D'Overbroeck's College 11+ Entry: Admissions, Assessment and Fees Guide

Getting into D'Overbroeck's College at 11+ means registering online, visiting for a taster day, then sitting a two-hour cognitive abilities assessment, either in a group or individually, alongside a review of the child's current school reports and a reference from their existing school. Most Year 7 candidates apply for September entry, though the school also considers children joining in Years 8, 9 and 10 where places remain.

Senior School places for ages 11 to 16 are offered on a day basis in Years 7 and 8, with full and weekly boarding becoming available once pupils reach Year 9. Families wanting to be considered for a scholarship apply alongside the standard entrance process, sitting additional assessment elements specific to the award.

How 11+ entry works

Entry at 11+ leads into Year 7 of the Senior School, which admits pupils aged 11 to 16 across Years 7 to 10, with most new starters joining in Year 7 or Year 9. Year 8 and Year 10 entry is possible when spaces are available, so a child who misses the main Year 7 round is not shut out of joining the school later.

Senior School places in Years 7 and 8 are day places; full and weekly boarding are offered from Year 9 onwards. Sixth Form entry at 16+ follows a separate admissions process from the Senior School.

How the 11+ assessment works

The assessment centres on a two-hour cognitive abilities test, sat either in a group or individually depending on the candidate. Alongside the test, the school reviews the child's most recent school reports and a reference from their current school as part of the same application.

Interviews may also form part of the process, depending on the child's age and educational background; the school does not publish one fixed format that applies to every candidate. Before the formal assessment, applicants are invited to a taster day, giving the child a lesson experience ahead of testing.

Registration and the admissions process, step by step

The process runs in a set order from first enquiry to an accepted place. Registration closes ahead of each assessment day, and the school publishes the exact date on its admissions page.

• Submit an online enquiry form; the admissions team aims to respond within 48 hours during working hours
• Attend an open event or arrange a visit to see the school in person
• Book and attend a taster day for the child
• Submit the online application form with supporting documents, including school reports and a passport photo, and pay the one-off registration fee
• Sit the entrance assessment and, where required, attend an interview
• Receive an offer, then accept by paying the acceptance fee and deposit

Scholarships at 11+

D'Overbroeck's offers Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Dance Academy scholarships to Year 7 candidates, each recognising a different form of talent: academic potential, visual art, drama or music. Academic Scholarship applicants sit the standard entrance assessment and an interview; Art candidates complete a half-day on-campus work session; Music applicants perform two pieces, sit aural tests and discuss their musical experience.

Every scholarship is worth up to a maximum of 25% of tuition fees, awarded at the school's discretion, and scholars are expected to contribute actively to school life beyond their own subject.

Bursaries and financial support

Two means-tested routes exist for UK-based families: General Bursaries, awarded after a full financial assessment, and d'Overbroeck's Foundation Awards, a partially means-tested option for day students needing emergency or more limited help. Foundation Awards also support up to 25% of tuition fees.

Because both routes involve a direct financial review, families are advised to contact the admissions office to discuss circumstances before or alongside the application.

Fees and initial charges

Senior School tuition is charged termly and includes lunch for day pupils, while boarding pupils in Year 9 and above pay a separate full or weekly boarding charge that covers breakfast and dinner. Alongside tuition, the school charges a one-off registration fee at application and an acceptance fee once a place is offered, plus a refundable deposit; current figures for each are published on the school's tuition fees page.

How to prepare for the 11+ assessment

The assessment centres on a two-hour cognitive abilities test, without separate subject-specific papers published by the school. Preparation therefore works best when it builds general reasoning stamina and comfort with sitting a longer test under timed conditions, since the format rewards sustained concentration over narrow subject drilling.

Because the school also reviews current school reports and a reference, keeping a steady, consistent record of classwork and behaviour in the lead-up to application carries real weight alongside test performance. Visiting for a taster day beforehand helps a child arrive at the assessment already familiar with the building and staff, which can settle nerves on the day itself.

Related guides

• Tutors for families in Oxfordshire
• Independent school fees compared

Preparing for the D'Overbroeck's College 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the D'Overbroeck's College 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. 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.