All Early Decision applicants will need to take the ISEB pre-test in their current school or another testing centre in late October or early November.
All candidates will be invited to the assessment day in Sevenoaks in early January. They will take the same tests as our Year 7 2025 candidates. They will be tested in English and Maths, and participate in a 40-minute group discussion. Boarding applicants will also take part in teamwork activities.
Please note that all Early Decision candidates must attend the assessment day in Sevenoaks. If this is not possible, you should opt for a Later Decision application.
Offers are conditional on the child staying in their current school for Years 7 and 8. If a child needs to move school, this must be agreed in advance by the Director of Admissions.
Parents will need to send a copy of their child’s school report at the end of Year 7 and in the Spring of Year 8. We reserve the right to seek a further reference from the current school and, if necessary, withdraw an offer in the event of serious concerns.
Early Decision candidates cannot reapply for a Later Decision place unless invited to do so by the Director of Admissions. While Early Decision candidates will take their assessments on the same day as our 11+ applicants, the two processes are separate. The Admissions department will take note of requests to join the school earlier, but our 11+ process is highly oversubscribed and it is unlikely that we will be able to accommodate such requests.
We are keen to accommodate candidates who need extra time, word processing or other provision. You can read more about the school’s learning support here.
Timetable for Year 9 Entry in September 2027
Early Decision applicants only
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 15 September 2024 | Closing date for Early Decision applications |
| October 2024 | References requested from candidates' current schools |
| 6 January 2025 | Early Decision Assessment Day |
| 14 February 2025 | Decisions sent |
| Early March 2025 | Acceptance deadline |
| June 2026 | Submit current school report |
| March/April 2027 | Submit current school report |
| May 2027 | Academic Scholarship examinations and Co-Curricular Scholarship assessments |
| June 2027 | Lesson taster day and boarding sleepover |
| September 2027 | Start school |
Past papers
Past Maths and English papers can be found below. Please note that Early Decision candidates take the same papers as Year 7 candidates because they will be part of the same cohort. We have also provided a list of the topics which may be tested in the Maths paper and an example of a Maths Mark Scheme to give a better understanding of how these papers are assessed.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Sevenoaks offers scholarships to honour and celebrate exceptional talent in academia, music, sports, drama and art.
Results
Offers of places, including scholarships, are sent by email to all candidates. Acceptance of all places must be confirmed by the payment of a deposit (£2000 for day pupils; £5000 for boarding pupils) and the completion of a Form of Acceptance by the date in June specified in our offer letter. Any candidate who decides not to accept their place is requested to inform us of their decision as soon as possible so their place can be released to a reserved candidate.
Some candidates will be reserved. This means they have passed our tests and have demonstrated that they would be good Sevenoaks students. We will be pleased to offer them a place if one becomes available later in the process. Parents are advised to keep in touch with the Director of Admissions in this situation. We consider our reserve candidates as a pool, not a list. When a place becomes available, we offer it to the most suitable reserved candidate.
“Ultimately, we are looking for students who are bright and eager to be involved in the wider, co-curricular life of the school, and – most importantly – who are kind.”
Lorna Dolan, Director of Admissions
Where Next?
Sevenoaks School Diploma
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Pastoral Care at Sevenoaks
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