** APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR ENTRY SEPTEMBER 2013 **
July 2012
Dear Parent(s)
Application for Applied Technology Assessment (September 2013 entry for year 7)
Thank you for taking an interest in applying for a place at the West Bridgford School through the technological aptitude assessment.
As a Specialist Technology Academy, the West Bridgford School allocates up to 10% (21) of its places based on technological aptitude. These places are allocated after offers have been made to those that live within the catchment area. For the assessment we utilise a test based on spatial reasoning.
The assessment will take place at the school on the dates listed below and will take the form of a paper exercise lasting approximately one hour. Your child should bring a pen, pencil, rubber and sharpener with which to complete the assessment.
On the assessment day, we will also require you to bring some form of photo i.d. for your child. This can be in either a passport or recent photograph taken of your child which has been authenticated on the reverse side by their current primary head teacher.
Please complete the enclosed Aptitude Assessment Application Form and return this to the school at least 7 days before your preferred assessment date. Please note that sitting the assessment is not considered an application in itself; parents must also complete the Common Application Form (CAF) for Nottinghamshire Schools and return it to the local authority in the usual way.
Parents should note that their child can only attend one of the assessment dates.
Further guidance about the nature of the assessment is enclosed.
Assessment Dates Time
Saturday, 6 October 2012 9:00am (arrive 8:45am/collect 10:00am)
Saturday, 13 October 2012 9:00am (arrive 8.45am/collect 10:00am)
Monday, 15 October 2012 9:00am (arrive 8:45am/collect 10:00am)
Open Evening Time
Wednesday, 3 October 2012 6:00 pm
Yours sincerely
Elaine Aldridge
PA to Head teacher/Admissions Officer
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TECHNOLOGY APTITUDE APPLICATION FORM
THE WEST BRIDGFORD SCHOOL
and specialist technology academy
GUIDANCE NOTES
Applied Technology Assessment
The assessment comprises four separately timed subtests, each of which is preceded by oral instructions, examples and practice questions, so we can ensure that every pupil understands the nature of the tasks.
The assessment assesses the ability to do a range of cognitive tasks that all involve dealing with shape and space, such as mentally combining and rotating shapes, or imagining how they would look from different viewpoints.
The types of questions included in the test are chosen because they provide a range of age-appropriate spatial tasks that can be explained in simple language. The tasks relate to commonplace activities and are simple to understand. Reading is not required, since the instructions are read aloud to the pupils and the timed sections of the test include no words beyond instructions when to turn over. The graphics used in the questions are not culturally-specific, so the test should be suitable for any pupil raised in the UK, whatever their ethnic origins.
The test consists of four types of question:
Hidden Shapes
This section assesses the key ability to create and hold onto an image of a shape that retains its true angles and relative proportions. Pupils have to search for a specific shape embedded in one of four more complex shapes.
Sections
These questions assess the ability to visualise a three-dimensional object from a two-dimensional drawing and imagine the effect of cutting it in two. Pupils have to pick which option shows the cross-section when a specific cut has been made.
Jigsaws
This task extends the process needed for Hidden Shapes to include combining and rotating images of shapes. Pupils have to imagine a number of shapes arranged to create a design.
Wallpaper
This type of task assesses the ability to visualise the continuation of a two-dimensional pattern by gauging the position of elements of the pattern that are hidden from view. Pupils have to select how the pattern would look through a hole in the screen which covers part of the pattern.
