Hatcham College Year 7 Admissions

About our music specialism

The College offers 10% of the places available in Year 7 to applicants who show an aptitude in music. In order to ensure equal opportunity for all, the College is unable to take into consideration music certificates achieved or references.

If you would like your child to be considered under this criterion, please complete the online music application by the College closing date Monday 18th September 2023 at midday.

Applicants will be invited to sit a multiple-choice aural test in music on Saturday 23rd September 2023. Highest scoring applicants will be offered a music audition which will be held in the week commencing 9th October 2023. 

Girls applying for both Hatcham College and Prendergast School will sit the music aural test at Prendergast School this year.  The results of which will be sent to Prendergast School. 

Distance is not taken into consideration for the music aptitude criterion.

It is our aim to advise parents of the outcome of their child’s music aptitude assessment before the secondary transfer closing date 31st October 2023. This will enable parents to make an informed decision as to whether they want to apply for a place at the College.

MUSICAL APTITUDE TEST 

The musical aptitude test is played on a CD and is a multiple-choice paper consisting of 60 questions that will be divided into THREE EQUAL sections covering the following areas: 

SECTION 1: PITCH AND MELODY

Students will be asked to identify:

• Whether two notes played are higher/lower/the same as each other
• Whether a melody rises/falls and whether it moves by steps / leaps
• Which note has been altered in the repeat of a melody  

SECTION 2: INSTRUMENTS AND TEXTURE 

Students will be asked to identify: -

• Whether the sound heard is Woodwind/Brass/Strings or Percussion
• How many notes/instruments are being played
• Whether the sound heard gets louder/quitter or stays the same 

SECTION 3: RHYTHM, METRE AND TEMPO 

Students will be asked to identify:

• Whether the music speeds up/slows down/stays the same
• Whether two rhythms heard are the same or different  

The applicant requires no previous knowledge of music or music theory as the test is based entirely on response to an aural test.

Applying for a music place

Please be aware that the closing date for Music Specialism applications is Monday 18th September 2023 at midday.

GO TO VIRTUAL OPEN DAY NEXT: How to Apply to Hatcham College