Normanhurst School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• Location: North Chingford, London
• Age Range: 2½ to 16 years
• School Type: Independent co-educational
• Founded: 1923
• Current Enrollment: Approximately 285 students
• Entry Points: Various year groups including Year 7 (11+)
• Assessment: Mathematics, English, and Verbal Reasoning
• Open Days: March and October

About Normanhurst School

Nestled in the leafy borough of North Chingford, Normanhurst School has been cultivating young minds for over a century since its establishment in 1923. This independent co-educational institution serves approximately 285 pupils from age 2½ through to 16, offering families a seamless educational journey from early years through to GCSE level.

What sets Normanhurst apart is its unwavering commitment to fostering individual excellence within a genuinely family-oriented atmosphere. The school's philosophy centres on recognising and nurturing each child's unique talents, whether they lie in academic pursuits, creative arts, sporting endeavours, or community leadership. This personalised approach ensures that every pupil receives the attention and support necessary to flourish.

The school's relatively intimate size creates an environment where teachers know each child personally, enabling them to tailor their teaching methods to individual learning styles. This attention to detail, combined with consistently high expectations for both academic achievement and personal conduct, has established Normanhurst as a respected institution among North London's educational landscape.

Fees and key dates for 2026/27

Normanhurst School publishes day fees of £6,436 per term for 2026/27, taken from the school's own fees page in October 2026. Registration dates for the next 11+ round are published by the school's admissions office. The assessment takes place on 12 January 2027. Fees and dates change each year, so the school's website remains the reference for the current round.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Normanhurst School employs a comprehensive assessment strategy for Year 7 entry that evaluates candidates across multiple dimensions of academic ability. The 11+ examination serves as the primary gateway for secondary school admission, designed to identify pupils who will thrive in the school's academically rigorous environment.

The assessment comprises three core components:

• Mathematics: Focuses on problem-solving capabilities and numerical reasoning skills, testing pupils' ability to apply mathematical concepts in varied contexts
• English: Evaluates reading comprehension, written expression, and language skills through carefully structured exercises
• Verbal Reasoning: Assesses logical thinking, pattern recognition, and linguistic understanding to gauge analytical capabilities

This multifaceted approach ensures that the school can identify pupils with diverse strengths whilst maintaining the academic standards that have defined Normanhurst for generations. The assessment process is designed to be thorough yet fair, allowing each candidate to demonstrate their abilities across different learning domains.

How to Apply

The application process for Normanhurst School is designed to be straightforward whilst ensuring the school can properly assess each prospective pupil's suitability for the community.

Application Timeline and Process:

• Initial Enquiry: Contact the school's admissions team for detailed information about entry requirements and available places
• School Visit: Attend one of the scheduled open days in March or October, or arrange a private tour to experience the school's atmosphere firsthand
• Application Submission: Complete the comprehensive application form available on the school's website, ensuring all required documentation is included
• Assessment Day: Participate in the 11+ assessment process, which includes the written examinations and may involve individual interviews

The school particularly values the opportunity for families to visit during open days, as these events provide authentic insights into daily life at Normanhurst and allow prospective pupils to interact with current students and staff.

Preparing for the Normanhurst School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Preparation for the Normanhurst 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.