Common Entrance & Scholarship Pathways
We ensure an open and continuous conversation between teachers, pupils and parents to determine the ideal pathway for each child. No matter the route - Common Entrance or Scholarships - we take pride in providing the academic excellence and confidence needed to help our pupils achieve their future goals.
Our final two years (Years 7 and 8) see boys follow two exam routes:
- Common Entrance
- Scholarship
There are many opportunities for boys to thrive in their learning from Reception right through to Year 8. In the classroom, our final two years focus on academic and curriculum extension, as well as providing leadership opportunities during such a crucial stage of their development. We encourage our boys to stay with us through to Year 8, as this allows them to fully benefit from the academic rigour, leadership experiences and personal growth that prepare them for the challenges ahead.
Our leadership team knows each boy by name and understands their unique strengths and weaknesses. This personal investment ensures that every boy receives the guidance and support they need to excel. The leadership team works closely with families to place every child in the most suitable senior school, ensuring a smooth transition and continued success in their educational journey. We aim to find the right pathway for each boy, ensuring that they flourish academically and achieve the results required to gain entrance to their senior school of choice while placing their well-being at the heart of all we do.
Common Entrance
Common Entrance is a robust examination pathway characterised by a depth and breadth of study throughout. Boys sit in Common Entrance exams at the end of Year 8. It is an excellent preparation for the rigours of senior school and GCSE exams. The majority of boys at Shrewsbury House sit Common Entrance exams.
Scholarship
Academic scholarship exams are very challenging and vary in style among senior schools. Potential academic scholarship candidates must be strong across all subject areas, display the right attitude in class and have a strong work ethic.
Should it be deemed beneficial for boys to sit for their senior school’s academic scholarship exams, they are invited to join 7S in Year 7. Pupils in 7S follow a tailored syllabus designed to prepare them for the demands of academic scholarship exams in Year 8. Those sitting scholarship exams are taught as a dedicated class, 8S, in their final year, ensuring they receive the focused, individualised support needed to nurture their potential and excel.
