When to Make the Leap: Year 7 or Year 9?

The stage at which your daughter moves to senior school can make a real impact on her experience both pastorally and academically. Traditionally, girls have moved to senior school in Year 7 with Year 9 only an option for boys and typically only then from prep to boarding. For some time now, however, Year 9 has been an option for girls moving to boarding schools and, more recently, for those looking to move into day school too. 

So with entry into Year 7 or Year 9 each bringing its own set of benefits and challenges, how do you decide which is best for your daughter?

Putting the foundations in place

Year 7 marks the beginning of the senior school journey for many and you’ll most likely find the majority of girls joining all-girls’ schools will join in Year 7 from primary or prep schools. Joining as part of a significantly larger intake no doubt allows the girls to establish deep, long-lasting friendships. Being part of the School from the very beginning means they’ll likely build close-knit bonds with classmates who will stay together throughout their school years. Similarly, they will become part of the school’s culture and traditions right from the very start – Farnborough Hill Year 7 girls for example, have the small but significant privilege of being the ones to decorate the 20-foot Christmas tree in the Grand Salon and also plant their own House Christmas trees. Girls joining at this stage may well develop a stronger connection to the ethos and values of the School, which can enhance their sense of belonging.

Academically, Year 7 is a foundation year where pupils are introduced to a broad senior school curriculum and are able to experience the whole range of subjects before starting to make their GCSE choices. Girls entering at this stage can adjust to the pace and rigour of senior school alongside their peers, ensuring they are well prepared for GCSEs and beyond.

By contrast, joining in Year 9 means that pupils are more likely to be entering a more defined academic environment where they start to specialise in certain subjects. This can be appealing for those who know what they want to study. They can follow a more tailored academic path, potentially in subjects that interest them most, making school potentially more enjoyable and appealing! By Year 9 of course, the pupils are older and may be more emotionally and socially mature, which can make the transition to a new school easier. They will likely have a clearer sense of their own identity and what they want from their school experience. Your child will have the chance to form new friendships in their new school that are based on shared academic interests and activities, which can lead to strong and meaningful connections.

However, joining in Year 9 isn’t for everyone. Sometimes it can be hard to break into established friendship groups and it might take time for a new pupil to find their place. And girls are trying to do this at a key time academically when the focus shifts to preparations for GCSE in some subjects, and pupils are expected to be more self-driven in their academic work and self sufficient enough to hit the ground running. The pressure can be higher, and it may feel overwhelming for some to adjust to the academic rigour of this stage. 

So what is the right decision?

Of course this depends on your child’s individual needs, personality and goals. If your child thrives in a structured, gradual academic environment and enjoys building long-term friendships, Year 7 could be the ideal choice. On the other hand, if your child is academically focused, socially confident and mature, a Year 9 start date could work well for them. Before you decide however, look carefully at the schools you are considering for your daughter and how they manage girls joining in Year 7 vs Year 9. In particular, find out how many pupils join in Year 9 – it it a proper intake? What scholarships are available for those joining Year 9 – many day schools don’t offer any awards for later entrants. And what support do they offer those joining at that stage? Are there structured opportunities to visit the school in Year 7 and 8? Are the girls included in all the pre-Year 7 joining activities too so they can start to make friends in their Year Group? See if you can talk to other girls who have joined in Year 9 to find out more about their experiences.

Ultimately, the decision is a trade-off between the opportunities available at your daughter’s prep school once free from the burdens of preparations for entrance assessments  and the Year 7-8 offering of the secondary school you have in mind. This then needs to be balanced with your child’s readiness for the transition to senior school and where they are physically, emotionally and academically. Talk to the Head at your current school who will be able to offer the benefit of their experience and understanding of your daughter and there is no doubt that your daughter will have an opinion too! At Farnborough Hill, we welcome all those looking to join in Year 9 (via deferred entry) for Taster Days in Year 5, our F’Hill Friday sessions in Year 6 as well as our New Parents Evening so as to give families and particularly the girls themselves, as much of an insight as possible before they make their final decision. And don’t forget that the right school will be supportive of your decision whichever year you decide to join!

Mrs Emma Judge, Director of Admissions