Guide to the Lambeth admissions test

Is your child applying to a state secondary school in the London Borough of Lambeth? They might need to take an admissions test known as the ability banding test.

Keep reading to:

• Learn about the state schools in Lambeth who use the admissions test

• The subjects and topics tested on the ability banding test

• How to help your child feel confident for test day!

Which schools use the Lambeth admissions test?

There are 16 state secondary schools in Lambeth. Children applying to any of the following four schools will need to take the ability banding test:

• Dunraven School (Streatham)
• Lilian Baylis Technology School (Vauxhall)
• The Norwood School (Norwood)
• Platanos College (Stockwell)

Dates for your diary

• Sunday 1st September 2024: applications open for secondary school places in Lambeth
• Friday 4th October 2024: deadline to submit a SIF for The Norwood School
• Friday 11th October 2024: deadline to submit a SIF for Platanos College
• Saturday 19th October 2024: bursary auditions and workshops for The Norwood School
• Wednesday 23rd October 2024: deadline to submit a SIF for Lilian Baylis Technology School
• Thursday 31st October 2024: deadline to apply for secondary school places and to submit a SIF for Dunraven School
• Saturday 16th November 2024: Lambeth admissions test
• Monday 3rd March 2025: national offer day
• Monday 17th March 2025: deadline to accept school places

How do I apply to Lambeth secondary schools?

If you would like to apply for a Lambeth secondary school, you will need to complete a Common Application Form (CAF). The application window is open between 1st September and 31st October. It’s recommended to complete the application form on the Lambeth council website, but you can collect a paper form from Lambeth Customer Service Centre (6 Brixton Hill) if you do not have internet access or cannot apply online. If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you should not complete a Common Application Form. Instead, contact your home borough’s SEND Team to find out how to apply to your preferred schools.

When you complete your application form, you can apply to up to six schools. These can be any state schools (non fee-paying) in London. You should always list your schools in your order of preference. If you are also applying for independent (private) schools, you will need to apply for these schools separately via their websites.

What is a Supplementary Information Form (SIF)?

A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) is used in admissions processes to provide more details about your child. This can include (but is not limited to) your child’s date of birth, permanent address, current school, and parents’ details.

The details on this form might be used to help decide which children to offer places to. For instance, if you are applying to a religious school where children of a particular faith are prioritised for places – such as a Catholic school – you will need to provide evidence of your child’s faith on the SIF.

If you are applying to Dunraven School, Lilian Baylis Technology School, The Norwood School or Platanos College, you will need to complete a SIF to register your child for the Lambeth admissions test. This will be available to download or complete on each school’s website. You must complete the form for each school you are applying for.

What is the Lambeth admissions test?

The Lambeth admissions test is an ability banding test. Dunraven School, Lilian Baylis Technology SChool, The Norwood School and Platanos College use this test to ensure that children of all academic abilities are considered for places, so that the schools have a balanced and comprehensive intake.

Children are placed into one of five ability ‘bands’ based on the score they achieve in the test. An equal number of places are then offered to children within each ability band. For example, if a school has 125 places available, 25 places will be offered to children within each of the five ability bands. Children who take the test are prioritised for places over children who do not take the test.

The Lambeth admissions test is a Cognitive Ability Test known as the CAT4. This test assesses your child’s natural ability and potential, rather than what they have learned at school. It tests skills such as verbal and non-verbal reasoning, which are not taught on the national curriculum.

The test takes around one hour to complete. It is divided into three parts:

• Part 1: the first part of the test assesses non-verbal reasoning. This involves solving problems and identifying patterns using pictures and diagrams.
• Part 2: the second part of the test involves questions in verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. Verbal reasoning assesses how well we think and solve problems using written information (such as letters and words). Quantitative reasoning tests maths skills, and involves processing patterns with numbers.
• Part 3: the third and final part of the test consists of further quantitative reasoning questions and spatial reasoning questions. Spatial reasoning involves transforming visual images in the mind to solve problems and identify patterns.

For in-depth details about each topic and example questions, take a look at our complete guide to the CAT4.

How can I help my child prepare for the Lambeth admissions test?

There is no set pass mark for the Lambeth admissions test, and all children who take the test are equally considered for places at Lambeth secondary schools. However, if you would like your child to aim high in the test, here are our top tips to help them get to grips with reasoning questions and feel confident for the test day.

Bitesize learning

Using a ‘little and often’ approach when learning is key. Our brains encode new information (particularly new skills, such as reasoning) more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. For children in Years 5–6 (e.g. aged 9–11), child psychologists recommend regular study sessions of 20–30 minutes that can be slotted into daily life.

With Atom Home, you don’t need to worry about creating a revision timetable, or spending time hunting down reasoning practice material. With Atom’s Exam Prep packages, you’ll get a bespoke learning plan which includes all the verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning topics your child will cover in the CAT4 test. Know exactly what your child needs to work on each week to feel confident for the exam!

Read widely

Verbal reasoning questions test your child’s ability to analyse and interpret written information. Regular reading is a great way to help your child build these skills.

Encourage them to read books from different genres and by a diverse range of authors. Increasing the variety of your child’s reading will help them understand different styles, tones and purposes. Meanwhile, reading a little every day will help widen their vocabulary, sharpen their analytical thinking, and enhance their imagination.

Looking for reading inspiration? Check out our Key Stage 2 reading list.

Refine exam technique

When your child feels confident solving different types of reasoning problems, they’ll be ready to put their knowledge to the test.

Mock tests can help your child develop problem-solving skills and refine exam technique – such as working through questions in a set time limit. They’re also a great way to consolidate learning, while highlighting any knowledge gaps they might want to tackle before exam day.

With an Atom Home Exam Prep Plan, you’ll get access to CAT4 tests to help your child prepare for the Lambeth admissions test. Save time with automatic marking, and see detailed insights into your child’s performance – such as their attainment in each subtopic and the amount of time they took per question.

Celebrate progress

Setting regular, achievable goals and celebrating your child’s progress – no matter how big or small – will help keep their motivation high.

Make sure to encourage a growth mindset. This means celebrating effort, as well as achievement! When your child makes mistakes or struggles to understand a particular topic, help them understand that they’ll improve through practice. Regular praise will help your child improve their resilience when tackling new and challenging topics.