Registration for Bishop's Stortford College 11+ closes in 28 days, on 2 November 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 3 to 18; boarding available from Year 9 entry |
|---|---|
| Location | Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire |
| Entry points | 3+/Nursery, 4+/Reception, 7+/Year 3, 10+/Year 6, 11+/Year 7, 13+/Year 9, 16+/Year 12 (Sixth Form) |
| Assessment | Entry tests, interview and a reference from the child's current school on a single assessment day, with behaviour also assessed; separate assessments for music, art and sport scholarships |
| Registration deadline | 2 November 2026 (application deadline for Year 7 entry) |
| Assessment date | 14 November 2026 (specialist scholarship assessments for art, music, performing arts and sport held w/c 9 November 2026) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Bishop's Stortford College at 11+ (Year 7) is decided through registration, a single assessment day combining entry tests with an interview, and a reference from the child's current school, with the final decision on each place resting entirely with the Head of the relevant school. Year 7 is one of the school's usual entry points, alongside 3+, 4+/Reception, 7+/Year 3, 10+/Year 6, 13+/Year 9 and 16+ entry to the Sixth Form.
Families interested in a scholarship can also apply for academic, music, art or sport awards alongside the standard entry tests, and those concerned about affording the fees can apply separately for means-tested financial assistance.
How does 11+ entry work?
Year 7 entry, commonly known as 11+, is one of the school's usual entry points, alongside 3+, 4+/Reception, 7+/Year 3, 10+/Year 6, 13+/Year 9 and 16+/Year 12 entry to the Sixth Form. Places are offered following a single assessment day of entry tests and an interview, with a reference from the child's current school also taken into account; the decision on each place rests entirely with the Head of the relevant school. Pupils may also be considered for occasional places outside the usual points of entry where space allows.
How the 11+ assessment is structured
The 11+ assessment at Bishop's Stortford College combines entry tests with an interview and a school reference, held on a single assessment day in the autumn before entry. Alongside the entry tests, the school assesses candidates' behaviour and social skills as part of identifying pupils able to benefit from, and contribute to, school life; no specific preparation for the entry tests is required, and all candidates sit the same tests under equal conditions.
Pupils interested in academic, music, art or sport scholarships take additional assessments, held separately from the main entry test day, with academic scholarship decisions drawn from performance in the entry tests themselves.
What happens in the admissions process, step by step
Registration, assessment and acceptance follow a set sequence for 11+ entry, published on the school's admissions pages each year.
- Register: submit an application together with the registration fee by the application deadline for Year 7 entry
- Assessment day: the child sits entry tests and attends an interview; scholarship candidates attend separate specialist assessments
- Reference: the school requests a report from the child's current school, and considers behaviour alongside academic performance
- Offer: outcomes are issued to families, with the final decision resting with the Head of the relevant school
- Acceptance: families confirm the place by returning the signed acceptance form together with the acceptance deposit by the acceptance deadline
Scholarships available at 11+ entry
The school offers academic, music, art and sport scholarships at 11+/Year 7 entry, awarded by the Head after the assessment process on the basis that a candidate has passed the entry test, with awards made in open competition at a fixed level. Academic awards are decided from performance in the entry tests together with candidates' critical thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills, while music, art and sport scholarships involve a separate audition, portfolio or trial.
Scholarship Awards typically bring a 10 to 20 per cent remission on the day fee, or 5 per cent for an Exhibition award, calculated on the day fee for both day pupils and boarders; higher levels are occasionally awarded in individual cases. Awards are non-negotiable and reviewed annually.
Financial assistance and bursaries
Means-tested financial assistance, known as bursaries, is available to families applying for 11+/Year 7 entry, though not to the Pre-Prep years below it. Awards follow a full assessment of household income, assets and outgoings, using the standard fee less any scholarship award as the starting point, and applicants are asked to complete the bursary application form by the same deadline as the place application itself.
Because funding is limited, the school prioritises families in the greatest financial need who are judged most likely to benefit from its education, and performance in the entry tests is taken into account when funds are constrained. Bursaries are reviewed annually and can, depending on need, extend to cover items such as uniform.
How to prepare for the assessment
The school states that no specific preparation is required and that all candidates sit the same tests on equal terms. Building general comfort with reading, writing, mental arithmetic and reasoning-style questions well ahead of the assessment day is the most useful preparation; last-minute cramming brings little benefit.
Familiarising a child with sitting timed tasks and talking through their interests, hobbies and current schoolwork helps with the interview stage, where the focus is on understanding the whole child, without trying to catch them out. A calm, well-rested run-up to the assessment day, together with an accurate, up-to-date report from the current school, supports the fuller picture the selection process is designed to build.
Related guides
Preparing for the Bishop's Stortford College 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The Bishop's Stortford College 11+ rewards steady preparation over a year or so, with the last term given to timed practice and interview confidence. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors match the programme to the school's assessment format and to where the child is starting from.
Because the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, and more than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status, families get a tutor who understands what the assessors are looking for. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.
Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, 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 Bishop's Stortford College 11+ assessment involve?
- Entry to Year 7 is decided from a single assessment day combining entry tests with an interview at the school, alongside a reference or report from the child's current school. The school also assesses candidates' behaviour as part of selection. No specific preparation for the entry tests is required, and all candidates sit the same tests under identical conditions.
- Who decides whether my child is offered a place?
- The decision to offer a place is entirely at the discretion of the Head of the relevant school section, based on entry test results, the interview, the reference from the child's current school and an assessment of behaviour. The process is designed to identify pupils able to benefit from, and contribute to, the education the school provides across academic, sporting, creative and pastoral life.
- Can my child apply for a scholarship at 11+ entry?
- Academic, music, art and sport scholarships are available at 11+/Year 7 entry, awarded by the Head after the assessment process on the basis that a candidate has passed the entry test. Awards are competitive and typically bring a 10 to 20 per cent remission on the day fee, occasionally higher in individual cases, and are reviewed annually.
- Can we get help paying the fees?
- Means-tested financial assistance, known as bursaries, is available for 11+/Year 7 entry, though not for the Pre-Prep years. Awards follow a full assessment of household income, assets and outgoings, alongside performance in the entry tests where funding is limited. Applications must be submitted by the same deadline as the place application itself.
- Is boarding available for children joining at 11+?
- The school's published fee schedule lists day fees only for Years 7 and 8; boarding options, including weekly and full boarding, are listed from Year 9 entry onwards. Families considering boarding later in their child's education can discuss options with the admissions team ahead of applying.
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