Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, ages 3 months to 18 (nursery to Sixth Form) |
|---|---|
| Location | Littleover, Derby, Derbyshire |
| Entry points | Nursery, Reception, Prep School, 11+ (Year 7), Sixth Form (Year 12); mid-year entry considered case by case |
| Assessment | CAT4 cognitive ability test, a taster day and a short interview with the Headmaster or Deputy Head Academic, plus a report from the child's current school |
| Test provider | CAT4 (GL Assessment) |
| Day fees (2026-27) | £6,531 per term (Years 7 to 9) |
| Registration deadline | Not published as a fixed deadline; the school states applications are accepted throughout the year, with a September start usually recommended and mid-year entry considered case by case (scholarship applications for Year 7 entry do have their own published opening and closing dates on the school's admissions pages) |
| Assessment date | Not published for a fixed date; the school assesses on a rolling basis at the point of application (Academic, Art and Design, Drama, Music and Sport scholarship assessments are held on separate dates published on the school's admissions pages) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Getting into Derby Grammar School at 11+ means registering for a place, visiting the school and having your child complete the CAT4 cognitive ability assessment alongside a taster day and a short interview; offers then depend on that performance together with a report from the child's current school. The school is fully independent and co-educational, so there is no catchment area or local-authority allocation process to navigate; the school sets its own entrance requirements and assesses applications as they arrive throughout the year, without reference to a single national timetable.
The process runs in a fixed order: register interest, visit, submit a formal application, sit the CAT4 assessment and taster day, attend interview, and wait for a decision once the school has also seen a reference from the current school. A place is confirmed on payment of a refundable deposit. Families considering entrance exam preparation can plan around this sequence, since Derby Grammar School reviews applications on a rolling basis through the year.
How entry works at the school
The school admits pupils from nursery age through to Sixth Form, with Year 7 (11+) one of several entry points alongside Reception, other Prep School years and Year 12. Because the school is independent, it does not allocate places through a local authority process or set a catchment area; every application is considered on the child's assessment performance, interview and school report.
Applications for Year 7 are accepted throughout the year, though a September start is the usual pattern so pupils begin the Senior School curriculum with their year group. Families applying mid-year go through the same core steps, with the school arranging taster days to support the transition.
How the 11+ assessment works at the school
Entry to Year 7 is decided on the CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test), an assessment covering verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning. Alongside the test, candidates attend a taster day at the school and have a short interview with the Headmaster or Deputy Head Academic.
The school also requests a report and reference from the child's current school as part of its decision. The Assistant Head Academic weighs the assessment result, interview and school report together as a whole before writing to confirm the outcome.
- CAT4 cognitive ability test (verbal, non-verbal, spatial, quantitative reasoning)
- Taster day at the school
- Short interview with the Headmaster or Deputy Head Academic
- Report and reference from the child's current school
Steps in the admissions process, in order
The process follows a set sequence. First, register interest by completing the school's Enquiry Form; second, arrange a visit to see the school in operation; third, contact the Admissions Manager to submit a formal application.
Once the application and registration fee are received, the school invites the child to complete the CAT4 assessment and a taster day, followed by the short interview. The school then requests a report from the child's current school before the Assistant Head Academic reaches a decision and writes to the family.
If a place is offered, it is confirmed on payment of an admissions deposit, which is held until refunded at the end of the pupil's final term at the school.
- Register an enquiry
- Visit the school
- Submit a formal application with the registration fee
- Complete the CAT4 assessment and taster day
- Attend a short interview
- Current school report requested and reviewed
- Decision letter sent
- Offer accepted with a refundable deposit
Scholarships and bursaries for 11+ entry
The school offers scholarships for Year 7 entry in five categories: Academic (including STEAM), Art and Design, Drama, Music and Sport. A scholarship award usually brings a maximum of 10% fee remission and comes with an expectation that the scholar will develop their talent further and contribute positively to school life; scholarships awarded at Year 7 do not automatically continue into Sixth Form, so a fresh application is needed at that stage.
Bursaries are offered through the school's Assisted Places scheme, aimed at pupils with strong academic potential or ability in sport or the arts whose families could not otherwise afford the fees. Bursaries are means-tested, applied for after registering interest and before enrolment, and cannot be awarded once a place has already been offered. A scholarship and a bursary cannot together cover more than half of total fees.
- Academic (including STEAM) Scholarship
- Art and Design Scholarship
- Drama Scholarship
- Music Scholarship
- Sport Scholarship
- Means-tested Assisted Places bursary scheme
How to prepare for the CAT4 assessment and interview
The CAT4 measures reasoning ability across verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative strands without a fixed syllabus, so preparation tends to focus on familiarity with question types and pacing under time pressure, with rote content offering little benefit. Working through practice material calmly in the weeks in advance helps a child recognise the format on the day, so nothing there feels unfamiliar.
The taster day and interview carry weight alongside the test, so it helps to talk through what a normal school day involves and to encourage the child to answer questions about their interests and current school naturally. A calm, well-rested run-up to the assessment day usually matters as much as the practice itself.
Fees and what they include
Senior School fees for Years 7 to 9 are charged per term, reviewed annually, and stated as inclusive of applicable taxes; the school does not offer boarding. A non-refundable registration fee is payable on application, separate from the refundable admissions deposit paid once a place is accepted.
Discounts are available for paying fees annually, for siblings attending together, and for Armed Forces families on production of evidence.
- Annual payment discount available
- Sibling discount for a second and further children
- Armed Forces discount available with evidence
Related guides
Preparing for the Derby Grammar School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Derby Grammar 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 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
- Is Derby Grammar School selective at 11+?
- Yes. Places at Year 7 depend on performance in the CAT4 entrance assessment and interview, together with a satisfactory report from the child's current school. The school describes itself as academically selective, though it sets no fixed catchment area since it is independent.
- What test do children sit for Year 7 entry?
- Candidates complete the CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test), which covers verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning. This sits alongside a taster day at the school and a short interview with the Headmaster or Deputy Head Academic.
- Is there a catchment area for Derby Grammar School?
- No. As an independent school, Derby Grammar School bases admission solely on assessment performance, interview and school report, regardless of geography or catchment area.
- Can my child join Derby Grammar School outside September?
- Mid-year admission is considered case by case, and the school says it supports pupils and parents through the transition with taster days and pastoral support. A September start is usually recommended so pupils stay in step with the curriculum.
- What scholarships are available at 11+?
- Derby Grammar School offers Academic (including STEAM), Art and Design, Drama, Music and Sport scholarships for Year 7 entry, each usually bringing a maximum of 10% fee remission. Bursaries (an Assisted Places scheme) are also available, means-tested, though a bursary cannot be combined with a scholarship to exceed 50% of total fees.
- What does registration for Year 7 entry cost?
- A non-refundable registration fee applies when a family applies, and a refundable admissions deposit is payable once a place is offered and accepted; the deposit is returned at the end of the pupil's final term at the school.
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