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Radnor House Sevenoaks is an independent day school in Kent for boys and girls aged 2 to 18, formerly known as Combe Bank until the name was officially changed in 2016. The school is a member of Round Square – an international network of 230 schools which share an approach to education based on six IDEALS (Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service).
Pupils at Radnor House Sevenoaks benefit from outstanding facilities on a safe and spacious 27-acre campus, with separate buildings (some listed) for the nursery, prep and senior school. The sports facilities are extensive and include a 25-metre indoor pool, sports hall and fitness suite, full-size hockey and sports pitches and a cricket oval. New developments include a STEM (science, technology, engineering and medicine) building (completed in 2017) and a purpose-designed music and performing arts centre.
Children benefit from small class sizes in a range of subjects. Beyond traditional studies, pupils have lessons in business, computing, philosophy and iMedia – a practical and creative subject which equips students with the knowledge and skills required to work in digital media. Beyond the classroom walls, the school recognises the importance of outdoor education as a means to develop each individual’s resilience and perseverance. All pupils in Years 7 and 8 take part in autumn and spring weekend expeditions before beginning the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award in Year 9. Most pupils go on to complete the Silver and Gold Awards as they progress through the school.
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Key information for Radnor House Sevenoaks
Head: Mr Fraser Halliwell
Address: Combe Bank Drive, Sundridge, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 6AE
County: Kent
Admissions contact: Katie James – [email protected], 01959 563720
Age range and gender: 2–18, co-educational
Number of pupils: 508
Open day date: weekly tours on Wednesday mornings and a senior school experience day for Year 5 on Thursday 29th June 2023. To attend an event, book a place on the school website
Overview of selection procedure: CAT4 test, English writing test, interview and school reference
Registration closes: October 2023
Assessment date: November 2023
Radnor House Sevenoaks fees and financial assistance
The current school fees at Radnor House Sevenoaks are £6,735 per term for pupils in Years 7 and 8, and £7,250 for pupils in Year 9 and above. Lunch is compulsory and costs an additional £330 per term.
Radnor House Sevenoaks is able to provide means-tested financial assistance, known as bursaries, to children who meet the entrance criteria but whose families would not otherwise be able to afford the school fees. The bursary fund is provided by the Radnor Charitable Trust, with awards made according to the available funds, a confidential statement of the family’s financial circumstances, and the child’s potential. To apply for a bursary at Radnor House Sevenoaks, you will need to contact the admissions department and attach the completed financial circumstances form.
Everything you need to know about bursaries
Year 7 applicants may also apply for an academic, art, drama, music, sport, or all-rounder (values) scholarship at Radnor House Sevenoaks. These are based on talent and are not means-tested. Scholarships are typically worth between 5% and 10% of the annual tuition fee.
Radnor House Sevenoaks term dates
The term dates at Radnor House Sevenoaks for 2022–23 are:
Autumn term: 5th September – 9th December 2022
Half term: 17th–28th October 2022
Spring term: 4th January – 31st March 2023
Half term: 13th–17th February 2023
Summer term: 18th April – 7th July 2023
Half term: 29th May – 2nd June 2023
The term dates at Radnor House Sevenoaks for 2023–24 are:
Autumn term: 6th September – 15th December 2023
Half term: 23rd October – 3rd November 2023
Spring term: 9th January – 29th March 2024
Half term: 12th–16th February 2024
Summer term: 16th April – 5th July 2024
Half term: 27th–31st May 2024
Admissions process for Year 7 entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks
1. Visit
If you are considering Radnor House Sevenoaks for your child’s secondary education, it’s a good idea to first book a visit with your child to explore the school site and talk to staff and current pupils.
There are a range of events to choose from. Senior school tours run weekly on Wednesday mornings and last approximately an hour and a half. There will also be a senior school experience day on Thursday 29th June 2023 for children interested in joining the school in Year 7 in 2024.
All open events and visits need to be booked via the school website.
2. Registration
Once you have decided to continue with your child’s application to Radnor House Sevenoaks, you will need to complete the online registration form. A non-refundable registration fee of £100 applies.
The closing date for completed registration forms has not yet been confirmed by the school, but is likely to be the end of October in 2023.
3. Tests and interviews
Children who have been registered for Year 7 entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks will take an online test, a written test, and will have an interview on a set date in November.
The online and written tests account for 50% of the final decision. The remaining 50% of the final decision will be based on your child’s performance in the interview and a reference from your child’s current school.
The CAT4 test
The cognitive abilities test (CAT4) is an online assessment which will assess your child’s vocabulary and maths skills, non-verbal reasoning, and speed and accuracy.
The CAT4 test takes a little over an hour to complete and includes three main sections:
Part 1: non-verbal reasoning. Children will need to solve problems and identify patterns using pictures and diagrams.
Part 2: verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning. Children will be assessed on how they think and solve problems using words and numbers.
Part 3: spatial ability. Your child will need to transform visual images in their mind to complete these questions, as pencils and paper are not allowed.
English writing test
The second part of the assessment process for Year 7 entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks is an English writing test. This will assess your child’s ability to write meaningfully and fluently in prose.
The school recommends that children can best prepare for this test by learning to solve problems independently and reading to extend their vocabulary and ability to infer meaning.
Interviews
The third and final part of the assessment process is an interview. All children will have a 10 minute interview with a member of Radnor House School staff.
The school will be looking for evidence of your child’s interests inside and outside of school and how they embrace the school’s values of excellence, respect, courage and perseverance. Your child will also have a brief passage to read and discuss with their interviewer.
How to ace the private school interview
4. Scholarships
All children applying for Year 7 entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks will be considered for an academic scholarship on the basis of their performance in the assessments.
Art, drama, music, sports and values scholarships need to be applied for separately. As well as a specific application form, your child may need to submit other materials before being invited to an assessment:
Art scholarships: candidates will need to send a portfolio of work to the registrar. If your child then passes the main assessment process, they will be invited to take part in a 20 minute practical task and interview at the school.
Drama scholarships: candidates will need to send a scrapbook or portfolio of their drama experiences to date, including references from drama teachers or drama clubs, to the registrar. Children who have passed the main entrance process will then be invited to attend a drama scholarship assessment morning, where they will perform a 2–3 minute monologue of their choice and have an informal interview with the head of drama.
Music scholarships: children who have submitted the music scholarship application form and passed the main assessment will be invited to attend a music scholarship assessment morning. This will include performances on two instruments (or one instrument and voice) of 2–3 minutes each, as well as an informal interview and a short music theory assessment. Note that successful Year 7 music scholarship applicants are normally working towards Grade 2 or 3 in one or more instruments, and are competent in music theory.
Sports scholarships: children who have submitted the sports scholarship application form and passed the main entrance exam will be invited to attend the sports scholarship assessment day in November. This will include a series of sports assessments based around the child’s chosen sport, and tests of speed, cardiovascular endurance, agility, power, and coachability. Children will also have an informal interview with the director of sport, where they will talk through their application form.
Values scholarships: children will need to submit the values scholarship application form before the published deadline. Decisions will then be made based on the outcome of the admissions tests, interview, reference and the application form.
5. Offers
Radnor House School will write to you with the outcome of your child’s application in early December when your child is in Year 6 (before the Christmas break). Children who have been offered a place will be invited to sports, science and art experience days the following spring.
The acceptance deadline is usually in early March in the year of entry.
How to prepare for 11 plus entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks
Children applying for Year 7 entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks will be tested in a range of subjects, including English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Atom Learning is an all-in-one exam preparation platform which can help your child consolidate everything they need to know and prepare effectively for success in the Radnor House Sevenoaks admissions process.
Exam preparation with Atom Nucleus
All candidates applying to Radnor House Sevenoaks for Year 7 entry take a written English test and the online CAT4 assessment. Atom’s online learning platform Atom Nucleus will give your child access to over 90,000 interactive questions in English, maths, science and verbal and non-verbal reasoning, in addition to unlimited online practice papers that replicate the CAT4 test.
All content is automatically marked, and you’ll get instant score breakdowns and data-led insights to help you track your child’s progress. You can use your parent dashboard to effectively help your child set targets and create exercises to target the content they find more challenging.
See how Atom Nucleus can help your child prepare effectively for the Radnor House Sevenoaks entrance exam – start your free trial today.
Interview preparation with Atom Tuition
As well as academic tests, all candidates applying for entry to Radnor House Sevenoaks will have an interview with a member of staff. This is a common practice at independent schools, as it can provide a more holistic insight into your child’s abilities and interests. However, even informal interviews can still be daunting for many 10 and 11-year-olds!
Atom Tuition offers online mock interviews with experienced tutors who are specialists in the private school admissions process. A one-hour session consists of a 30-minute interview, a 10-minute break, 20 minutes of feedback and a follow-up report.
These mock interviews are an ideal opportunity for your child to:
Encounter typical private school interview questions
Learn and practice techniques that will serve them well in the real interview
Develop their conversational skills and storytelling style
Demystify the interview process and know what to expect
Reduce any anxiety and feel confident for the real interview
Book a mock interview today and give your child the benefits of expert guidance and a confidence-building experience.
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