Secondary School Assessment

S1 – S2 Entry

Our entrance process is designed to gain a better understanding of each child and identify their potential. To do this, our assessment has two stages:

• Stage 1: As a starting point we invite you and your child in for an informal chat with one of our Depute Rectors to ensure that we hear each child’s story. We ask for any relevant information about your child’s learning: their interests, strengths, challenges and previous schooling. It is also a good opportunity for you to ask questions and to talk more about life at Hutchie and how we can meet your child’s needs.
• Stage 2: This stage assesses a child’s aptitude or learning potential. We use a computer-based assessment tool that focusses on assessing different areas of learning:
  • Verbal Reasoning – the ability to express ideas and reason through words is essential to subjects with a high language content, and the most obvious skill picked up by traditional assessment.
  • Non-verbal Reasoning – problem-solving using pictures and diagrams; skills which are important in a wide range of school subjects, including maths and science-based subjects.
  • Spatial Reasoning – the capacity to think and draw conclusions in three dimensions, needed for many STEM subjects, but not easily measured by other datasets.
  • Quantitative Reasoning – the ability to use numerical skills to solve problems, applicable well beyond mathematics.

S3 – S4 Entry

• Stage 1: We ask for your child to bring in something that they are passionate about to talk about in an informal chat with one of our Depute Rectors. There is also opportunity for you to ask questions and to talk more about life at Hutchie and how we can meet your child’s needs.
• Stage 2: This stage assesses the child’s English and mathematics level;
  • Close Reading Paper – a short passage with questions based on the passage.
  • Composition Paper – there will be an option of 3 questions, the child must pick one and write a story. There is no word count, but this is an opportunity for your child to show off their writing skills.
  • Mathematics Paper – this is a calculator based paper where pupils will be tested on their mathematical skills.

S5 – S6 Entry
Entrance into S5 and S6 is based on the child’s predicted results at National 5/Higher (or equivalent) followed by an informal chat with one of our Depute Rectors, to check on subject choices and to get to know your child’s aspirations.

Our Entrance Assessment Day for August 2024 entry will take place on Friday 19th January 2024, discover more and apply now via the links below.