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Sutton High School is an independent day school for girls aged 3–18 in Sutton, South West London. It’s a member of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) – a network of 25 all girls’ schools across England and Wales. Sutton High School’s three core values are courage (empowering girls to embrace challenge), truth (promoting a sense of belonging) and joy (fostering a love of learning).
Pupils at Sutton High School join one of four houses, named after women connected to the school: Dora Black (former pupil who was an author, feminist and campaigner), Phyllis Mudford King (former pupil and tennis player), Henrietta Stanley (co-founder of the GDST and campaigner for women’s education) and Frances West (the first Sutton High School pupil known to have attended university).
Girls at Sutton High School have a bespoke curriculum with personalised learning targets to keep them in the stretch zone. Lessons are active, interesting and upbeat. In 2021, 69% of GCSE grades were 9–8 (A* equivalent) and 80% of A level grades were A*–A.
There are many opportunities to learn new skills and develop new interests beyond the curriculum within the school’s co-curricular programme. In Year 7 and 8, the Kaleidoscope enrichment programme offers courses including Ancient Greek, musical theatre, cake decorating, magic, acoustic guitar, ceramics, digital photography and chess.
Key information for Sutton High School
Headteacher: Mrs Beth Dawson
Address: Sutton High School, 55 Cheam Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2AX
London Borough: Sutton
Admissions contact: Mrs Julie White – [email protected], 020 8225 3001
Age range and gender: 3–18, girls only
Number of pupils: 766
Number of places in Year 7: Undisclosed
Ratio of applicants to places: Undisclosed
Open day date: Saturday 24th September 2022 - book online
Overview of selection procedure for Year 7 entry: Assessment and interview
Registration opens: Currently open – register online
Registration closes: 1st October 2022
Assessment date for Year 7 entry: Small group dates between November and December 2022
Scholarship assessment date: TBC
Sutton High School fees and financial assistance
The fees from September 2022 for Sutton High School are £6,357 per term. Lunch is mandatory for all girls in Years 7–11 and costs £236 per term.
A limited number of bursaries for up to 100% of fees are available for girls joining at 11 plus, based on academic merit and the income and financial resources of the candidate’s family. Bursary applications are assessed by the GDST Head Office and the final award, which is based on the GDST assessment, is made at the discretion of the headmistress.
The following scholarships are also available to 11 plus candidates for Sutton High School:
Academic Scholarships: between 5% and 50% of school fees
Performance Scholarships: available in the disciplines of art, drama, music and sport. These are typically set at 5–10% of school fees (although up to 30% may be awarded for outstanding candidates).
Sutton High School term dates
The term dates for Sutton High School in 2022–23 are:
Autumn term: 8th September – 15th December 2022
Half term: 17th – 28th October 2022
Spring term: 5th January – 31st March 2023
Half term: 13th – 17th February 2023
Summer term: 19th April – 12th July 2023
Half term: 29th May – 2nd June 2023
Admissions process for Sutton High School
To register your daughter for a place at Sutton High School, you will first need to complete the online application form and pay the non-refundable registration fee of £125 before the deadline of 1st October 2022.
Candidates will be invited to Sutton High School in small groups of 15 for the assessment day, which includes a test and a taster lesson (which is not assessed). This will take place on a weekday morning during November and December 2022.
There will also be interviews with the headmistress which will take place via Zoom between September and December. These are informal chats of around 5-10 minutes which will focus on your child as an individual.
If your daughter is applying for a scholarship, there may be additional steps to this admissions process:
Academic Scholarships: Girls sitting the 11 plus entrance exam in Year 6 are automatically considered for Academic Scholarship, with awards based on the results of the exam.
Art Scholarships: Candidates will be asked to submit a digital portfolio of their work along with a reference from a recognised art teacher. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to take a practical exercise and have an interview with the head of art.
Drama Scholarships: Potential drama scholars should have had significant performance experience both within and outside school. Candidates will need to submit a reference from a drama teacher and a digital recording of a monologue from a published play. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an audition, where they will present a monologue and take part in a group activity.
Music Scholarships: Eligible candidates are those who are of Grade 5 standard on their main instrument. Candidates will need to submit references from a current music teacher and a digital video recording of a performance of one piece. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to an audition, which will include a live performance. Sports Scholarships: Girls eligible for a Sports Scholarship are those who currently represent their school in more than one sport and are members of a recognised sports club/association beyond school. Candidates will need to submit a reference from a recognised coach or teacher and identify their preferred sport and level of performance. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to attend an assessment day, which will include the following activities: alternate ball toss, 8-minute maximal run, Illinois agility run, 50m sprint test, movement routine, online resilience test and an interview.
Outcome letters are posted to girls by mid-December 2022. In accordance with the code of conduct by the Girls’ School Association (GSA), places will need to be accepted by the first Friday in March.
Sutton High School entrance exam format
Girls who are applying for Year 7 entry to Sutton High School in 2023 will be invited to an assessment morning at the school, along with 14 other candidates, during November or December 2022. The 90-minute test covers three areas:
Maths (taken online)
English comprehension and verbal reasoning (taken online)
Non-verbal reasoning (paper-based)
These tests are nationally-standardised and age-appropriate for girls currently studying the Key Stage 2 core curriculum. There are no practice papers available, but you may find the following resources helpful
How to help your child prepare for the selection process at Sutton High School
Build foundational knowledge
The 11 plus exam assesses a huge amount of content, and Sutton High School is clear that its entrance exam will be relevant to the Key Stage 2 national curriculum. Atom Nucleus takes your child through personalised learning journeys across the entire Key Stage 2 core curriculum, with over 90,000 teacher-created questions.
Preparation is key
Familiarisation with the question formats and known styles ahead of the exam is absolutely essential – particularly as verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning are not taught at school. Access to quality, unlimited practice material ensures that your child will feel confident when tackling the test. Atom gives your child access to unlimited mock tests in English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning that mirror the content, format and structure of typical school entrance exams:
Access to immediate support
When working through challenging topics, your child will need immediate clarity with any misconceptions so that they feel truly secure in every topic. Atom gives your child access to video tutorials, help sheets and examples for each question to help build confidence and competence across all areas of the Key Stage 2 core national curriculum.
Engage with their progress
Celebrate your child’s improvement in areas of challenge together. An accurate and ongoing assessment of their areas of strength and development is helpful. Atom’s Parent Portal offers data-driven insights into your child’s progress to help you prepare effectively, including targets achieved, a detailed breakdown of progress by subtopic and the ability to set custom practices to target your child’s most challenging subtopics.
Atom Learning can help
It’s our mission to help your child feel prepared and confident on exam day. Begin your free 5-day free trial of Nucleus today to unlock success in the classroom, entrance exams and more.
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 Year 7 entry to Sutton High School:
If you’re looking for exclusive tips and resources to help your child master key subjects, excel in exams and build academic confidence, join Atom’s email list:
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