Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, 2½ to 16 |
|---|---|
| Location | Epping, Essex |
| Entry points | 7+, 8+, 9+, 10+, 11+ |
| Assessment | Single senior entrance examination, set by the school, which also covers entry to Normanhurst; the school also takes applicants for Year 7 and above at this exam |
| Test provider | The school's own entrance examination and assessments |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £6,120 per term including VAT (Years 7 to 9); £5,654 (Reception to Year 2), £5,853 (Years 3 and 4), £5,884 (Years 5 and 6), £6,824 (Years 10 and 11) |
| Assessment date | Tuesday 12 January 2027 (11+ and senior entrance examination); offer letter Wednesday 10 February 2027; acceptance deadline Friday 5 March 2027 |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, sport, music, art and drama part-scholarships (15%) at 11+; sibling discount |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Admission to Coopersale Hall School at 7+, 8+, 9+ and 10+ is by individual assessment, in-class observation and an interview with the child and parents, and at 11+ by a senior entrance examination followed by an interview with the Head. The school sets its own tests and does not publish a test provider, so there is no external pre-test to book.
Families begin by visiting an open event or arranging a personal tour, then complete the online registration form and pay a small non-refundable deposit to join the waiting list. The 11+ exam is a single sitting that serves entry to both Coopersale Hall and Normanhurst.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 | Individual assessment, in-class observation and interview with the prospective pupil and parents, booked through the Admissions Registrar | Interview with the prospective pupil and parents | Not published |
| 8+ | Year 4 | Individual assessment, in-class observation and interview with the prospective pupil and parents, booked through the Admissions Registrar | Interview with the prospective pupil and parents | Not published |
| 9+ | Year 5 | Individual assessment, in-class observation and interview with the prospective pupil and parents, booked through the Admissions Registrar | Interview with the prospective pupil and parents | Not published |
| 10+ | Year 6 | Individual assessment, in-class observation and interview with the prospective pupil and parents, booked through the Admissions Registrar | Interview with the prospective pupil and parents | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Single senior entrance examination, set by the school, which also covers entry to Normanhurst; the school also takes applicants for Year 7 and above at this exam | Interview with the Head for each applicant and their parents after the exam | Not published |
Entry points and places
Coopersale Hall takes pupils at several points from Rising 3 upwards, and from age 7 the entry points are 7+, 8+, 9+, 10+ and 11+, the last of which is entry to Year 7 in the Seniors. The school describes itself as a through school for ages 2½ to 16, so pupils leave at the end of Year 11.
The pages read do not publish a number of places or forms of entry at any age. They do state that the school is oversubscribed in many areas, and that a small number of mid-term places occasionally become available, which the Admissions Registrar can discuss.
- 7+ to 10+: individual assessment, in-class observation and interview
- 11+ and Year 7 upwards: senior entrance examination, then interview with the Head
- No sixth-form entry is described
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment is a single senior entrance examination, set by the school, for entry to Year 7 and above, and it is followed by an interview with the Head for each applicant and their parents. The school runs one exam that gains entry to both Coopersale Hall and Normanhurst, so a family does not sit two papers.
The school's pages do not set out the subjects, paper lengths, question types or a test provider, so those details are best confirmed with the Admissions Registrar when registering. Results are sent to families after the exam, and the same page lists a form for families who wish to be told about future senior exam opportunities.
11+ tutors
Hannah
Master TutorI am a UK-qualified teacher with 15+ years across private and state schools in the UK and abroad, and hold a BSc from LSE and a PGCE with QTS. I teach English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, 11+ and Common Entrance preparation. My approach is personalised, confidence-building and rigorous.
Enquire about this tutor
Sochima
Master TutorI'm a qualified teacher in a London classroom every day, with a BSc in Computer Science from Brunel and a PGCE with QTS. I teach Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science to A-Level, plus 11+ preparation, through project-based work that suits SEND learners well.
Enquire about this tutor
Robert
Master TutorI am a qualified teacher with over twenty years' experience in the UK, Gulf and New Zealand, holding an MA in History and PGCE. I teach English, History, Geography and French from KS2 to A-Level and IB, preparing 11+/13+ candidates. My approach is student-led, focused and diagnostic.
Enquire about this tutorHow the 7+ to 10+ assessments work
Entry at 7+, 8+, 9+ and 10+ is by individual assessment, in-class observation and an interview with the prospective pupil and parents, and there is no group sitting of a written exam at these ages. Families book an appointment by contacting the Admissions Registrar directly.
The school says its own tests combine informal observation with formal academic assessment, and that it looks for children who show potential as well as academic ability. The assessment varies with the proposed year of entry, and the aim is to be reasonably sure the school can educate the child to their potential alongside their peers.
Registration and the admissions timeline
Registration is the second step in a process that runs from first contact through to an offer, and it is completed through the online registration form with a non-refundable deposit that includes VAT. A place on the waiting list does not guarantee admission, and the Admissions Registrar can confirm availability for a given year group.
After registration the child answers a short pre-taster questionnaire and is invited for an assessment or interview, and an offer follows only where the school judges it suitable and the entry assessments are passed. The acceptance deadline is stated in the offer letter.
- Contact the school, usually by visiting an open event or arranging a personal tour led by the Head or a member of the senior leadership team
- Complete the online registration form and pay the deposit to join the waiting list
- Answer a short pre-taster questionnaire, after which the child is invited for an assessment or interview
- Receive an offer if the school judges it suitable and the entry assessments are passed
- Accept the place by the acceptance deadline given in the offer letter
Interviews and references
Interviews feature at every entry point from 7+: parents attend with the child at 7+ to 10+, and at 11+ the Head interviews each applicant and their parents after the exam. The aim of the interview is to judge whether the school suits the child, in addition to the assessment results.
No reference from the current school is mentioned in the pages read. They do list preferences that the school may apply when it must choose between qualifying candidates, such as a sibling at the school, a parent who is a former pupil or current staff member, a particular skill, talent or aptitude, and a child who will stay until age 16.
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships are offered at Year 7 (11+) entry in sport, music, art, drama and academic work, and a successful applicant receives one scholarship worth 15% of fees even if they applied in several areas. The award rests on a competitive assessment and two interviews of about 30 minutes each, one with the Head and one with a specialist teacher, usually on the same day.
Candidates also bring supporting evidence such as certificates, letters of recommendation and examples of work. Music and drama candidates perform a prepared piece plus sight-reading or improvisation, and music scholars usually have grade 3 or higher on an instrument. Sport scholars usually play beyond school and represent a club or borough; art scholars present a portfolio across several disciplines.
The pages read do not describe a means-tested bursary scheme, though a sibling discount applies to third and subsequent current siblings. Families who need financial help can ask the Admissions Registrar.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged per term by year group, with VAT added from Reception upwards, and the figures for each year group are published on the school's fees page. Full-day fees include lunch, and swimming is included for Years 3 to 6.
Specialist support teaching, Teatime Club, clubs and peripatetic music lessons are extras, and there is a voluntary Parents' Association subscription. Fees are payable termly in advance, and the school points to School Fee Plan for monthly instalments, with childcare vouchers accepted for some provision up to the ages stated on the page.
Where pupils join from and move on to
Most Coopersale Hall pupils begin in the nursery, Reception or Infants and move up through the Juniors, and the school expects children to progress into the Seniors at age 11. Applicants from other schools join at 7+ to 10+ or sit the 11+ and senior exam.
The school names no partner or feeder schools. At 16, pupils leave at the end of Year 11 and the school reports that they move to a range of sixth-form schools and colleges to study A-Levels, after mock A-Level interviews with the Head, careers guidance, work experience and aptitude tests in Year 10.
How to prepare
Preparation for 7+ to 10+ entry mainly means helping the child feel at ease in a classroom observation and in conversation with adults, since the school combines informal observation, formal academic assessment and an interview with parents present. Visiting an open event or taking a personal tour beforehand makes the setting familiar.
For the 11+ exam, the school has not published its subjects or format, so asking the Admissions Registrar what the papers cover is the first step, followed by steady practice in the child's usual English and maths. Children usually do well in the Head's interview when they have thought about their own interests, and scholarship candidates should gather certificates and work samples and practise their prepared piece.
Related guides
- Best private schools in Essex
- Independent school fees compared
- Brentwood School (11+)
- New Hall School (11+)
- Chigwell School (11+)
- Felsted School (11+)
- The 11+ entrance exam explained
- The 7+ entrance exam explained
- The 8+ entrance exam explained
- 11+ and 13+ scholarship exams explained
- What is a bursary? Private school bursaries explained
Preparing for the Coopersale Hall School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The Coopersale Hall School 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.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Coopersale Hall School entrance exam?
- At 11+ and for Year 7 and above, the school sets a single senior entrance examination, followed by an interview with the Head for each applicant and their parents. The same exam covers entry to Normanhurst. At 7+ to 10+ there is no exam; entry is by individual assessment, in-class observation and interview. The pages do not publish subjects or a test provider.
- How does a family register for Coopersale Hall School?
- Complete the online registration form and pay the non-refundable deposit, which includes VAT, to join the waiting list. A short pre-taster questionnaire follows, and the child is then invited for an assessment or interview. A place on the waiting list does not guarantee admission, and the Admissions Registrar can confirm availability.
- Does Coopersale Hall School offer scholarships?
- Yes, at Year 7 (11+) entry, in sport, music, art, drama and academic work. A successful applicant receives one scholarship worth 15% of fees, after two interviews of about 30 minutes each and a portfolio of supporting evidence. The pages read do not describe a means-tested bursary scheme, though a sibling discount exists.
- How much are Coopersale Hall School fees?
- Fees are set per term by year group and published on the school's fees page, with VAT added from Reception upwards. Full-day fees include lunch, and swimming is included for Years 3 to 6. Extras such as specialist support teaching and Teatime Club are charged separately, and fees are payable termly in advance.
- Does Coopersale Hall School have a sixth form?
- No sixth form is described. The school is a through school for ages 2½ to 16, and pupils leave at the end of Year 11. The school reports that they move to a range of sixth-form schools and colleges to study A-Levels, supported by mock A-Level interviews, careers guidance and work experience.
Enquire about 11+ preparation
Start your enquiryHow Taylor Tuition can help
Expert, one-to-one support from specialist tutors.
Editorial Notice
We use automated research tools to help collate and maintain information across our website. While each post is reviewed before publication, some details may be incomplete or inaccurate.
Free 11+ familiarisation pack
English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with mark schemes.
Taylor Tuition
Educational Consultancy
Contributing expert insights on education, exam preparation, and effective learning strategies to help students reach their full potential.