The information on this page relates specifically to entry to our Third Form (Year 9). For information on other entry points, please refer to our First Form (Year 7) page or Lower Sixth (Year 12) page. If you are interested in your son or daughter applying for one our other year groups, namely our Second Form (Year 8), Fourth Form (Year 10) or Fifth Form (Year 11), please get in touch with the Admissions Office to confirm availability of spaces in those respective year groups.
In order to register your child for a place in our Third Form, we would ask that prospective parents complete a two-stage registration process, as listed below. As our primary entry route for Third Form is via a deferred entry process, parents should complete the registration process by the start of their child’s Year 6. The prospective pupils will be required to sit the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) Common Pre-Tests during the Michaelmas Term of Year 6 and, based upon those results, we will make deferred offers for guaranteed entry. For our September 2027 deferred entry to Third Form, please ensure that you have completed both parts of the registration process before Wednesday 23rd October 2024.
Once you have completed both parts of the registration process, your child will also need to have a short interview with a member of the Senior Management Team. If you have previously visited the School and your child has met the Headmaster, this will qualify. If you have not already met with the Headmaster, we will contact you to make the necessary arrangements for an interview. These are usually held online, but if your child would prefer a face-to-face interview in School, please contact the Admissions Office to arrange this as soon as possible. Please be aware that the interview forms part of the selection process and must be completed by the end of the Michaelmas Term whilst the prospective pupil is in Year 6.
For our September 2027 deferred entry to Third Form, we will contact families with the outcome of the application by Friday 20th December 2024. Acceptance of the offer will be required by March 2025 and this will guarantee the Third Form place for 2027.
All prospective pupils looking to join our Third Form are required to sit the Independent Schools Examination Board (ISEB) Common Pre-Tests during the Michaelmas Term whilst in Year 6. During this term, we will also apply to every applicant’s school for a reference or report on academic and social progress.
Ideally, candidates should sit the tests at their current school, but an alternative Invigilation Centre (place where tests will be administered) can be selected with their prior permission.
Please refer to the following guidance on the ISEB Pre-Test process. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office. Information for families, including some useful resources, can also be found on the ISEB website.
The School offers a range of scholarships to pupils joining our Third Form. As listed below, each scholarship has its own criteria and method of assessment. Scholarships are assessed during the Lent Term of Year 8. To apply for a scholarship, please complete our Scholarship Application Form.
For detailed information about our scholarship programme, including specific requirements for each of the respective disciplines, please download our Scholarship Guide. For more general answers, please refer to the following information, as well as a table outlining the application deadlines and assessment dates for 2026 Third Form entry.
Please note the dates in the table below relate to prospective pupils who are joining our Third Form in September 2025. For prospective pupils who are applying to join our Third Form in September 2026 or September 2027, scholarship assessments will take place in the January of that respective year. Exact scholarship assessment dates for these two years will be released in due course.
Will has been at SVS since 2015, when he joined the School as its Development Officer. In 2018, he became Development Manager, before taking on the role of Director of External Relations in 2021. His remit now spans development, alumni relations and admissions, working with stakeholders at either end of their SVS journey and developing opportunities within the School’s wider community. From a fundraising side, he leads on the School’s bursary drive through The 1576 Fund, as well as providing a wide-ranging programme of engagement for our 6500 alumni. He also works on the development of overseas recruitment opportunities and the maintenance of relationships with senior staff at feeder schools.
Prior to joining SVS, Will worked in the Development Office at the University of Kent, leading alumni engagement events across its European campuses. Outside of the office, he is an avid sports fan, particularly football and tennis and previously worked as an LTA tour referee.
Mr Will Radford
Director of Admissions and Development
+44 (0)1622 845241
Mrs Heidi Skinner
Admissions Officer
+44 (0)1622 845206
Mrs Donna Child
Admissions Assistant
+44 (0)1622 845271