FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are the criteria for entry to Hampton Court House?

What are the fees for Hampton Court House?

What are the term dates for the current academic year?

Does the school offer scholarships?

What recruitment opportunities are offered by the school?

How can I register my child?

Q:
What are the criteria for entry to Hampton Court House, and how are candidates assessed?

A:

Pre-Prep Department
(3½ to 6 year olds)

Children are considered for entry to the pre-prep department in the strict order of registration.
Early registration is therefore advised in all cases.

Children under the age of five are not extensively ‘tested’ or ‘assessed’ before a place is offered.
It is more important to us that there is a meeting of minds between the parents and the school. However, the school is not equipped to cater for children with severe learning disabilities.

Children usually pass effortlessly into the school’s preparatory section.

Preparatory School
(7 to 13 year olds)

The beginning of preparatory school is a landmark in a child’s education. The major difference is that, at Hampton Court House, children receive tuition from a range of teachers who are specialists in their subject. In the early years, particular emphasis is placed on reading, writing and arithmetic.
However, all children study English, Mathematics, Science, French, History, Geography, Divinity, Information Technology and Art. All children begin Latin at age nine.

Entrance to the preparatory school is via the school’s pre-prep department or, for new pupils, via an extended interview (during which parents are invited to be present). Children are asked to read some unseen texts and to offer opinions on a variety of topics. The interview is designed to assess a child’s capacity for abstract, imaginative and independent thought. It is not primarily a test of what a child has been taught.

The preparatory school prepares boys and girls for entry to independent senior schools at 11+ and 13+, as well as for entrance to its own senior school (see below).

Traditionally, entry to girls’ senior schools is at 11+ whereas entry to boys’ senior schools is at 13+. However, many of the London boys’ schools now ‘screen’ potential candidates at age 10 through a process of interview and competitive examinations in English, Mathematics and/or Reasoning.

At Hampton Court House, most pupils are prepared for competitive entrance examinations at 11+, regardless of whether or not they sit entrance exams for other schools.

Common Entrance Classes
(11 to 13 year olds)

Entrance to the school at 11+ is usually via an entrance examination in addition to the interview procedure. The entrance papers are similar to standard 11+ papers in Mathematics and English, although a number of more demanding questions are designed to stretch the most able pupils. Exceptional performances may result in the offering of an academic scholarship.

All new pupils entering the school at 11+ join the school’s programme leading to Common Entrance or Scholarship examinations at 13+. The school follows closely the curriculum for the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB) – a curriculum which reflects the requirements of the National Curriculum. Boys and girls are taught together. Provision is made for those studying French and/or Latin for the first time. Pupils may also study Greek after completing their first year of Latin.

All pupils are prepared for the Common Entrance examination at 13+. At this stage, some of our boys may elect to continue their education at another senior school. The girls and those boys choosing to stay then continue their academic career at Hampton Court House by embarking on GCSE courses of study.

Senior School – GCSE classes
(13 to 16 year olds)

Entrance to the Senior School is via the ISEB Common Entrance examination or via the school’s own scholarship examination. An academic scholarship is worth up to 50% of the tuition fees.

The following subjects are studied to GCSE – English, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French, Geography, History, Religious Studies and Latin. In addition, the following may also be studied to GCSE: Classical Greek, Information Technology, Music, Art, Spanish, German, Russian.

Senior School – ‘Sixth Form’
(16 to 18 year olds)

An application is currently being made to the International Baccalaureate Organisation to the run the Diploma Programme for 16-19 year olds from September 2009. We believe the IB programme to provide a more balanced curriculum than the traditional three or four A-levels. The International Baccalaureate is increasingly popular both with senior schools and with leading universities.

Q:
Does the school offer scholarships?

A:
The school offers various scholarships for pupils of exceptional ability.

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
( at 10+, 11+ and 13+)

The value of a Scholarship is usually for a one sixth, one third or half fees, at the Headmistress’ discretion.

Scholarship candidates are selected on the basis of written examinations in English, Mathematics and Science. Candidates at 13+ must also offer French and preferably Latin.

MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS
(at any age)

Occasionally, scholarships are awarded on the basis of truly exceptional talent in music. As a guideline, candidates for Music Scholarships will normally have achieved at least Grade 5 standard in two instruments, or else a higher standard in one instrument.

CHESS SCHOLARSHIPS
(at any age)

Candidates for Chess Scholarships should have a proven track record of success in national competitions. Time for further chess coaching will be made available within the school timetable.

Q:
What recruitment opportunities are available at Hampton Court House?

A:

Hampton Court House has an active recruitment programme, which now operates around the year in several countries. We aim to recruit only the very best teachers – those who are in effect “born teachers.” Currently, barely one in 100 applications is successful.

If you believe that you fall into the category of inspirational ‘great teacher’ – i.e. you are truly charismatic and have the gift of carrying a class’s attention down myriad fascinating paths, then please contact us now.

We particularly value polymaths whose deep learning is offset by a lightness of touch. It is vital that our teachers possess the ability to laugh at themselves and that they recognise that the pupils they teach are perhaps less experienced - but not less intelligent and certainly not less imaginative.

We believe that the very best teachers are, by definition, unusual individuals and that they sometimes come from careers initially outside teaching. There is also provision for part-time teachers (i.e. two or three days a week).

Owing to rapid expansion, we are looking for specialist teachers in the following subjects:

English, Latin & Greek, French, Mathematics, Geography, P.E./Sports, Arts

Please send a CV, photograph and interesting cover letter to Guy Holloway, Director of Studies.

Q:

How can I register my child?

A:

A registration form can be obtained by contacting the school via the contact details supplied below.

Alternatively, you may wish to print a copy of the form and post it to the school. A PDF copy of the form may be accessed by clicking here. Please note that you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the form. If you do not have Acrobat, please click on the icon below.

Mac OS 10.3 users can view the form using the built-in PDF viewer, Preview.

Users with Microsoft Word installed may view the form as a Word document by clicking here.