Preparation for Senior Schools
Moving onto Secondary School
At Heatherton, we know that choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions that you will have to make about your daughter’s future. We prepare the girls at Heatherton for a diverse range of Senior Schools, including Grammar and Independent Schools.
Heatherton pupils will stand out from others in their holistic preparation for moving up to Senior School. Our pupils are wholly supported in preparing for the transfer process for entry into any Senior School they may wish to apply for and also when preparing for Scholarships. We start the conversation about next steps in Year 4 and continue to work with parents in partnership to navigate the pathway to finding the right next step.
Heatherton provided my daughter with a solid foundation of confidence, a love of learning new things, and great social skills, which prepared her beautifully to move on to Secondary School.
—Former Heatherton Parent
No entrance examination from 2025
Entrance to Berkhamsted Girls
As we are part of the Berkhamsted Family of Schools, currently our Year 6 girls who choose to apply to Berkhamsted Girls, have the benefit of sitting the entrance assessment a week before external candidates, as well as receiving offers around 2 months ahead.
For further details on the current Year 7 entry assessments and the transfer process, please refer to our Progression Policy.
Planned changes for our 2025 Year 7 entry. We will not require Heatherton pupils entering Berkhamsted Girls to take entrance exams for the Senior School, this affects pupils in Year 3 in September 2021, and following years, making their journey through to Berkhamsted Girls as smooth and seamless as possible.
Berkhamsted GirlsAlternative Senior School options
Heatherton girls go on to a variety of Senior Schools, and we are proud to say that they get into their first choice of schools, whether that be a Grammar or Girls’ Day Independent School.
The stats below show the Year 6 leavers’ destinations schools from 2019-2022
| Destination | Number of pupils | Scholarships & Exhibitions Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Amersham School | 6 | |
| Ashlyns School | 2 | |
| Beaconsfield High School | 2 | |
| Berkhamsted Girls School | 22 | Drama (Exhibition); Drama and Music (Exhibition); Drama (Exhibition); Drama (Exhibition) |
| Chesham Grammar School | 6 | |
| Chiltern Hills Academy | 2 | |
| Dr Challoner’s High School | 26 | |
| Holmer Green Senior School | 1 | |
| Pipers Corner | 2 | Academic; Sport |
| Queen Anne’s School | 1 | Art and Sport |
| Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School | 1 | |
| St Clement Danes School | 2 | |
| St Mary’s School | 3 | |
| The Royal Masonic School for Girls | 1 | All Rounder (Exhibition); Art Scholarship |
| Wycombe Abbey | 1 |
