In an unusual year, St. Anthony’s School for Girls celebrates another set of outstanding 11+ results.
The past year has been universally challenging, but particularly so for our young people, who have endured school closures and long periods isolated from friends and extended family. Celebrating successes during this period is more important than ever, then. One group of students who did not allow the events of the past 12 months to stand in their way are the year 6 girls at St. Anthony’s School for Girls, who achieved fantastic results in their 11+ – receiving offers for places at London’s top independent schools, and being awarded major academic scholarships.
With the school being closed twice because of national lockdowns, normality was substantially disrupted when it came to this year’s cohort preparing for the 11+. The lockdowns and restrictions also resulted in numerous changes to the examination format; the Consortium schools, being unable to host 11+ testing in person, arranged for all candidates to complete computerised ISEB tests. Furthermore, the interview process was altered, with scheduled online interviews taking the place of the regular school-based ones. But the girls at St Anthony’s navigated all of these unexpected changes with calmness and confidence.
They went on to receive offers at City of London, North London Collegiate, South Hampstead High, Channing, Highgate, Mill Hill, Francis Holland, Queen’s College, Queenswood, Northwood, St. Margaret’s and St. Helen’s. This is true testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment they demonstrated while completing the St. Anthony’s 18-month 11+ curriculum, a roadmap to success for all the girls.
St. Anthony’s offers its girls a bespoke 18-month 11+ curriculum, which begins in Year 5 with specialist English, maths and science teaching. Girls have responded enthusiastically to this curriculum, developing fearlessness in mathematics and curiosity in science, and becoming accomplished writers and orators.
The school believes that the curriculum not only teaches to the exam, but beyond the confines of that, ensuring that their girls are fully educated for secondary school. The core curriculum is not taught in isolation, but within a broad creative curriculum of drama, music and sports. This approach ensures that no area of learning is ‘put on ice’ until after the 11+ examinations. As one parent commented, “St. Anthony’s made the 11+ preparation seem easy.”
The headteacher, Donal Brennan, acknowledged what an honour it has been to lead the second cohort of Year 6 girls to 11+ success. “They have shown true commitment and been excellent role models for the younger children – it has been an immensely rewarding experience. My thanks go to the girls, my gratitude to the teachers and my appreciation to the parents who have been so supportive of their daughters’ 11+ preparation during these challenging times.”
St. Anthony’s School for Girls enters its sixth year in September 2021, buoyed by its phenomenal 11+ success, assured in its curriculum delivery and confident in the environment it provides for success. Prospective parents are invited to visit and discover for themselves what makes the school so special.
For admissions enquiries, call 020 3869 3070 (stanthonysgirls.co.uk)
