Hertfordshire Southwest Grammar Schools
Bushey Meads School
Entrance Exam Dates:
Ofsted Report: Good
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/137872
Test Type:
The Technological Aptitude Test
The Technological Aptitude Test is an additional test, based on non-verbal reasoning and consisting of two multiple choice papers, with a break in between. 17 places are allocated based on the standardised results of the Technology Test, offered in descending order of test score.
No special preparation is required for this test and all children are given the opportunity to complete some practice questions immediately before the tests. We also send out a sheet of example questions before the test date so that the children can familiarise themselves with questions of this type.
Examples of the type of questions your child may encounter are:
- One object will be transformed (e.g. rotated), what would a second object look like if it was transformed similarly
- Hidden shapes within other shapes
- Matching up symbols to a letter code
- What is next in a sequence of modified symbols
- What is the “odd one out”
- What would this object look like viewed from a different angle
This is an additional test and is entirely optional. However, all applicants to Bushey Meads School must sit the Consortium Test (see page 7).
https://busheymeads.org.uk/admissions-technological-aptitude-test/
Specialisation
Bushey Meads School is an 11-18, mixed comprehensive specialist technology college.
https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/media-library/documents/schools-and-education/admissions/18-19-oaa-arrangements/bushey-meads-school-combined-determined-policy-1819-5408.pdf
Design & Technology
Schools cutting edge facilities include precise laser cutters snd 3D printers.
https://issuu.com/busheymeads/docs/bushey_meads_school_prospectus
Language
In Year 8 students benefit from the chance to visit, for a whole residential week, Spain or France. Further language residentials are also arranged for senior students. On whole-school enrichment days students have visited French and Spanish schools in London too and arranged a whole day immersed in the target language and culture.
https://busheymeads.org.uk/students/trips-extended-curriculum/
University
An annual visit to Cambridge University for Year 7 students raises their aspirations and starts them thinking of future choices.
GCSE Results
https://busheymeads.org.uk/about-us/results/
Parmiter’s School
Entrance Exam Dates:
Entrance Test: September
Music Test: September
Second Music Test: September (date to be confirmed prior)
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=609&type=pdf
Ofsted Report: Outstanding
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136899
Test Type: GL
Info from South West Herts Consortium of Schools.
Academic test
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/academic-ability-test/
Music Test
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/music-aptitude-test/
Schools website links to website above.
Verbal reasoning test and a mathematics test.
Up to 10% of places are allocated on the basis of proven aptitude in Music to be determined by prescribed tests.
Specialisation
The school dates back to 1681.
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=About+Us&pid=6
Teacher Training School
Parmiter’s School is a Lead School for the Herts and Bucks Teaching School Alliance, working in partnership with The University of Hertfordshire.
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Teacher+Training&pid=61
Careers & University
The Enterprise Challenge is a unique business venture run by two teams of Sixth Form students. Running at the school for several years, Sixth Formers have raised thousands of pounds for local charities. The challenge allows students to introduce, plan and run different events each year. Through hands-on experience and the guidance of mentors, the two teams learn how to deal with aspects of running of a business plus the management skills of communication, time management, problem-solving, decision-making, delegation and negotiation.
The Morrisby online careers profiling is offered to students in Year 10 (which is optional and has a cost attached) which is a psychometric assessment which matches abilities, skills and interests to career areas.
In Year 13 mock interviews are arranged to cater for all applicants, particularly Oxbridge and Medicine/Veterinary/Dentistry courses. An Oxbridge preparation programme is organised in school to support students with their application process and interviews.
The Enterprise Challenge is a unique business venture run by two teams of Sixth Form students. Running at the school for several years, Sixth Formers have raised thousands of pounds for local charities. The challenge allows students to introduce, plan and run different events each year. Through hands-on experience and the guidance of mentors, the two teams learn how to deal with aspects of running of a business plus the management skills of communication, time management, problem-solving, decision-making, delegation and negotiation.
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Careers&pid=62
Private Music Lessons
The peripatetic music teachers here at Parmiter’s teach half hour music lessons, weekly, in the Old Music Block during the school day. Students are able to take additional music lessons in the following disciplines:
- Piano and Keyboard
- Drums and Percussion
- Guitar
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- French Horn Violin
- Viola
- Oboe Bassoon
- Clarinet
- Saxophone
- Flute
- Singing
- Theory of Music
Cashless Canteen
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Wisepay&pid=41
Pastoral Care
A pastoral system incorporating Form Tutors, Heads of Year and their Deputies and Senior Management has been established to meet the individual needs of each student. Additional support is provided by a school Matron and a Pastoral Support Assistant.
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Parmiter%26%238217%3Bs+Life&pid=15
Prospectus
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/_site/data/publications/prospectus/12/index.html
GCSE
https://www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Academic+Achievement&pid=26
Queens’ School Bushey
Entrance Exam Dates:
Academic Test: September
Music Aptitude Test: September
Sports Aptitude Test: September
Second Round of Music Tests: September (date to be confirmed prior to test date)
Ofsted Report: Good
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136877
Test Type: GL
Info from South West Herts Consortium of Schools.
Academic test
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/academic-ability-test/
Music Test
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/music-aptitude-test/
P.E. aptitude test.
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/sports-aptitude-test/
Specialisation
Queens’ School was formed in 1969.
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/about-us/school-history/
Sports & Science
In 2003, Queens’ became a Specialist Sports College and in 2007 recognised as a High Performing School. In 2008, Queens’ achieved ScienceCollege status.
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/about-us/school-history/
Top School
We are one of the highest performing schools in the country, a fact recognised by Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools.
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/about-us/
Super Curriculum
The Super Curriculum at Queens is designed to help stretch and challenge students, supporting their learning outside of the classroom. It contains careers advice and guidance for taking the subjects beyond school. It also allows you to challenge yourself and find out what you can do in subjects beyond what happens in your lessons. Each subject area listed have ideas for things you can pursue yourself, such as Summer School placements you can apply for or books that top universities recommend you read before applying in Year 13.
Further information on webpage below:
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/students/super-curriculum/
International Links
Queens’ benefits from an increasing number of international links with partner schools in Taiwan and Zambia. Exchanges allow students to broaden their horizons, learn about different cultures and create global links.
Sports
Sport is enjoyed by a large number of students. Rugby, netball, football, athletics, cricket and basketball are all well represented, achieving an outstanding level of success at House, county and national level.
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Queens-School-Prospectus-V2.pdf
The school benefits from extensive facilities including 12 all-weather sports pitches set in extensive playing fields of over 50 acres.
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/about-us/
HegartyMaths
Queens’ School is working hard to support all students to achieve success in Maths.
As part of this support, we are pleased to have access to an online maths tuition service called HegartyMaths. This is an online website created by UK Teacher of the Year/Global Teacher Prize Top 10 Finalist, Colin Hegarty. Every student now has access to all his top quality learning materials to enhance, assess and track their learning.
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/students/hegartymaths/
Debate
The Debating Society is a regular finalist in the prestigious United Kingdom National Debating Matters competition.
GCSE Results
https://www.queens.herts.sch.uk/about-us/exam-results/
Rickmansworth School
Entrance Exam Dates:
Academic Test: September
Music Aptitude Test: September
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/calendar/
Ofsted Report: Good
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/136606
Test Type: GL
Info from South West Herts Consortium of Schools.
Academic test
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/academic-ability-test/
Music Test
http://www.swhertsschools.org.uk/music-aptitude-test/
Info from the school.
https://rickmansworth.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/Admission-Arrangements-2021-22.pdf?t=1582658852?ts=1582841655
Test Results In Previous Years
https://rickmansworth.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/document/Information-For-Parents-Results-In-Previous-Years-2020.pdf?t=1583605617?ts=1587967564
Specialisation
Rickmansworth Grammar School was founded after the Second World War. The School was scheduled for completion in 1953. Running both over time and over budget it didn’t open its doors until September 1954.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/589/school-history
Science & Performing Arts
For many years we have been the hub school for the local sports partnership and have specialisms in Science and the Performing Arts.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/601/headteacher-welcome
Science
As a specialist science college, we have 13 science labs including a computer lab, 16 science teachers and 4 science technicians to ensure students get the best experience during their science lessons.
At KS4, students take AQA separate sciences or AQA combined: trilogy.
We have a high number of students who continue studying the sciences at KS5 with great success, many of them attending Russell Group Universities to read the sciences.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/841/science
Resilience & Study Skills
Resilience and study skills aims to help students develop a better understanding of themselves and help them improve their ability to study, learn and retain information. Students develop their own personal approach to study and learning in a way that best suits them; through the lessons they will work out what works for them, and what doesn’t.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/840/resilience-and-study-skills
Creative i-Media
Students have the opportunity to take Creative i-Media at GCSE level. This is a vocational option that tasks students with creating pieces of work to a client brief for a given purpose. Lessons are practical with class-led learning. Students are then given opportunities to work in groups collaboratively to implement these ideas.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/817/creative-i-media
Dance
Dance at Rickmansworth is taught in a large, purpose-built dance studio with a sprung floor and professional sound system.
We go to great lengths to provide enrichment opportunities for our students including performance platforms such as the Evening of Dance, the annual School Production and Song and Dance performance, as well as regional showcases including Rock Challenge and The Great Big Dance Off. We have an extensive extra curricular programme including dance clubs for each year group at KS3, dance leadership opportunities and regular support sessions for examination classes throughout the academic year.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/815/dance
Music
We offer both GCSE and A Level music as a progression from KS3 with students successfully continuing music at university at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity College London and King’s College London. Rickmansworth School Alumni students have also successfully acquired professional status in the music industry in a variety of job roles.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/835/music
Expansion
Due to popular demand Rickmansworth School was expanded in September 2018 to take an additional form
of entry each year, going forward. In order to facilitate this the School was supported by a capital grant of
£3.5 million. Consequently, the School has undergone a major refurbishment programme including the construction of a fantastic new Sixth Form centre, English classroom suite, a specialist Film Studies suite (including a cinema), and a specialist theatre/drama studio which compliments our recently extended dining hall, refurbished swimming pool and first class Sports Hall. We have modernised the Modern Foreign Languages Faculty (including the installation of a languages laboratory) and the Mathematics Faculty, created new Science laboratories, and refurbished the Music block and the School Hall. We have a strategic improvement plan to refurbish the whole School site and are constantly looking for ways to improve provision for our students.
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/601/headteacher-welcome
GCSE Results
https://www.rickmansworth.herts.sch.uk/590/results