Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, coeducational, ages 3 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire SK8 6EF) |
| Entry points | Main entry at 11+ (Year 7); occasional places in Years 8 to 10 subject to availability; Sixth Form entry at 16+; earlier entry to Pre-School and Junior School |
| Assessment | CEM Select Insight online test (Maths, English Verbal, Non-Verbal Reasoning), a 35-minute CHS-set creative writing paper, an interview and a current-school reference |
| Test provider | CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring), Select Insight computer assessment, for the online component; the creative writing paper is set by the school itself |
| Day fees (from 1 September 2026) | £6,126 per term (inclusive of VAT), Senior School and Sixth Form |
| Assessment date | Tuesday 5 January 2027 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Cheadle Hulme School at 11+ is decided on performance in an Entrance Exam, a subsequent interview and a reference from the child's current school; there is no catchment area or local authority allocation, since the school is independent and administers its own selection process throughout. The Entrance Exam itself combines an online CEM Select Insight assessment covering Maths, English (Verbal) and Non-Verbal Reasoning with a separate hand-written creative writing paper set by the school.
Candidates whose performance suggests they could succeed at the school are then invited to interview, and only after that stage concludes does the school make offers; an interview invitation on its own is not an offer of a place. Registration is via the school's online application form and a non-refundable fee, with the current round open for September entry as published on the admissions page.
How 11+ entry works
Admission to the Senior School at Year 7 rests on three elements taken together: performance in the Entrance Exam, an interview, and a reference from the child's current school focusing on character and work ethic. The school describes itself as academically selective and values breadth across academic and extracurricular life; it is not part of a local authority allocation system, so families apply directly to CHS.
Beyond Year 7, the school also considers applications for Years 8 to 10, with places offered subject to availability, and for Sixth Form entry at 16+. Earlier entry points exist at Pre-School and Junior School. The school's own admissions pages do not publish a fixed number of Year 7 places or forms of entry.
How the CEM Select Insight assessment is structured
The main test is the CEM Select Insight computer assessment, described by the school as "devised by University of Cambridge" and produced by CEM, the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring. It covers Maths, English (Verbal) and Non-Verbal Reasoning in a single online, automated session lasting around one hour, sat on a PC or laptop using a mouse. Question formats vary year to year and can include multiple choice, drag and drop, and completing the word answers, with clear instructions and example questions given before each timed section. Calculators are not permitted, though paper and pencils are provided for working in the numeracy section; only answers entered on the computer are marked.
Alongside the online test, candidates complete a separate 35-minute hand-written creative writing paper set by CHS itself; CEM does not set this paper. The school looks for imagination, creativity and accurate writing, describing what it wants as lively writing that shows some originality in language choices; no sample papers are provided for this element, since the school does not want to encourage prepared responses.
What happens on exam day
Because of high applicant numbers, the school runs two sittings across the Entrance Exam day, with CHS teaching staff invigilating and Year 12 Peer Mentors accompanying candidates throughout. As well as the CEM assessment and the creative writing paper, candidates take part in a CHS lesson, and the school provides snacks and lunch.
Candidates are asked to bring a printed copy of their SEE candidate number email, a pen and pencil in a clear case, and a water bottle; phones are not permitted on the day. School uniform is not required and the school recommends comfortable clothing instead.
The interview and school reference
Candidates whose Entrance Exam performance suggests they have the potential to succeed at the school are invited to interview, which the school uses to learn more about a child's character, passions and interests and their suitability for the school community. It is also an opportunity for the family to ask questions about school life.
An invitation to interview does not guarantee a place, and offers are only made once the interview stage of the process is complete. Alongside this, the school requests a reference from the applicant's current school, with comments on character and work ethic forming an important part of the overall selection process.
Support for children with learning needs
Families are asked to give as much information as possible about a child's identified learning needs on the application form, with copies of relevant reports, and this documentation is securely stored and destroyed if the child does not go on to accept a place. On receipt, a member of the Learning and Support Team contacts the family to discuss any additional requirements.
On the Entrance Exam day itself, pupils with identified needs are accompanied throughout by a member of the Learning Support team, and access arrangements typically include 25% additional time or the use of a laptop.
Scholarships and bursaries
Cheadle Hulme School's financial support at Year 7 takes the form of means-tested bursary assistance; it does not offer fee-reducing academic scholarships. Bursaries can cover between 10% and 100% of fees, assessed independently by Bursary Assessment Associates against household income and assets, with eligibility guided by a specified gross annual household income threshold; pupils receiving full support may also get help with uniform, digital devices and trip costs. Admission decisions are made independently of any bursary application, and awards are reassessed annually and are confidential.
The school also runs High Performance Programmes in academics, music and sport, plus Emerging Creative Talent Programmes in drama and art, for pupils identified as having particular strengths in these areas; around 12 pupils are invited into the Academic HPP in Year 7 based on their entrance exam, interview and school reports. These carry no fee remission; the school describes them as a non-financial accolade, distinct from a scholarship.
How to prepare for the assessment
The school is explicit that the CEM 11+ exam tests a child's natural academic potential and does not reward extensive drilling; its own advice therefore centres on general readiness, including developing mathematical skills, reading widely and building vocabulary. Since the online test is taken on a PC or laptop with a mouse, children who are not used to this should get some practice with mouse and keyboard use beforehand so the format itself is not a barrier on the day.
For the creative writing paper, the school again does not want prepared or rehearsed responses, so the most useful preparation is simply continuing to read widely and write regularly, building the vocabulary and sentence variety the markers are looking for. CEM provides standardised familiarisation materials, separate from practice papers, to help candidates understand the assessment's procedures and screen format in advance.
Related guides
Preparing for the Cheadle Hulme School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Cheadle Hulme 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 Greater Manchester 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 test does Cheadle Hulme School use for 11+ entry?
- Candidates sit the CEM Select Insight online assessment, covering Maths, English (Verbal) and Non-Verbal Reasoning, produced by CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring) and described by the school as devised by the University of Cambridge. Alongside this, candidates complete a separate 35-minute hand-written creative writing paper set by the school itself.
- What happens on the Cheadle Hulme School entrance exam day?
- Candidates sit the online CEM assessment, the creative writing paper, and take part in a CHS lesson, accompanied throughout by Year 12 Peer Mentors and invigilated by CHS teaching staff. The school runs two sittings across the day because of high applicant numbers, and provides snacks and lunch; no calculator or phone is allowed, and school uniform is not required.
- Does an interview invitation guarantee a place at Cheadle Hulme School?
- No. Candidates whose exam performance suggests they could succeed at the school are invited to interview, but this invitation is not itself an offer of a place. Offers are made only once the interview stage, which also draws on a reference from the child's current school, is complete.
- Are scholarships available for Year 7 entry to Cheadle Hulme School?
- The school's financial support at Year 7 is a means-tested bursary, distinct from an academic scholarship, covering between 10% and 100% of fees depending on household circumstances. High Performance Programmes in academics, music and sport recognise particular strengths but carry no fee reduction.
- What support is there for children with learning needs sitting the entrance exam?
- Families provide details of any identified learning needs on the application form, and the Learning and Support Team contacts them to discuss requirements. On exam day, pupils with identified needs are accompanied by a member of the Learning Support team, and access arrangements typically include 25% additional time or use of a laptop.
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