Preparing for the 4+ at Highgate for 2027 entry? Here's what you need to know...
/Yes, it’s true that you will need to prepare your child to the highest of standards but even after that, you cannot guarantee that your child will pass their first round at Highgate.
You must still absolutely start working with an expert in the 4+ assessments 12 months before the first round at Highgate but even after that, you cannot guarantee that your child will pass their 4+ assessment at Highgate.
So I read all of these blogs (my own included up to this point) that support parents to understand the 4+ process at Highgate but then I roll my eyes. It really is not enough to simply prepare our children to the highest of standards for the Highgate 4+ assessment. Even though children were prepared to the highest of standards last year, some still did not pass Obviously they were offered other schools. Other amazing schools.
You see, last year, we prepared 8 children for Highgate and it was a tough year last year for us in terms of Highgate!There were a few surprises. And it is important that these tutoring companies (including my own), share with you the truth about their results and not just the positive ones but also the negative ones (as I always do by publishing a detailed report of our achievements for each individual school that we prepare our students for). This builds trust for my company. When companies only share their positive results it leaves parents doubting and dubious. Obviously not everyone will be successful. That is the nature of any assessment is it not?
Do you know that Highgate have their own special criteria when choosing the children that they will invite back for Round 2?
Did you know that they automatically offer second round assessments to children of staff and to siblings.
Two of our girls did not pass the first round at Highgate who absolutely would have demonstrated ‘readiness for learning’. So why did they not pass?
Because they are not siblings and because they are not children of staff?
There is no other reason.
Initially 480 children will be assessed. I believe that 240 children will be called back for Round 2 (they say 180). So if your child passes round 1, they will have a 1:4 chance of passing round 2.
Siblings and children of staff will have the preference.
If there are 60 places and there are so many siblings and children of staff attending this year, what will your child need to demonstrate in order to pass?
Everything I always talk about.
But ultimately, will it be a true assessment of academic capability? Let’s wait and see how we get on this year with Highgate shall we?
So if you are sending your child to Highgate for 2027 entry, I hope that you have prepared them to the highest of standards (they will undoubtedly be attending other 4+ assessments too) and I wish your child the very best.
