Our Lady of Sion School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• Location: Worthing, West Sussex
• Type: Independent, inter-denominational school
• Age Range: Co-educational
• Founded: 1862 by the Sisters of Sion
• Headteacher: Mr Steven Jeffery
• School Motto: "Consideration Always"
• Entry Points: Various year groups with assessment requirements
• Assessment: English, Mathematics, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

About Our Lady of Sion School

Our Lady of Sion School in Worthing represents over 160 years of educational excellence, founded in 1862 as part of the global Sion educational network. This independent, inter-denominational school combines its rich heritage with a distinctly modern approach to education, creating an environment where academic rigour meets pastoral care.

Under the leadership of Headteacher Mr Steven Jeffery, the school maintains its founding principle of "Consideration Always" - a philosophy that permeates every aspect of school life. This ethos ensures that each pupil receives individualised attention whilst developing the confidence and skills necessary for academic success.

The school's location in Worthing provides an ideal setting for education, offering both the benefits of a coastal town environment and excellent transport links to London and other major centres. This unique positioning attracts families who value both educational excellence and quality of life.

As part of the international Sion network, pupils benefit from a global perspective whilst receiving a thoroughly British education. The school's commitment to forward-thinking education ensures that traditional values are balanced with innovative teaching methods and modern facilities.

The 11+ Assessment Process at Our Lady of Sion School

Our Lady of Sion School's 11+ assessment process is designed to identify pupils who will thrive in the school's academic environment whilst demonstrating the potential to contribute positively to the school community.

Assessment Components

The entrance examination comprises several key elements:

• English Assessment: Comprehensive evaluation of reading comprehension, creative writing, and language skills. Pupils are expected to demonstrate clarity of expression and analytical thinking
• Mathematics: Problem-solving exercises and numerical reasoning tasks that assess mathematical understanding beyond basic computation
• Verbal Reasoning: Tests designed to evaluate logical thinking, vocabulary, and the ability to understand and manipulate language
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Pattern recognition and spatial awareness assessments that identify analytical and logical thinking capabilities

Assessment Standards

The school seeks pupils who demonstrate not only academic ability but also the potential to benefit from the school's distinctive educational approach. The assessment process is designed to be fair and thorough, ensuring that each candidate has the opportunity to showcase their abilities across multiple domains.

Candidates are expected to perform at a level that indicates readiness for the school's academic programme, with particular emphasis on reasoning skills and the ability to think independently.

How to Apply

The application process for Our Lady of Sion School is straightforward but requires careful attention to deadlines and requirements:

Application Timeline

• Initial enquiries and school visits should be arranged well in advance of intended entry
• Formal applications must be submitted with all required documentation
• Assessment dates are scheduled following successful application submission
• Results and offers are communicated within a specified timeframe

Required Documentation

• Completed application form with detailed pupil information
• Academic references from current school
• Recent school reports demonstrating academic progress
• Any additional documentation as specified by the admissions team

School Visits

Our Lady of Sion School strongly encourages prospective families to visit during open days or arrange individual taster sessions. These visits provide invaluable insight into the school's culture, facilities, and educational approach, allowing families to make informed decisions about their child's educational future.

Preparing for the Our Lady of Sion School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the Our Lady of Sion School 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.