Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding school, co-educational, ages 11 to 18 at senior level (the wider Kingswood Foundation runs from 9 months) |
|---|---|
| Location | Bath, Somerset |
| Entry points | 11+ (Year 7) is the main senior school entry point, with further entry at 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ (Year 12, Sixth Form); the Kingswood Foundation also admits into its Nursery and Prep School from 9 months through Reception to Year 6 |
| Assessment | Written papers in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning, plus a small-group interview and a report from the candidate's current school |
| Day fees (Academic Year 2026/2027) | £8,025 per term (plus a mandatory £398 per term for lunch and tea) |
| Boarding fees (Academic Year 2026/2027) | £12,676 per term for weekly boarding, £14,510 per term for full boarding (Years 7 and 8) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Kingswood School at 11+ means written papers in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning, a small-group interview and a report from the child's current school, with the senior school admitting around 110 new pupils into Year 7 on each intake.
Registration runs through the school's online OpenApply portal, ahead of the assessment, interview and, for pupils joining from other schools, a group activity that lets staff see how a child works alongside others. Alongside the ordinary admissions route, Kingswood also assesses academic and talent scholarship candidates in art, drama, music, sport and design and technology, with means-tested bursaries considered separately for families who need financial support.
How entry works at 11+
Kingswood admits into Year 7 by written assessment and interview, alongside separate entry points at 13+ (Year 9) and 16+ (Sixth Form); the school also runs its own Nursery and Prep School, taking children from nine months through Reception to Year 6. The senior school's Year 7 intake is around 110 pupils, drawn from state and independent primary schools as well as from the Kingswood Foundation's own Prep School.
- 11+ (Year 7)
- 13+ (Year 9)
- 16+ (Year 12, Sixth Form)
- Nursery and Prep School entry from 9 months to Year 6
What the Year 7 assessment involves
All Year 7 candidates sit written papers in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning and take part in a small-group interview with a member of staff. Applicants transferring from other schools also join a group activity alongside the interview and reference process, which the school uses to understand a child's personality, interests and potential contribution to school life.
A report from the candidate's current school forms part of the assessment alongside the written papers and interview. The school does not publish a fixed pass mark, and academic scholarship decisions draw on the results of the same entrance assessment, interview and references.
Registration and the admissions process, step by step
Families register online through the school's OpenApply portal, working through the process as a fixed sequence of separate stages.
- Register online via OpenApply and pay the registration fee
- Provide a report from the child's current school
- Attend the small-group interview, with a group activity for applicants transferring from other schools
- Sit the written papers in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning
- Receive a decision on the offer of a place
- Accept the place and pay the acceptance deposit to confirm it
Scholarships and bursaries
Academic scholarships are assessed through the same entrance papers, interview and school references used for ordinary Year 7 entry, alongside talent scholarships in art, drama, music, sport and design and technology. Awards are confirmed alongside the offer of a place, with the exact timing varying by year group.
Bursaries are means-tested and assessed by the Bursar and Headmaster, considered separately from scholarships for families who need financial support towards fees. Applicants complete a financial statement form, requested from the admissions office once registration is complete; bursaries are not normally available to children already attending Kingswood Preparatory School, except in specific circumstances.
How to prepare for the Kingswood 11+ assessment
Because the assessment covers English, maths and non-verbal reasoning alongside an interview, preparation works best when it covers comprehension, written composition, arithmetic and reasoning with shapes and sequences across all these areas. The small-group interview, and for transferring candidates the group activity, tend to reward children who can talk about their interests and work alongside others calmly, so practising conversation and group tasks at home helps alongside academic revision.
A current school report also feeds into the decision, so steady classroom performance in the lead-up to assessment matters as much as exam practice itself.
Visiting the school and open mornings
Kingswood holds a Senior School open morning with pupil-led tours, subject taster activities and the chance to meet staff, run across two sessions to manage demand; families book a place through OpenApply. Outside the open morning, the Senior School Registrar arranges individual tours throughout the year for families who want to see the school before registering.
Related guides
Preparing for the Kingswood School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Kingswood 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 in Bristol and Bath and further afield work with us online, 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
- Does Kingswood School have an entrance exam at 11+?
- Yes. All Year 7 candidates sit written papers in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning, and take part in a small-group interview; applicants transferring from other schools also join a group activity. A report from the child's current school forms part of the assessment, and the school does not publish a fixed pass mark for the papers.
- How many places are available in Year 7?
- Kingswood admits around 110 new pupils into Year 7 each intake. Places are offered on the basis of the written assessment in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning, the interview and, for external candidates, the group activity, together with a report from the child's current school.
- How do you register for the Kingswood 11+ assessment?
- Registration is completed online through the school's OpenApply portal. Families then provide a report from the child's current school, and the candidate attends the interview, and for external applicants a group activity, before sitting the written papers in English, maths and non-verbal reasoning.
- How are scholarships awarded at Kingswood?
- Academic scholarships are awarded on the results of the entrance assessment, interview and school references, using the same process as ordinary Year 7 entry. Talent scholarships are also available in art, drama, music, sport and design and technology, with awards confirmed alongside the offer of a place.
- Can we apply for a bursary if we can't afford the fees?
- Yes. Kingswood offers means-tested bursaries, assessed by the Bursar and Headmaster, for families who need financial support with fees. Applicants complete a financial statement form, requested from the admissions office once registration is complete; bursaries are not normally available to children already at Kingswood Preparatory School, except in specific circumstances.
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