Please complete the form online here: https://forms.office.com/e/DtVzU3G8bu by the closing date, Friday 10th October 2024.  

The Music Aptitude Tests will take place on Thursday 16^th and Friday 17^th October at 4:00pm and will last around 1 hour and 15 minutes. It consists of a series of questions, which your child can respond to by ticking their answers on multiple choice answer sheets.

You will receive information regarding when you should bring your child to the school after you have completed and submitted your Music Aptitude Test registration form.

If your child is successful at the Music Aptitude Test, they will proceed to the Audition stage of the application process. The Audition will require them to perform a piece of music (up to 5 minutes) using any instrument or their voice and will include some simple aural tests. An accompanist will be available on the day. They will also participate in a 30-minute small group workshop on tuned percussion.

The auditions will take place on Friday 24^th October 2024 from 9:00am to 1:30pm circa.

It is expected that all applicants wishing to be admitted via the Music Aptitude Test should be able to attend during the period stated above. Only in an extenuating circumstance will an alternative date be considered. Parents with a compelling reason why they cannot make the date stated should write to the school to have their request for an alternative date considered.

12 (twelve) places from the 240 available for entry to Year 7. Where the minimum standard for the test is reached the places will go to the 3 highest scores within each of the four bands of ability. If fewer than 3 children qualify to be admitted in any band the unused places will be filled by music applicants in adjacent bands, where possible.

Only in the event of a tie between two or more candidates will the distance tie-break apply. Priority will be given to the child who lives nearest the school.

Your primary school will notify you of your child’s band of ability in early September. This is determined from the Optional Standard Attainment Tests in reading and mathematics (SATs) that your child would have taken in the Summer Term of Year 5. The results of the tests are used to assign your child to one of four ability bands ranging from Band A to D. D is the highest.

The music aptitude test does not require any previous experience; we are looking for musical potential, rather than the ‘finished product’.

As mentioned in the previous answer, the test will be for aptitude in music and will not be concerned with ability or prior learning. In the audition, pupils are welcome to sing if they have not had instrumental lessons before, and we can assess musical potential from this. The scholarship programme aims to offer an exceptional music education for any pupil who has musical potential, regardless of previous experience.

No past tests will be available from the school, given that no prior learning is necessary or considered helpful for success in the test.

If it is anticipated that the sibling will be still on the school roll at the time of the proposed admission, then it is not necessary for any sibling to sit the test for priority admission to SPWT. However, applicants who are successful in the Music application process will be music scholars and will be prioritised for musical opportunities at the school.

You will receive a phone call notifying you of your child’s ranking within the test participants by Friday 24th October 2024 followed by a letter by Monday 27th October 2024 confirming the outcome. If you do not receive a letter by that date, then please contact the school. This ranking may inform your choice of schools but should not be viewed as a guarantee that your child will be offered a music place.

Any further questions regarding the Music Aptitude Test should be made via e-mail to the Director of Performing Arts, Will Maynard at wmaynard2.211@spwt.net.