Applying for a Music Place at Parmiter’s School? Here's What You Need to Know
Parmiter’s School in North Watford offers 20 places each year for students applying under Criterion 7: Music Aptitude, as part of the SW Herts Schools Consortium. Here's a clear breakdown of how the two-stage process works.
Stage 1: Music Aptitude Listening Test
The first stage is a written listening test designed to assess your child’s natural musical ability. It does not require any formal training or music theory knowledge.
Test Format
• Duration: Around 45 minutes
• Location: Usually held in the school’s main hall with professional audio equipment
• Sections:
◦ Pitch (20 questions): Listen to two notes and identify if the second is the same, higher, or lower
◦ Melody (10 questions): Compare two short tunes and identify any note changes ◦ Rhythm (10 questions): Spot the difference between rhythmic patterns
◦ Texture (20 questions): Listen to chords and identify how many notes are being played (2, 3, or 4)
The test is designed to be accessible to both trained and untrained young musicians.
Results
Scores will be available through the Parent Portal, where you’ll also see whether your child has been invited to the second stage.
Stage 2: Performance Assessment
Children who pass Stage 1 will be invited to perform a short piece in front of a panel of experienced music educators, including current and former Directors of Music from Consortium schools.
What to Expect
• Perform one piece (instrumental or vocal), lasting no more than 3 minutes
• The panel will assess:
◦ Accuracy (15 points)
◦ Musicality (15 points)
◦ Communication (15 points)
Marks are based purely on the performance—qualifications, difficulty level, or previous experience are not taken into account.
Performance Guidelines
• No personal accompanists allowed bring sheet music if accompaniment is needed
• A piano and keyboard are available; piano players can choose between them
• Students may bring their own portable keyboard or backing track (via Bluetooth or CD)
• Guitarists must bring their own amp and lead
• Drummers may use the school’s acoustic drum kit but must bring their own sticks • Arrive 10 minutes early for setup and warm-up
• Music stands are provided
• Examiners will help with setup but won’t ask questions about your child’s music background.
Results
• Second-round scores will also be published via the Parent Portal.
Reviews & Appeals
• Stage 1: You may request a review of the marking immediately after results are released
• Stage 2: No reviews or mark breakdowns are available. If you believe exceptional circumstances affected the performance, you can raise this during the official appeals process after allocation day
Important Note: Music Aptitude scores are not age-standardised, so they reflect raw performance.
Stay Informed
All updates, test appointments, and results are communicated through the Parent Portal, so it’s important to log in regularly. For deadlines and key dates, refer to the SW Herts Consortium Calendar.
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