Registration for Croydon High School 11+ closes in 11 days, on 19 October 2026. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| School type | Independent day school for girls, ages 3 to 18 (GDST) |
|---|---|
| Location | Selsdon, South Croydon, Greater London |
| Entry points | 11+ (Year 7) is the main senior entry point; the school also admits at Year 9 and 16+ (Sixth Form), with earlier entry into the Junior School and Nursery |
| Assessment | Adaptive online test (numeracy, problem-solving, vocabulary) plus a teaching-based assessment activity; academic scholarships judged from the same process |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £8,211 per term (Years 7-9) |
| Registration deadline | Monday 19 October 2026 (for September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | Test day from 12 October 2026 (for September 2027 entry) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Croydon High School at 11+ is decided by a single adaptive online test, covering numeracy, problem-solving and vocabulary, together with a teaching-based assessment activity on the same day. Academic scholarships are awarded from the same assessment, so no extra scholarship paper is needed, and the school does not publish practice papers, since it aims to see how a candidate thinks and learns, independent of what she has already covered at her current school.
Year 7 is the main point of senior entry, though girls also join at Year 9 and into the Sixth Form at 16+, each on its own admissions timetable. Registration runs through the school's online application portal, with a registration fee due when applying and a deposit payable once a family accepts an offered place; exact dates for the current cycle are published on the school's admissions pages.
How the 11+ assessment works
The Year 7 assessment combines an adaptive online test with a teaching-based assessment activity on the same day, in place of a set of separate written subject papers. The online element adjusts in difficulty as a candidate answers, getting harder each time she answers correctly, and covers numeracy, problem-solving and vocabulary. Croydon High states that no special preparation is required and no practice papers are available, since the process is designed to show how a girl thinks and learns, regardless of what she has already covered at her current school. Academic scholarships are judged from the same online and teaching-based assessments, with no separate scholarship paper to sit.
- Adaptive online test: numeracy, problem-solving, vocabulary
- Teaching-based assessment activity on the same day
- No practice papers published by the school
- Academic scholarship judged from the same assessment, no extra paper
The admissions process, step by step
Families apply through the school's online application portal, paying a non-refundable registration fee at the point of applying. Candidates then sit the adaptive online test and teaching-based assessment on the allocated test day, after which offers are made in writing. Families who accept a place pay a deposit, held until their daughter's final term, to secure it. Open days and taster days from Year 5 upwards let prospective families visit before applying, and registration typically opens well ahead of the test day, with the school publishing its exact dates each cycle on its admissions pages.
- Register online and pay the registration fee
- Sit the assessment on the allocated test day
- Receive a written offer
- Accept the place and pay the deposit to secure it
Scholarships at Year 7 entry
All girls who sit the Year 7 entrance assessment are automatically considered for an academic scholarship, awarded on performance in that same assessment, so no separate application or paper is needed. Croydon High also offers performance scholarships in art and design, music, drama and sport, each requiring a separate application alongside the standard entrance process; sport candidates who pass the entrance assessment are shortlisted for a further sports assessment day covering disciplines such as netball, hockey, athletics and swimming. Scholars who join in Year 7 follow the school's Sapientia scholarship programme.
Bursaries and financial assistance
Croydon High offers a limited number of means-tested bursaries at Year 7 entry, assessed by the GDST's central bursary team and not by the school itself, based on both financial need and academic performance in the entrance assessment. Because numbers are limited, the highest-performing academic candidates among those who qualify financially are prioritised, and the value of any award reflects a family's income and financial resources. Bursaries run alongside, but separately from, academic and performance scholarships, and families experiencing financial difficulty after their daughter has joined may also apply for a post-entry bursary.
Fees and what they cover
Day fees are charged per term, published on the school's own fees page for the current academic year, and rise through the senior school year by year. Fees cover the regular curriculum, books, stationery, choral music, games, swimming and careers guidance; lunch is charged separately and is compulsory for pupils up to Year 10. A non-refundable registration fee is payable when applying, and a further deposit is due once a place is accepted, held until a pupil's final term. Croydon High is a day school, so no boarding fees apply.
How to prepare for the assessment
Because the test is adaptive and Croydon High states that no practice papers are available, preparation tends to focus on general reasoning, numeracy fluency and vocabulary, without rehearsing a fixed paper format. Familiarity with on-screen, timed testing helps a child stay calm as questions adapt in difficulty, and regular reading supports the vocabulary element. Since the school frames the process as looking at how a girl thinks and learns, a calm, well-rested candidate on the day usually reflects her ability more accurately than last-minute cramming.
Related guides
Preparing for the Croydon High School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The Croydon High 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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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 Croydon High School 11+ assessment involve?
- The Year 7 assessment combines an adaptive online test, covering numeracy, problem-solving and vocabulary, with a teaching-based assessment activity on the same day, instead of separate subject papers. Because the online test increases in difficulty as a candidate answers correctly, each test is personalised. The school states that no special preparation is required and no practice papers are available, since the aim is to see how a girl thinks and learns.
- Are all Year 7 applicants considered for a scholarship?
- Yes. Every girl who sits the Year 7 entrance assessment is automatically considered for an academic scholarship, awarded on performance in that assessment, with no separate application or paper required. Performance scholarships in art and design, music, drama and sport are also available and are applied for separately from the academic route.
- Are bursaries available at Year 7 entry?
- Yes, though places are limited. Bursaries are means-tested and assessed centrally by the GDST's bursary team, based on family income and financial resources alongside academic performance in the entrance assessment. Because numbers are limited, awards tend to go to the highest-performing academic candidates among those who qualify financially, and the size of any award depends on family circumstances.
- What other entry points does the school offer besides Year 7?
- Alongside 11+ entry into Year 7, the school also admits girls into Year 9 and into the Sixth Form at 16+. Each entry point has its own admissions and scholarship arrangements, separate from the Year 7 process, with current dates and requirements published on the school's admissions pages.
- What do Croydon High School's fees include?
- Day fees, published per term on the school's own fees page for the current academic year, cover the regular curriculum, books, stationery, choral music, games, swimming and careers guidance. Lunch is charged separately and is compulsory for pupils up to Year 10. A non-refundable registration fee applies when you apply, and a deposit is due once a place is accepted, held until a pupil's final term.
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