Registration for Bedford Modern School 11+ closes in 56 days, on 1 December 2026. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, ages 7 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Bedford, Bedfordshire |
| Entry points | Junior School entry (Years 3 to 6, ages 7 to 10), Senior School entry (Years 7 to 9, with 11+ as the main Year 7 entry point), Sixth Form entry (Year 12) |
| Assessment | Transactional writing task, computerised tests in English, maths and non-verbal skills, and a staff interview |
| Day fees (2027 to 2028) | £21,942 per year (Senior School) per term |
| Registration deadline | 1 December 2026 (for September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | 9 January 2027 (Years 7 to 9) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Bedford Modern School (BMS) at 11+ means registering online, sitting the school's Senior School entrance assessment in January, and accepting an offered Year 7 place ahead of the following September. The assessment itself combines a transactional writing task, computerised tests in English, maths and non-verbal skills, and an interview with a senior member of staff.
BMS is the Harpur Trust's co-educational day school on Manton Lane in Bedford, taking pupils from age 7 through to 18 with no boarding provision. Most families preparing a child for Year 7 begin by registering ahead of the published autumn deadline, since the online form must be completed in one sitting once started.
How entry to Bedford Modern School works
The main entry point at Bedford Modern School is Year 7, taken at age 11, alongside further entry into Year 8 and Year 9 of the Senior School for children moving mid-cycle. The school separately runs Junior School entry from Years 3 to 6 and a Sixth Form entry point at Year 12, each assessed on its own timetable. For Year 7 entry, families register online through the Admissions Team, sit the Senior School assessment in January, and receive a decision before accepting a place for the following September.
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment for Year 7 entry has three parts: a transactional writing task, computerised tests, and an interview. The writing task asks candidates to respond to stimulus material provided on the day. The computerised element is a standardised assessment measuring English, maths and non-verbal skills. Every candidate then has a short interview with a senior member of staff, covering academic interests, co-curricular activities and reading; children are invited to bring an object they enjoy or care about to talk through. The school designs assessment day to identify academic potential, curiosity, creativity and readiness for its opportunities, and staff aim to keep the day relaxed given that candidates can feel nervous.
- Transactional writing task based on stimulus material given on the day
- Computerised standardised tests in English, maths and non-verbal skills
- Interview with a senior member of staff on interests, activities and reading
Registering and the admissions process
Registration for Year 7 entry opens well before the assessment and closes on a published autumn deadline, so applying early avoids a last-minute scramble. Parents complete the registration form online in one sitting, since it cannot be saved partway through, and upload a full copy of the child's birth certificate alongside the registration fee. The school then requests a reference from the child's current school, so parents are expected to notify that school of their intentions. Candidates needing access arrangements, such as extra time or a laptop, should supply a specialist report at the point of registration. Assessment day follows in January, with an offer and acceptance process completing before the following September's entry.
- Register online with birth certificate copy, photo and registration fee
- School requests a reference from the child's current school
- Assessment day: writing task, computerised tests and interview
- Offer and acceptance follow ahead of September entry
Bursaries and financial support
Bedford Modern School offers means-tested bursaries through the Harpur Trust; these are not fee discounts unlocked purely by exam performance. Awards are assessed on a combination of a student's academic attainment and the family's financial circumstances, and are open to children joining from Year 7 onwards. A bursary can cover up to the full cost of fees, though the fund is limited and an offer of a place does not guarantee that financial support will follow. Families interested in applying should raise this with the Admissions Team when registering, since any award offered is confirmed alongside the offer letter itself.
Fees and what they cover
Senior School fees are charged on an annual basis and are reviewed each year, with any change announced the summer before it takes effect. A one-off registration fee applies when the application is submitted, and a further acceptance deposit is due once a place is confirmed and accepted, with an additional deposit required from overseas families. Uniform and trips are charged on top of fees and vary by year group, subject choices and sporting activities, while items such as school lunches, music lessons and individual tuition are optional extras billed separately. The school operates as a day school throughout, so no boarding fees apply.
How to prepare for the assessment
Preparing for the 11+ assessment usually means practising across three areas: transactional writing, core English and maths, and non-verbal reasoning, since all three are tested on the day. Because the writing task responds to unseen stimulus material, practice that builds comfort with unfamiliar prompts tends to help more than rehearsing a fixed set of model answers. The interview rewards children who can talk naturally about what interests them, so encouraging a child to think about what they might say about a hobby, book or activity is more useful than formal interview coaching. Keeping the lead-up calm matters too, given that the school itself designs assessment day to feel relaxed, with pressure kept to a minimum.
Related guides
Preparing for the Bedford Modern School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Bedford Modern School 11+ tends to go best when it starts early and stays steady, and most families who work with us begin between twelve and eighteen months out. Our tutors, who have prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, plan the work backwards from the school's own assessment format and registration deadline.
The tutors we match to 11+ preparation are drawn from a pool in which more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and which includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.
Families in the East of England and further afield work with us online, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Bedford Modern School 11+ assessment involve?
- It has three parts: a transactional writing task based on stimulus material given on the day, computerised standardised tests covering English, maths and non-verbal skills, and an interview with a senior member of staff about academic interests, co-curricular activities and reading.
- Is there an interview as part of 11+ entry?
- Yes. Every Year 7 candidate has a short interview with a senior member of staff, covering academic interests, co-curricular activities and reading, and children are invited to bring along an object they enjoy or care about to discuss.
- Does Bedford Modern School offer bursaries for Year 7 entry?
- Yes, through the Harpur Trust. Bursaries are means-tested, assessed on academic attainment alongside family finances, and available from Year 7 onwards; awards can cover up to the full cost of fees, though the fund is limited and support is not guaranteed even where a place is offered.
- How do parents register their child for Year 7 entry?
- Registration is completed online, in one sitting since progress cannot be saved, and requires a copy of the child's full birth certificate plus the registration fee. The school then requests a reference from the child's current school.
- Does Bedford Modern School charge boarding fees?
- No. The school is a day school throughout, from Junior School to Sixth Form, so no boarding fees apply. Families pay day fees, a registration fee and an acceptance deposit, alongside optional extras such as music lessons.
- What if my child needs extra time or other access arrangements?
- Parents should provide a report from a specialist teacher, educational psychologist or consultant at the point of registration, covering arrangements such as extra time or use of a laptop during the assessment.
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