Registration for Crosfields School 11+ closes in 4 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, co-educational, all-through 2 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Reading, Berkshire |
| Entry points | 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Assessment day with CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and team-building activities |
| Test provider | CAT4 tests plus a creative writing task set by the school |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £8,495 per term (Year 7, including VAT) |
| Registration deadline | 2 November 2026 for Year 7 entry (Year 12 also 2 November 2026) |
| Assessment date | 26 November 2026 (Year 7 Assessment Day) |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, sport, arts and all-rounder scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+; means-tested bursaries from Year 3 |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Crosfields School admissions begin with a visit and online registration through the Applicaa portal, followed by an assessment morning or day that combines CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and an interview. Entry points from age 7 upwards are Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), and the school accepts applications at any time during the year.
Crosfields is an all-through school in Reading for ages 2 to 18, so the Juniors and Seniors routes below sit alongside separate taster routes for Nursery to Year 2. Year 7 is the entry point with the fullest published timetable, and the sections that follow cover each stage, the scholarship and bursary routes, and the fees.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 | Assessment morning with CAT4 tests and a creative writing task; the same format applies to Years 4 to 6 | Interview with the Head of Juniors; the child also joins a class for some lessons and has lunch with the school | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Assessment day with CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and team-building activities | Interview with a senior teacher | Not published |
| 13+ | Year 9 | Assessment morning with CAT4 tests and a creative writing task; scholarship assessments follow in the weeks after an early January deadline | Interview with a senior teacher; GCSE options may also be discussed | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 | Sixth Form Taster Day and Sixth Form Assessment Day; the format is not described on the pages | Not stated | Not published |
Entry points and places
Entry from age 7 upwards is at Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+), Years 8 to 10 (with Year 9 as 13+) and Year 12 (16+), whilst younger children join through Nursery, Pre-School, Reception and Years 1 and 2. The school accepts applications at any time throughout the year, and its pages do not publish the number of places in each year group.
A date-of-birth tool on the How to apply page directs families to the process for their child's year of entry, and Experience Days are available for Year 3 and above. Questions about availability go to the Admissions Team at admissions@crosfields.com or on 0118 987 1810.
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment for Year 7 is a single assessment day made up of CAT4 tests, a creative writing task, an interview with a senior teacher and team-building activities. The pages name these components but do not publish the length of each test, the question types or a pass mark, so admissions is the place to confirm those details.
Results are sent within two to three weeks of the assessment, sometimes sooner, and Year 7 offers go out in early December. The offer letter sets the deadline for accepting. Applicants are asked to send a copy of the child's passport and most recent school report to the Admissions Team when registering, and scholarship applicants also need a school reference.
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Enquire about this tutorHow the 7+ and 13+ assessments work
The 7+ assessment for Year 3 is an assessment morning of CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and an interview with the Head of Juniors, and the same format applies to Years 4 to 6. Children also join a class for some lessons and have lunch with the school, so part of the morning is spent in an ordinary school setting.
The admissions page also mentions a written task, a group task and a group interview for Juniors and Seniors entry, so families can confirm exactly which applies when the assessment is booked.
13+ entry into Year 9 is an assessment morning with CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and an interview with a senior teacher, where GCSE options may also be discussed for older pupils. The pages do not describe a Common Entrance paper or a pre-test in Year 6 or Year 7. Year 9 scholarship applications close in early January, with assessments in the following weeks and outcomes by early February.
Registration and the admissions timeline
Admissions follows five steps from first visit to confirmed place, and registration is completed online through the Applicaa portal.
For Year 7 and Year 12 entry the school publishes a cycle that runs through the autumn term, with an application deadline, a separate bursary deadline, a scholarship deadline, the assessment day and offers sent in early December. A New Pupils Day takes place in the summer term for those who have accepted.
- Visit through an Open Event, an Individual Tour or an Experience Day, booked on the Visit Us page
- Register through the Applicaa portal and pay the non-refundable registration fee, which differs for UK and overseas families
- Attend the taster, Stay and Play or assessment session set for the child's year group
- Receive results, usually within two to three weeks of the assessment
- Accept by the deadline in the offer letter and pay the acceptance deposit, which is requested with the offer
Scholarships and bursaries
Crosfields offers academic, sport, creative and performing arts, and all-rounder scholarships, each reducing tuition fees by between 5% and 20%. They are listed for Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 entry and are open to current and new pupils.
Applicants submit a formal application and a school reference, and shortlisted candidates are invited to an assessment tailored to their chosen area. Year 7 and Year 12 applications close in the autumn term, whilst Year 9 applications close in early January. Scholars are expected to support activities in their field, such as helping with lessons for younger pupils or mentoring peers.
Means-tested bursaries are available from Year 3 to Year 13 for pupils who could thrive at the school but could not join without financial support. Families register interest, then apply through a secure digital platform, and the assessment considers income, assets and wider context. The maximum share of fees is not published, and a Scholarship and Bursary Evening is held in the autumn.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged per term and rise by year group, with the full package covering educational day trips, textbooks and stationery, lunches and snacks, and internal co-curricular activities. The termly figure for each year group is on the school's Our Fees page and in the fees field above.
A digital device charge sits inside the termly fee for Years 4 to 9. Sixth form fees do not include catering. Optional extras include breakfast club, late stay for the younger years, external clubs such as swimming, LAMDA and chess, school transport and public examination fees set by the exam boards. Nursery, Pre-School and Reception fees can be reduced by government funded childcare hours, and fees@crosfields.com answers questions on paying in advance.
Where pupils join from
Pupils join from the school's own Little Acorns Nursery and Pre-School, its Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) and its Juniors (Years 3 to 6), with the Seniors starting at Year 7 and a sixth form following. Applicants from other schools join through the assessments described above.
The pages read do not name feeder or partner schools, and they do not say whether Juniors pupils sit a separate assessment for Year 7, so families with a child already in the Juniors can ask the Admissions Team how the move up works.
How to prepare
Preparation for Crosfields centres on the components the school names: CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and an interview. The school publishes no practice papers, so a few relaxed sessions with reasoning puzzles and timed activities usually give a child enough familiarity with working under time limits.
For the writing task, children can practise producing a short piece of creative writing in a set time, and regular reading tends to help with ideas and vocabulary. For the interview, talking through favourite subjects and interests with an adult helps a child answer comfortably, and Year 7 and Year 9 candidates can practise listening and sharing ideas in group tasks.
Visiting beforehand through an Open Event or an Experience Day (available for Year 3 and above) makes the building, a class and lunch familiar before the assessment day.
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Preparing for the Crosfields School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The Crosfields 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.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the Crosfields School entrance exam?
- There is no single entrance exam. From Year 3 upwards, children attend an assessment morning or day with CAT4 tests, a creative writing task and an interview with the Head of Juniors or a senior teacher. Year 7 candidates also take part in team-building activities. Results usually arrive within two to three weeks.
- How much are Crosfields School fees?
- Fees are charged per term and vary by year group, from Nursery to the sixth form. They include day trips, textbooks, lunches, internal co-curricular activities and, in some years, a digital device. The current termly figures are on the school's Our Fees page, and the registration fee differs for UK and overseas families.
- Does Crosfields offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Yes. Academic, sport, creative and performing arts, and all-rounder scholarships reduce tuition fees by between 5% and 20% at Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 entry. Means-tested bursaries are available from Year 3 to Year 13, assessed on income, assets and wider context. The maximum share of fees is not published.
- When does registration for Year 7 at Crosfields open?
- Applications are accepted at any time throughout the year, but the school publishes an autumn term cycle for Year 7 entry, with an application deadline, an assessment day and offers sent in early December. Registration is online through the Applicaa portal, and the exact dates are on the How to apply page.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements?
- The standard A Level pathway asks for eight GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including maths and English. For maths and the sciences, grade 7 is the minimum expectation, and Further Maths needs grade 9. Alternative combinations of A Levels and BTECs are considered, and applicants attend a taster day and an assessment day.
- Do pupils from other schools need to send reports?
- The admissions page asks applicants to send a copy of the child's passport and their most recent school report to the Admissions Team when they register. Scholarship applicants also need a school reference. The admissions pages do not describe any other reports or references.
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