Entry at 11+

Please note, the closing date for registrations for 11+ entry in September 2021 has now passed.  Registrations for 2022 entry are not yet open; entrance details and the registration form for 2022 entry will be uploaded here, when available.

Watch this video about our Admissions Process

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 6 children have experienced considerable disruption to their schooling and there have been considerable differences in their experiences during school closures.  To make sure that these children are not put at any disadvantage or under extra pressure, we reviewed our entrance process for September 2021.  We tried to find new ways in which we could get to know your children better and in which each child was able to demonstrate their potential,

We introduced a new, untaught, on-line aptitude component into our testing process.  This will cover both verbal and non-verbal reasoning as well as some elements of maths and English.  This sat alongside our tests in maths and English, both of which were  shorter.  All candidates sat these 3 papers.  We also interviewed more children for 2021 entry. than usual.

As we have made changes to our testing for 2021, the papers children will sit in January 2021 will be necessarily different from our previous samples.

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

ENGLISH

Extended Writing (20 minutes. 5 minutes planning and 15 minutes writing):  Children were given an essay title asking them to engage with an idea or topic.  Marks were earned by writing relevantly and showing originality and accuracy; punctuation, spelling and grammar were all important here.  They were also awarded for how well their writing was organised and how interesting it was

MATHEMATICS

Candidates sat one paper, which lasted 20 minutes. A ruler and pencil will be needed, but not a calculator.

Questions covered numeracy, problem solving and shape and space, and were broadly accessible to children who are working towards level 5 at Key Stage Two.  Questions  were in increasing order of difficulty; some of the later questions included elements from level 6 and included difficult, non-standard problems. We tried to make these problems original yet accessible to mathematically talented children. Children were expected to complete as much of the paper as they could.

Preparation

Children who are familiar with the format of the Key Stage Two tests should not need further preparation .

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

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 also need to be completed.  Please follow the links to these forms on our 11+ registration page.

Please note thast we have decided to delay the awarding of Academic Scholarships for pupils who join us into year 7 in September 2021 until the end of the the academic year 2021-22.  Unless it is possible to conduct our music assessments, we will also be delaying the award of Music Scholarships. Assisted places will still be awarded for chidlren joining us ini September 2021.

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.

Visit our 11+ Virtual Open Event Page

Admissions Enquiries

Further information is available from our Admissions Team

0208 506 6761

admissions@bancrofts.org

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

Entry at other stages

Pupils may be considered for entry at stages other than at 11+ or 16+ if we have spaces available in their year groups.  All applicants will  follow a testing process suitable for their year group and be interviewed. Please email our Admissions Office\\\\;

admissions@bancrofts.org