 13+ entrance examinations.
How to Prepare for the St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Exam
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.
Our 13+ practice tests are thoroughly researched and up to date. They are designed to reflect the demands of a competitive entrance exam and are successfully used by tens of thousands of students every year.
Our recommendations to help your child prepare for the St Helen and St Katharine 13 plus entrance examination can be found below.
St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus (13+) Exam Practice Papers
Recommendations for each section of the St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus exam can be found below:
English
We highly recommend the following packs to successfully prepare your daughter for the St Helen and St Katharine 13+ English paper:
13+ English: Rewrite & Improve
Mathematics
We highly recommend the use of the following papers to help develop your daughter’s arithmetic and problem-solving skills within the examination context of the St Helen and St Katharine 13 Plus maths test:
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in St Helen and St Katharine 13+ past papers. The information provided about St Helen and St Katharine 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 St Helen and St Katharine:
Click here to learn about Year 7 entry via the 11 Plus (11+) Exam
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