entry to Year 7 (11+)

By doing so, you will automatically be entered on our ‘Enquiry list'.

visit the school

Ideally, your first visit to the school should be on our Open Day, at least one year prior to entry and preferably much earlier; children of all ages are welcome. Following this visit, in the year prior to entry, you are invited to make an appointment with the Headmistress. Please contact our Admissions Officer to request an appointment.

register

Candidates should be registered at least one year prior to their entry date, although late applications are acceptable. A registration form should be completed and returned to the Admissions Office with the appropriate fee.

Once your daughter is registered, you will automatically receive details about the entrance examination. Parents who are unsure whether their daughter is performing to the standard required for entry in Year 7 may wish to take advantage of opportunities for 11+ registered candidates to take a diagnostic assessment. This assessment is separate from the entrance examination and takes place in Year 5 or 6. Girls taking the diagnostic assessment will still need to sit the entrance examination for the required year of entry in January with all registered candidates.

taster day and interview

Registered candidates will be invited to spend a 'taster' day at St Helen’s as part of the entrance examination process. The day will take the form of a normal school day and will include lessons in known and new subjects. There will also be an opportunity to meet girls already at St Helen’s and the Headmistress will meet girls individually throughout the day. The afternoon will end with girls breaking into groups of five or six for an informal discussion with a senior member of staff.

entrance examination

The School’s main entrance examination is normally taken in January of the year in which the girl is 11 years of age by 1 September. Under age candidates can be accepted on the recommendation of their present Headteacher. No special preparation is necessary. Places are allocated on performance in the written papers, current Headteacher’s reference and report.

The entrance examination takes place on a Saturday morning in the January of the year of entry and includes a one-hour paper in mathematics and two 35 minute papers in English.

academic and music scholarships

Academic scholarships are awarded on merit in the entrance examination. Music scholarships and exhibitions are awarded following auditions which take place prior to the entrance examination by individual arrangement with the Music Department.

offers and accepting a place

Parents will be notified of the outcome of the assessment within ten days of the Assessment Day. At this stage, if parents or girls remain uncertain of their decision, they are welcome to contact the Admissions Office for further information or to arrange another visit to St Helen’s. Parents are asked to accept the place within two weeks since there are important implications for girls on our waiting list.

welcome to st helen’s

After accepting a place girls are invited to the school on two occasions: one in May when they will have day of activities and a chance to meet their form and their form tutor, and one in September, the day before the beginning of term. Details can be found on important dates.