Entry at 11+

The following files are available for download

11+ Information Booklet Entry 2021

SAMPLE 11+ MATHS PAPER (I)

SAMPLE 11+ MATHS PAPER (II)

SAMPLE 11+ ENGLISH PAPER (I)

Sample 11+ English Paper (ii)

Register for 11+ Entry online

Entry Requirements

Entry at 11+ into Year 7 is on the basis of performance in an entrance exam and at interview.

The purpose of our entrance processes is not to make Bancroft’s more academically selective, but to help us make offers to children we feel will benefit most from the education we offer. We receive many more applications than we have places.  Some candidates may be placed on a waiting list following the examination and interview and may be offered places if vacancies arise.

Entrance Exam 2021

Covid-19 and 11+ Entrance Tests for September 2021

This year has been an extraordinary one in many ways and we are very aware that many year 5 children have experienced considerable disruption to their schooling.  To make sure that these children are not put at any disadvantage or under extra pressure, we are currently looking at our entrance process for September 2021. We are trying to find new ways in which we can get to know your children better and to have a fuller picture of their potential.  One possibility is the introduction of a new, untaught reasoning component into our testing process; we are investigating how this might best sit alongside our tests in maths and English.  We reassure you that any preparation which your child may already have undertaken will not be wasted.  It is also likely that we will interview more children for 2021 entry.

Outlined below is our usual process.  If we change this process for 2021 entry, we will make sure that information is changed on this site as soon as possible and would contact directly any parents who had registered their child prior to us announcing any change.

All children sit two papers, in Mathematics and English (comprehension and writing).  Sample papers are available to download from the links above. We do not have a separate scholarship paper.

Candidates who do well in the written examination are invited for interview.

ENGLISH  All children are tested on Reading and Understanding and Writing

Section A:  Reading and Understanding  (40 Minutes) The children are asked to read two or more passages and answer questions on what they have read.  Some questions call for longer answers and there will also be a few multiple choice questions.  The answer book indicates the type of answer required.  Questions test a variety of skills including: understanding of the vocabulary,  sentence structure and implied meaning.  There may be a longer question which asks the children to give their thoughts on a statement inspired by the text that they have read. They will be assessed here on the quality of their argument and the originality of their approach to the question.

Section  B:  Writing   (20 minutes: we recommend that children spend 5 minutes planning + 15 minutes writing)  Children are given an essay title asking them to take some of the ideas from the extract or poem in the reading booklet and develop them into their own story or description.

Marks are earned by writing relevantly and showing originality and accuracy; punctuation, spelling and grammar are all important here.  They are also awarded for how well the essay is organised and how interesting it is.

MATHEMATICS

Candidates sit one paper, which lasts 75 minutes. A ruler, pencil and protractor will be needed, but not a calculator.

The paper consists of about thirty-five to forty questions in increasing order of difficulty. Questions cover numeracy, problem solving and shape and space, and should be broadly accessible to children who are working towards level 5 at Key Stage Two. Some of the later questions may include elements from level 6 and include  difficult, non-standard problems. We try to make these problems original yet accessible to mathematically talented children. Children should complete as much of the paper as they can.

If you currently have a child in year 5 or 4, please note that we reviewing how we test children for entry at 11+.  It is very likely that there will be changes to our entrance tests for entry September 2021 onwards (ie for children sitting in January 2021).  Our current sample entrance papers may not be applicable for your child.  Details of any changes will be published here as soon as they become available.

Preparation

Children who are familiar with the format of the Key Stage Two tests should not need further preparation other than working through the sample papers.

Children who are likely to cope comfortably with mathematics at Bancroft’s should only need an experience of solving problems under timed conditions.  Excessive coaching can be counter-productive in the longer term.  Some of the maths questions are designed to test how children cope with unfamiliar problems, and it is not intended that they should be taught any particular methods to prepare for this.

Interviews

Children who perform well in the examination are called back for interview; reports from current schools are taken into account.

Members of our Senior School staff interview pairs of children. These interviews are primarily academic, and do not need any special preparation. It may be useful if children are able to talk about how they enjoy spending their time, and can describe any particular achievements or interests. We only interview children who have shown the potential to thrive at Bancroft’s in the examination.

Applications

Please note that a registration form for entry September 2021 is not yet available.

Registrations should be accompanied by a non-returnable registration fee of £125 together with your registration form.  Please note that if you are only applying for an Assisted Place and fulfil the necessary financial criteria, the registration fee is reduced to £20.  A copy of your child’s birth certificate must be sent together with your registration form and fee.

Candidates who only apply for an Assisted Place will not be considered for fee-paying places, even if their performance in the examination is good enough to have earned them a place in the School.

If you indicate on the Registration Form your interest for your child to be considered for an Assisted Place or Music Scholarship, an Initial Assessment of Income Form (IAIF) and/or Music Scholarship Application Form will be sent to you separately,

Offers will be posted on 18 February 2021 for entry September 2021.  A £1000 deposit is payable on acceptance of a place; this sum is credited to your final account. Please note that from entry September 2021 onwards the Deposit should be paid on-line; we are unable to accept cash payments.

Admissions Enquiries

If you wish to enquire about admissions to Bancroft’s, please complete the form below.

Further information is available from our Admissions Registrar, Mrs Stephanie Wallis:

0208 506 6761

A large print version of our 11+ admissions information can also be obtained from the above contact details.

Entry at 13+

Please note that we currently do not hold a 13+ examination.  Pupils may occasionally be considered for entry at stages other than at 11+ or 16+ if we have spaces available and following a testing process.  Please contact Mrs Wallis for further information.