Years 3, 4 and 5 entry

Open Days and Visits

Junior School Open Days

Families of boys looking for entry to Year 3 or Year 5 in September 2024 are warmly invited to visit the Junior School on our Open Days. Places can be reserved below.

The Admissions team are always happy to talk to families on the phone and to answer any individual queries regarding the application process.

Our website is updated regularly so please do look at it to capture a flavour of what life at Dulwich College Junior School could be like for your son.

Open Morning

Date	Arrival Times
Saturday 23 September 2023	9.30am and 11.15am FULL

You will be able to see the Junior School in action with tour guides from Years 5 and 6 and then the Senior School with guides from the Senior School. Dr Joe Spence, The Master, and Dr Toby Griffiths, Head of Junior School, will be speaking during the morning.

Open Afternoon

Date	Arrival Times
Wednesday 11 October 2023	1.30pm - 3.30pm FULL

The Open Afternoon is for parents and boys considering entry to Year 3 and 5 for September 2024. You will get a tour of the Junior School with members of staff and a chance to talk to Junior School pupils and seeing them in class too. Dr Toby Griffiths, Head of Junior School, will be speaking about entry into the Junior School and the value of a Dulwich Education.

Tours

The Head of the Junior School leads tours for up to seven sets of parent on some Wednesday and Friday mornings. The visits are an excellent opportunity to see the Junior School at work and to discuss the details of the entry procedure. Tours for entry in September 2024 are now full and tours for entry in September 2025 will resume in the second half of the Lent term. To reserve a place please contact the Registrar, Mrs Cara Norfolk on 020 8299 8432 or by email norfolkc@dulwich.org.uk.

Registered Parents' Evening

Date	Arrival Times
Wednesday 22 November 2023	7.30pm

This evening is exclusively for those parents of boys registered for September 2024 entry. Speakers include the Master of the College, the Head of the Junior School and a Year 13 pupil who began his Dulwich College career in the Junior School. Junior School staff will be on hand to answer questions after the presentations.

Entry Procedures

7+ applicants (entry into Year 3)

Entry Procedure Overview
Age of Applicant	For boys born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017
Registration deadline	Monday 30 October 2023 12 midday
7+ Stage 1 Assessment	Saturday 2 December 2023
7+ Stage 2 Assessment	Monday 8 January 2024 (please note this has been changed from the previously published date of 4 January 2024)
Results Posted	Friday 2 February 2024
Replies Deadline	Friday 9 February 2024, 12 midday

Applicants’ schools will be contacted directly for a confidential report in November.

Stage 1 Assessment

In December, boys will complete online assessments in small groups as well as some short assessments of writing and maths. The online assessments will be completed on desktops with a keyboard and mouse.

Stage 2 Assessment

Applicants who have shown sufficient promise in the assessments will be invited back in January for a one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff. During this assessment stage, we will assess their literacy, numeracy and offer boys the opportunity to work with others, showing their interest and aptitude for learning.

The majority of boys who are successful in our entry procedure will be working at a teacher assessment of Greater Depth by the end of their Infant or Pre-Prep school or achieving standardised scores >120.

Decisions on a candidate’s suitability will be based on their online assessment results, their attainment and potential in literacy and numeracy, the one-to-one interview, their approach to learning as demonstrated throughout their time with us, and their school report.

Successful applicants are offered a place subject to the College's Standard Terms and Conditions

Acceptance of an Offer

Please note that we are aware that some schools’ timeline for entry is different to ours. If you are holding an offer from another school, and have not heard a decision from us, please contact us for further advice if you have any queries.

Disability and Special Educational Needs

Please notify the Junior School Registrar by Monday 30 October 2023 if your child has any specific learning needs or disabilities, which might affect the administration of the 2024 assessment. Sending any professional reports and recommendations is very helpful so we can ensure suitable arrangements are made.

Admissions for 2025 and beyond

Please note, for 7+ entry for September 2025 and beyond, with the introduction of a 4+ deferred entry process from our Infants’ School, DUCKS, there will be a reduction in the number of places available going forward.

9+ applicants (for entry into Year 5)

Entry Procedure Overview
Age of Applicant	For boys born between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015
Registration deadline	Monday 30 October 2023 12 midday
9+ Stage 1 Assessment	Saturday 2 December 2023
9+ Stage 2 Assessment	Saturday 13 January 2024
Year 5 Results Posted	Thursday 25 January 2024
Year 5 Replies Deadline	Thursday 1 February 2024, 12 midday

Applicants’ schools will be contacted directly for a confidential report in November.

Stage 1 Assessment

In December boys will visit Dulwich College and complete online assessments in small groups as well as some short assessments of writing and maths. The online assessments will be completed on desktops with a keyboard and mouse.

Stage 2 Assessment

Applicants who have shown sufficient promise in the assessments will be invited back in January for a one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff and group activities. During this assessment stage, we will assess their literacy, numeracy and offer boys the opportunity to work with others, showing their interest and aptitude for learning.

Decisions on a candidate’s suitability will be based on their online assessment results, their attainment and potential in literacy and numeracy, the one-to-one interview, their approach to learning as demonstrated throughout their time with us, and their school report

Successful applicants are offered a place subject to the College's Standard Terms and Conditions

Acceptance of an Offer

Please note that we are aware that some schools’ timeline for entry is different to ours. If you are holding an offer from another school, and have not heard a decision from us, please contact us for further advice if you have any queries.

Disability and Special Educational Needs

Please notify the Junior School Registrar by Monday 30 October 2023 if your child has any specific learning needs or disabilities, which might affect the administration of the 2024 assessment. Sending any professional reports and recommendations is helpful so we can ensure suitable arrangements are made.

Entrance Advice

What are we looking for in the Dulwich College Junior School Assessments?

It is important to stress that we are looking for potential in the pupils; pupils who will thrive at Dulwich College to the age of 18. Our challenge is to find students with potential whose natural ability will grow with the challenges and breadth a Dulwich education provides.

Online Assessment

The children do not need to do any preparation for the online assessment. These assessments will look at the pupil’s English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning competencies. Ideally, the boys will have used a computer with a mouse beforehand, but this is not a barrier to doing well in these assessments. We have the support in place to help all applicants in these assessments.

Reading, reading and reading

Your son should read aloud; he should discuss the stories read, their meanings, any new vocabulary encountered, the feelings of characters and how stories relate to other books, authors and the world around them.

Numeracy

Children should have a good level of numeracy and be able to understand number problems in context. An ability to link topics and use appropriate strategies to explain their thinking will be useful.

Writing

Applicants will be asked to write in response to a given stimulus. We are looking for boys who can express themselves clearly and creatively using interesting vocabulary and accurate punctuation. They will not be asked to write a structured story.

Speaking

Applicants will be encouraged to speak about themselves in a one-to-one interview with a member of the Junior School staff and discuss their genuine interests and enthusiasms and issues around them. Quiet or shy boys can very effectively relay the topics that fascinate them with our gentle and supportive staff.

On the Assessment Days

We aim to make the days as normal and as welcoming as possible with our Junior School teachers encouraging and supporting the boys. Along with the invitation to the assessment days, details will be provided about what the boys should bring and the structure of the day. We offer frequent breaks and provide healthy refreshments to help ensure that your son’s visit to Dulwich College Junior School is positive and memorable.

Entrance Assessments

7+ applicants (boys who want to join us in Year 3)
9+ applicants (boys who want to join us in Year 5)

7+ applicants (boys who want to join us in Year 3)

All applicants will undertake the Stage 1 Assessment, which involves online assessments and some short assessments of their maths and writing. Around two-thirds of applicants will then be invited back for the Stage 2 Assessment, which involves group activities and a one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff. In each of the assessment stages, there is ample opportunity for boys to tell us about their passions and interests and to show their engagement in learning.

The majority of boys who are successful in our entry procedure will be working at a teacher assessment of Greater Depth by the end of their Infant or Pre-Prep school or achieving standardised scores >120.

Stage 1 Assessment

Online Assessments

Applicants will visit Dulwich College and complete a variety of online assessments. These tests are a means of looking at a pupil’s underlying abilities and current attainment. It is ‘age-standardised’, which helps us to identify the potential of applicants, especially for those children who have July or August birthdays. We do not assume the boys will have had any experience with these tests before they arrive, and we will prepare them for it with practice questions to ensure they understand what to do. Ideally, the boys will have used a computer for assessments or working before, but this is not a barrier to doing well. We have a great deal of support and means to help all boys in these assessments.

Numeracy

Children are expected to demonstrate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division knowledge and an ability to apply this understanding when solving problems in context. They can use any method. Being secure in their two, five and ten times tables, as well as in their understanding of place value, is important. In addition, applicants will be expected to show an understanding of simple fractions and measures. Applicants should be able to solve more complex problems, spot patterns or missing numbers and work backwards from an answer to a question.

Writing

During their visit, applicants will also be asked to complete a short written task in response to a given stimulus. We are looking for boys who can express themselves clearly and creatively using interesting vocabulary and accurate punctuation.

After the stage 1 assessments, we invite back around two thirds of applicants for a one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff and group activities.

Stage 2

Interview

During the one-to-one interview with a member of the Junior School staff, boys will be asked about themselves, their interests, and the issues around them. They will be asked to read a passage out loud, answer comprehension questions and answer maths questions testing number fact recall, calculations as well as problem-solving. Our supportive staff are experienced in ensuring all boys feel comfortable and confident during this time.

Numeracy

Children are expected to demonstrate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division knowledge and an ability to apply this understanding when solving problems in context. They can use any method. Being secure in their two, three, four, five and ten times tables as well as in their understanding of place value is important. In addition, applicants will be expected to show an understanding of simple fractions and measures. Applicants should be able to solve more complex problems, spot patterns or missing numbers and work backwards from an answer to a question.

Literacy

Applicants will be asked to read out loud an age-appropriate passage showing accuracy, intonation and fluency. Comprehension questions will follow to check their recall, inference and understanding of the passage, the characters and the setting. In addition, they will be asked to explain the meaning of certain words.

Group Activities

Applicants will be asked to read out loud an age-appropriate passage showing accuracy, intonation and fluency. Comprehension questions will follow to check their recall, inference and understanding of the passage, the characters and the setting. In addition, they will be asked to explain the meaning of certain words.

9+ applicants (boys who want to join us in Year 5)

All applicants will undertake the Stage 1 Assessment, which involves online reasoning tests and some short assessments of maths and writing. Around half of the applicants will then be invited back for the Stage 2 Assessment, which involves a group task and a one-to-one interview with a member of the Junior School staff. In each of the assessment stages, there is ample opportunity for boys to tell us about their passions and interests and to show their engagement in learning.

The majority of boys who are successful in our entry procedure will be working at a teacher assessment of Greater Depth and achieving standardised scores >120.

Stage 1

Online Assessments

Applicants will visit Dulwich College and complete a variety of online assessments. These tests are a means of looking at a pupil’s underlying ability. It is ‘age-standardised’, which helps us to identify the potential of applicants, especially for those children who have July or August birthdays. We do not assume the boys will have had any experience of these tests before they arrive, and we will prepare them for it with practice questions to ensure they understand what to do. Ideally, the boys will have used a computer for assessments or working before, but this is not a barrier to doing well in these tests. We have the support and means to help all boys in these assessments.

Numeracy

Children are expected to demonstrate addition, subtraction, multiplication and division knowledge and an ability to apply this understanding when solving problems in context. They can use any method. Being secure in multiplication and division facts to 10x10 as well as in their understanding of place value is important. In addition, applicants will be expected to show an understanding of decimals, fractions and measures.

Writing

During their visit, applicants will also be asked to complete a short written task in response to a given stimulus. We are looking for boys who can express themselves clearly and creatively using interesting vocabulary and accurate punctuation.

After the Stage 1 assessments, we invite back around half of applicants for a one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff and group activities.

Stage 2

Interview

During the one-to-one interview with a member of Junior School staff, boys will be asked about themselves, their interests and the issues around them. They will be asked to read a passage out loud, answer comprehension questions and answer maths questions testing number fact recall, calculations as well as problem-solving. Our supportive staff are experienced in ensuring all boys feel comfortable and confident during this time.

Numeracy

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a sound understanding of the four rules of number and an ability to apply this understanding when solving problems in context. Being secure in multiplication and division facts to 10x10 as well as in their understanding of place value is important. In addition, applicants will be expected to show an understanding of decimals, fractions and measures. They will need to use their own strategies and methods to solve mathematical problems, including those involving two distinct calculation stages.

Literacy

Applicants will be asked to read an age-appropriate passage out loud, showing accuracy, intonation and fluency. Comprehension questions will follow to check their recall, inference and understanding of the passage, the characters and the setting. In addition, they are asked to explain the meaning of certain words.

Group Activities

Applicants will be organised into small groups of boys for group activities, structured very much like a lesson. We’re looking for applicants who show an engagement in learning and who show their ability to follow instructions, listen and collaborate with others. They will also be expected to reason and apply new knowledge and think creatively.

Admissions update for September 2024

Junior School Life