Entrance Assessments

Merchant Taylors’ School offers education across three sites from Reception to Sixth Form.

The School is academically selective with the most common entry points being Reception, Year 3, Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form.

Admission to Stanfield Preparatory School

Stanfield is a warm, friendly and vibrant co-educational setting catering for pupils from Reception to Year 6. Those applying for places from Reception to Year 2 will be invited for a tour of the School. Reports from your current Nursery/School will be required and children will be invited to attend a Familiarisation Session to allow us to see each child in the school setting. Parents will be invited to meet with relevant staff at this time.

Those applying for Year 3 to Year 6 follow a similar process however, the pupils are invited for the whole day during which time they will undertake a cognitive ability test to assess their current academic ability and potential. This, together with a reference from their current school, will enable us to determine whether Stanfield is the right setting for them and their educational needs.

The cognitive ability test undertaken by those from Year 3 to Year 6 comprises verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. There is no preparation required for these tests which are age adjusted however, you will be able to find samples of the style of questions online.

Those who join Stanfield, Merchant Taylors’ will no longer need to take an assessment for entry to Seniors and will transition through from Year 6 to Year 7 based on the termly attainment information which is gathered during their time in Stanfield.

Admissions to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School or Boys’ School

The Senior School is a single sex environment catering to those joining from Year 7 to Sixth Form. In Sixth Form, there is some opportunity for co-educational teaching in certain subjects.

Year 7

Following receipt of a completed application for entry to Year 7, candidates are invited to attend for our Entrance Assessment which takes place on a Saturday morning early in November each year. The assessment is a computerised cognitive ability test comprising verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. This test is in three sections each lasting around 40 minutes. No preparation is required for this test as it is designed to measure innate ability; details of the sections covered can be found HERE. Whilst no preparation is required, sample papers can be purchased by using this link to GL Assessment.

During the Entrance Assessment, all candidates will be considered for an Academic Scholarship. Those who fall within the top 25% will be invited to an Academic Scholarship Day the following Saturday when they will undertake further subject based assessments in both Maths and English. They will also attend an interview with a member of our Senior Academic Team during the day. A sample of the style of questions and topics covered is available below.

Each of these assessments, together with interviews and references from each child’s current school, will allow us to identify those pupils with the academic ability, strong work ethic and desire to achieve that is expected of a Merchant Taylors’ School pupil.

Advanced Mathematics Practice Paper

Practice Scholarship Entrance Exam – English

Mid-Year Applicants (Y7 – Y10)

Pupils applying for places throughout the year will, on completion of an application, be invited to attend a Taster & Assessment Day. During the course of the day, they will undertake a cognitive ability test as well as attending some lessons, meeting staff and also spending time with pupils. Candidates will also be invited for interview with either the Head or a member of Senior staff and a confidential reference will be requested from their current school.

There is no preparation required for the CAT assessment however, details of the sections covered can be found HERE.

Admission to Sixth Form

Applications are welcomed from pupils from other secondary schools to enter Sixth Form. Each year in the Autumn Term we hold a Sixth Form Open Evening to which parents and pupils are invited.
Upon completion of an application our admissions team will provide you with details of the entry criteria and subjects available to A Level study.

Offers of places are made based on predicted/mock exam grades and also interview with a senior member of staff in one of their chosen subjects. Places are confirmed following GCSE results issued in August.