Queen Elizabeth's Hospital (QEH): Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School: Queen Elizabeth's Hospital (QEH)
• Location: Clifton, Bristol
• Type: Independent day school for boys (7-18), co-educational Sixth Form
• Founded: 1586
• Entry Points: 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+
• Application Deadline: November (Year 6)
• Assessment: Entrance examinations and interview
• Fees: Approximately £15,000-£18,000 per annum

About Queen Elizabeth's Hospital

Queen Elizabeth's Hospital occupies a magnificent Grade II listed building in Clifton, Bristol, where it has been educating boys for over four centuries. Known affectionately as "The City School," QEH combines its historic foundations with progressive educational approaches, creating an environment where academic excellence flourishes alongside character development.

The school's distinctive house system fosters healthy competition and pastoral care, whilst its location in vibrant Clifton provides unique opportunities for cultural enrichment. QEH boys benefit from the school's strong connections with Bristol's business community and universities, particularly the nearby University of Bristol. The recent introduction of girls to the Sixth Form has enhanced the school's dynamic, preparing students for the realities of higher education and professional life.

Academic results consistently place QEH amongst Bristol's top independent schools, with typically 85-90% of pupils achieving A*-B grades at A Level. The school's Science Centre and recently refurbished facilities support excellence across all subjects, whilst the extensive co-curricular programme includes everything from sailing on the nearby Bristol Channel to prestigious debating competitions.

The 11+ Assessment Process at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital

QEH's 11+ entrance examination takes place in January and comprises three core components designed to identify boys who will thrive in the school's academically rigorous environment.

Mathematics Paper

The mathematics assessment evaluates numerical reasoning, problem-solving abilities, and mathematical knowledge appropriate for Year 6 pupils. Questions progress from straightforward calculations to more complex multi-step problems, testing both accuracy and mathematical thinking. Candidates should be comfortable with fractions, decimals, percentages, and basic geometry.

English Paper

The English examination includes comprehension, creative writing, and language skills. Boys encounter a literary passage followed by detailed questions testing inference, analysis, and vocabulary. The creative writing component allows candidates to demonstrate imagination and technical accuracy, whilst grammar and punctuation questions assess fundamental language skills.

Reasoning Assessment

QEH includes both verbal and non-verbal reasoning elements to identify intellectual potential beyond curriculum-based knowledge. These papers test pattern recognition, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities that indicate academic promise across all subjects.

Interview Process

Shortlisted candidates attend an informal interview with senior staff, focusing on interests, motivations, and compatibility with QEH's values. The school seeks boys who will contribute positively to the community whilst benefiting from the opportunities available.

How to Apply

The application process for Queen Elizabeth's Hospital follows a structured timeline that families should observe carefully:

Registration

Registration opens in September for the following year's entry, with a deadline in early November. The online application form requires academic references from the candidate's current school, along with a registration fee. Early registration is advisable as places are limited and competition is intense.

Entrance Examinations

Registered candidates sit the entrance examinations in January at QEH's Clifton campus. The school provides detailed information about examination formats and timing, with sessions typically held on Saturday mornings to minimise disruption to current schooling.

Results and Offers

QEH communicates results by early February, with successful candidates receiving conditional offers pending satisfactory completion of Year 6. The school maintains a waiting list for additional places that may become available.

Acceptance and Confirmation

Families must confirm acceptance of offers by the specified deadline, typically in March, accompanied by a deposit. Final confirmation occurs following receipt of Year 6 school reports in the summer term.

Preparing for the Queen Elizabeth's Hospital 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Preparation for the Queen Elizabeth's Hospital 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.