Registration for Gateways School 11+ closes in 48 days, on 16 December 2026. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, 2 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Harewood, Leeds |
| Entry points | 11+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Adaptive online tests from Quest Assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, on the Entrance and Scholarship Assessment Day in January |
| Test provider | Quest Assessments (adaptive online tests in a co-branded package for the school) |
| Day fees (September 2026) | £7,211 per term (Years 7 to 8); £7,256 per term (Years 9 to 11 and Sixth Form) |
| Registration deadline | Wednesday 16 December 2026 (Year 7 entry, September 2027) |
| Assessment date | Friday 22 January 2027 (Entrance and Scholarship Assessment Day, Year 7 entry) |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, arts and sport scholarships at Year 7 and Sixth Form, up to 25% of fees; means-tested bursaries |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 37.09 (average grade B-) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Getting into Gateways School at 11+ means visiting the school, registering online with the assessment fee and sitting adaptive online tests from Quest Assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning on the Entrance and Scholarship Assessment Day, which is held in January for Year 7 entry the following September. The school describes itself as non-selective and uses the results to understand a child's strengths and difficulties.
Sixth Form entry at 16+ and entry to other year groups follow the same application process of registration, taster visit or assessment, and offer. Gateways publishes no separate entrance papers for 16+, so the Registrar is the first contact for that route.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ | Year 7 | Adaptive online tests from Quest Assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, on the Entrance and Scholarship Assessment Day in January | Parents and children may have an informal interview, usually with the Head of School | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 | No separate entry requirements or assessment published on the Sixth Form page; families contact the Registrar | Not stated | Not published |
Entry points and places
Gateways takes pupils into Nursery at ages 2 to 3, Early Years at 3 to 5, Prep School at 5 to 11, High School at 11 to 16 and Sixth Form at 16 to 18, and the main senior entry point is Year 7 at 11+. The school does not publish a number of places or forms of entry for any year group.
Younger children are observed in the classroom during a taster visit, whilst older applicants sit age-appropriate assessments. Most pupils start in September, although other start dates may be possible depending on availability. The Sixth Form page gives no separate entry process, so families interested in 16+ contact the Registrar.
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment is a set of adaptive online tests sat on the Entrance and Scholarship Assessment Day, held in January for Year 7 entry the following September. The tests are supplied by Quest Assessments in a co-branded package for the school, and the same day serves scholarship candidates.
Adaptive means the difficulty adjusts to the child's answers, so only children who are doing well receive harder questions. The school does not publish the length of the tests or the number of questions. It says the results give it more information about a child's strengths and difficulties, and it reads them alongside school reports and references.
- English
- Maths
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
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.
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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.
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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.
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Registration comes after a visit, and the process then runs in three steps. The school recommends attending the Open Day, usually held in October, or arranging an individual visit in the autumn term, and families will usually have met the relevant Head of School before they register. Registration for the January Year 7 assessment closes in December.
Registering does not secure a place, and a registration without payment is not processed. Places are limited and allocated on a first-response basis, so the acceptance form needs returning promptly once an offer is made.
- Register: complete the online form for each child, pay the assessment fee and send the most recent school report where possible.
- Taster visit and assessment: the Registrar arranges a visit with the child's year group, and older applicants sit the tests.
- Offer: if a place is offered, accept it and pay the non-refundable commitment fee.
Interviews and references
Parents and children may have an informal interview, usually with the Head of School, as part of the process. The January entrance guide does not mention an interview for Year 7 candidates, so it is worth asking the Registrar what to expect for your child's route.
School input comes through reports and references. For children transferring from another school, previous school reports are considered before an offer is made, which is why the registration page asks for the most recent report at the point of registering.
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships are offered in three areas, Academic, Arts (music, drama, and art and design) and Sport, at Year 7 and Sixth Form entry only. A limited number are available, they recognise high ability in the relevant area, and each is worth up to 25% of the fee. Candidates may apply for more than one, and awards run throughout a pupil's time at the school, subject to an annual performance review.
Assessment is by examination, or by assessment and interview, depending on the scholarship; the page does not say which applies to each. Bursaries are means-tested awards for families facing a temporary period of financial hardship, are limited in number and are reviewed annually. A bursary can be awarded alongside a scholarship. No maximum bursary percentage or application deadline is published, so the Admissions Office is the contact.
Fees and what they include
Fees are published per term for each year group, include VAT and are reviewed annually. Years 7 and 8 share one rate, whilst Years 9 to 11 and the Sixth Form share a higher one; the figures sit on the school's fees page.
The published tuition fee covers teaching only. School meals, trips, before and after school club and external exams are charged separately, and an additional charges page lists them. An assessment fee is paid at registration and is higher for international pupils, and a non-refundable commitment fee secures an accepted place. Nursery and Pre-Reception fees are available from the Registrar.
Where pupils join from
Many pupils move up within the school, because it runs a Nursery, Early Years and Prep School for ages 5 to 11 on the way to High School. The Prep page says children leave at 11, and it does not say whether Prep pupils are assured a High School place or need a separate application.
Gateways names no external feeder or partner schools. Children arriving from other schools are asked for their most recent report, and the High School states an average class size of 14 to 18 pupils.
How to prepare
Preparation for the 11+ centres on the four subjects tested, English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, and on familiarity with an adaptive online format. The school's entrance guide links to practice examples from Quest Assessments, which are the closest available match to the real tests.
The school suggests talking with your child beforehand about why assessments are taken, doing some revision and keeping the day low-pressure. Because the tests adapt to performance, a calm, steady approach to each question tends to serve a child better than rushing. Questions go to the Admissions Office.
Related guides
- Independent school fees compared
- The Grammar School At Leeds (11+)
- Woodhouse Grove School (11+)
- St Peter's School (11+)
- Bradford Grammar School (11+)
- The 11+ entrance exam explained
- 11+ and 13+ scholarship exams explained
- What is a bursary? Private school bursaries explained
Preparing for the Gateways School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The Gateways 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 Gateways School entrance exam?
- For Year 7 entry it is a set of adaptive online tests from Quest Assessments in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, sat on the Entrance and Scholarship Assessment Day in January. The difficulty adjusts to each child's answers. The school describes itself as non-selective and uses the results to understand strengths and difficulties.
- How does a family register a child at Gateways School?
- Complete the online registration form for each child and pay the assessment fee at the same time, since registrations without payment are not processed. Send the most recent school report where possible. The school recommends visiting first, either at the October Open Day or individually, and registering early.
- Does Gateways School offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Yes. Academic, Arts (music, drama, and art and design) and Sport scholarships are offered at Year 7 and Sixth Form, worth up to 25% of the fee. Means-tested bursaries support families facing temporary financial hardship and can be combined with a scholarship. Both are limited in number.
- What are the Gateways School fees?
- Fees are published per term for each year group on the school's fees page, include VAT and are reviewed annually. Tuition excludes meals, trips, before and after school club and external exams. An assessment fee is paid at registration and a non-refundable commitment fee secures an accepted place.
- Does Gateways School have a sixth form and how do you join?
- Yes, the Sixth Form takes students aged 16 to 18. The Sixth Form page does not publish GCSE grade requirements or entrance papers, so families contact the Registrar on 0113 288 6345. Academic, Arts and Sport scholarships are available at Sixth Form entry.
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