Blackheath High School: parents’ guide to Year 7 entry

Blackheath High School is an independent day school for girls aged 3–18 located in Blackheath, South East London. It was established in 1880 as the first purpose-built school by the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) – a network of 25 independent schools for girls in England.

At Blackheath High School, students are taught to ignore gender stereotypes. The school celebrates character and fosters an open-minded and forward-thinking atmosphere. ‘Student Voice’ is embedded throughout the school, with pupils taking positions of responsibility from as early as Year 7 to help develop a strong social conscience from a young age.

The curriculum at Blackheath High School offers an admirable range of subjects. Along with the core subjects, girls can choose to study multiple foreign languages (French, Mandarin, Spanish and German are on offer), with Ancient Greek and astronomy (using the nearby Royal Observatory for study) available to choose at GCSE. The Wollstonecraft Enrichment Programme broadens students’ experience with a choice of topics each year, including branding and corporate image, feminism in culture, American politics and world cinema.

Together with the GDST, Blackheath High School has invested £18 million over five years to improve the school environment. Planned transformations include a brand new library and resources centre, advanced learning environments for art, computing, design & technology and music, extended sports and dining facilities, a terrace roof garden, an architecturally-designed courtyard and a brand new sixth form centre to ‘inspire a mature, pre-university atmosphere’.

Key information for Blackheath High School

• Headteacher: Mrs C Chandler-Thompson

• Address: Blackheath High School, 27 Vanbrugh Park, Blackheath, SE3 7AG

• London Borough: Greenwich

• Admissions contact: Miss G Beahan – [email protected], 020 8557 8409

• Age range and gender: 3–18, girls only

• Number of pupils: 779

• Number of places in Year 7: Approx. 60–80

• Ratio of applicants to places: Undisclosed

• Open day date: Saturday 1st October 2022. Register for a place online.

• Overview of selection procedure: Entrance exam, interview and school reference

• Registration opens: Currently open – apply on Blackheath High School’s website

• Registration closes: Friday 28th October 2022

• Assessment date: Saturday 19th November 2022 (stage one) and Saturday 14th January 2023 (stage two)

• Scholarship assessment date: Saturday 10th December 2022 (Sports Scholarship) and Saturday 14th January 2023 (Academic, Art, Music and Drama Scholarships)

Blackheath High School fees and financial assistance

From September 2022, the school fees at Blackheath High School will be £6,177 per term. This covers the curriculum, school books, stationery and other materials, choral music and games. School lunch is not included and costs £251.33 per term.

Blackheath High School offers a range of bursaries to girls who demonstrate excellent potential on entry and who would not otherwise be able to afford the school’s education. Bursaries are awarded on a sliding scale depending on household income, but they can represent as much as 100% of school fees. A partial bursary may be awarded to a girl who has won a subject scholarship.

Blackheath High School also offers Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sports Scholarships to talented applicants at 11 plus entry. These each carry a fee remission up to 50% of the school fees, although most scholarships are smaller and are more about the honour of the award, rather than the fee remission.

Blackheath High School term dates

The term dates at Blackheath High School for 2022–23 are:

• Autumn term: 5th September – 16th December 2022

• Half term: 17th–28th October 2022

• Spring term: 5th January – 31st March 2023

• Half term: 13th–17th February 2023

• Summer term: 24th April – 7th July 2023

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June 2023

The term dates at Blackheath High School for 2023–24 are:

• Autumn term 4th September – 15th December 2023

• Half term: 16th–27th October 2023

• Spring term: 8th January – 28th March 2024

• Half term: 12th–16th February 2024

• Summer term: 18th April – 10th July 2024

• Half term: 27th–31st May 2024

Admissions process for Year 7 entry to Blackheath High School

If you would like to register your daughter for 11 plus entry to Blackheath High School in 2023, you will need to submit the online application form before Friday 28th October 2022. A non-refundable registration fee of £150 will be charged. In the application form, you will be able to provide detail about your daughter’s interests.

All registered candidates will be invited to sit the school’s 11 plus exam on Saturday 19th November 2022. Girls who perform well in this test will then be invited to attend an interview on Saturday 14th January 2023. This is a friendly, informal session designed to help the staff get to know your daughter better.

If your daughter has applied for a scholarship, there will be additional steps in this process:

• Academic Scholarships: All candidates are automatically considered for an Academic Scholarship based on their performance in the 11 plus entrance exam. The best-performing candidates in the exam will be shortlisted for a scholarship interview with the headteacher on Saturday 14th January 2023.

• Art Scholarships: After submitting the necessary application form, you will be asked to upload examples of your daughter’s artwork. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Friday 18th November 2022 and asked to provide a more detailed online portfolio by Friday 2nd December 2022. Candidates shortlisted at this stage will be invited to the final part of the selection process – a practical assessment on Saturday 14th January 2023.

• Drama Scholarships: After submitting an application, you will be asked to send a film recording of your daughter performing a set monologue, along with further details of your daughter’s performances to date. The script will be shared with candidates on Monday 31st October and the deadline for submission will be Monday 14th November. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an in-person audition on Saturday 14th January 2023.

• Music Scholarships: Girls who have attained a standard of Grade 5 in at least one musical instrument will be eligible for a Music Scholarship to Blackheath High School. After submitting the initial application, you will be asked to send a film recording of your daughter playing her first-study instrument by Friday 28th October 2022. Blackheath High School will assess this performance, along with a reference from your child’s music teacher, to shortlist candidates for a musical audition on Saturday 14th January. This will consist of prepared pieces, sight-reading and aural tests.

• Sports Scholarships: After submitting a Sports Scholarship application (due Friday 28th October 2022), shortlisted candidates will be invited to a practical assessment on Saturday 10th December. There will be the opportunity for them to display their talents and potential in netball, hockey, a middle-distance run and fitness tests.

After considering the results of your daughter’s 11 plus test, her interview, and a reference from her current school (sought by Blackheath High School), offers of places will be made. Letters with the outcome of candidates’ applications will be posted home on Thursday 2nd February 2023.

Blackheath High School entrance exam

Pupils applying for Year 7 entry to Blackheath High School will take an 11 plus entrance exam on Saturday 19th November 2022. They will take three written papers, all of which are administered by GL Assessment:

• English: The test is approximately one hour. Candidates will be assessed on their understanding of the Key Stage 2 English curriculum, which includes the areas of reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar. For further guidance, take a look at our reading comprehension exam guide.

• Maths: The test is approximately one hour. Candidates will be assessed on their understanding of the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum up to the start of Year 6, which includes aspects of number, measurement, geometry and statistics. Take a look at our guide to the 11 plus maths exam.

• Verbal reasoning: The test is approximately one hour. Candidates will be assessed on their ability to solve problems and reason with words and letters. Some questions will also involve reasoning with numbers. For more details about what the exam could include, take a look at our comprehensive exam preparation guide for 11 plus verbal reasoning.

Find out more about the GL Assessment 11 plus

How to help your child prepare for the selection process at Blackheath High School

Build foundational knowledge

The 11 plus exam at Blackheath High School covers a huge range of content. Candidates are tested across the English and maths Key Stage 2 national curriculum, in addition to verbal reasoning skills (which is not typically taught at school).

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Preparation is key

Familiarisation with the question formats and known styles ahead of the exam is essential to help your child build exam confidence.

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It’s our mission to help your child feel prepared and confident before the exam day. Begin your free 5-day free trial of Nucleus today to help your child succeed.

We know how crucial this time is, so our team is on hand to support you and your family every step of the way. You can book a call with one of our Education Experts to ask any questions you might have about 11 plus entry to Blackheath High School:

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