Registration for Royal Grammar School Newcastle 11+ closes in 68 days, on 5 January 2027. 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, 7 to 18, with Junior School, Senior School and Sixth Form |
|---|---|
| Location | Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear |
| Entry points | 7+, 9+, 11+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Online aptitude assessment on a desktop PC at the school covering mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and English comprehension and literacy, plus a confidential report from the current school |
| Test provider | The senior school assessment is an online aptitude assessment sat at the school; the pages read do not name an external test provider |
| Registration deadline | Application deadline Tuesday 5 January 2027 for Year 7 entry in September 2027; bursary applicants Monday 23 November 2026 |
| Assessment date | Year 7 Assessment Day: Saturday 16 January 2027 |
| Scholarships and bursaries | No academic-only scholarships; means-tested bursaries at main entry points; Sixth Form Reece and Music Award schemes |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 47.10 (average grade A-) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
How do you get into Royal Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne? Families apply directly to the school at 7+ (Year 3), 9+ (Year 5), 11+ (Year 7, the main intake) and 16+ (Year 12), and at 11+ children sit an online aptitude assessment on a desktop PC at the school, covering mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and English comprehension and literacy. The school also requests a confidential report from the current school.
Some 11+ candidates are then invited back to an informal group activity session before offers are emailed. Each entry point has its own assessment, so the sections below set out the format, the order of steps, the bursary position and the fee structure for each.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 | An Assessment Day at the school with activities testing literacy and mathematics and showing learning ability, cooperation and perseverance, plus a report from the current school | No interview published; the day is activity based | Up to 60 pupils, in three classes of 20 |
| 9+ | Year 5 | Short literacy and mathematics test papers at an Assessment Morning, then an Activity Day for a small number of applicants, plus a report from the current school | No interview published; a small number are invited to an Activity Day | 8 to 12 new pupils, with classes increased to up to 24 |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Online aptitude assessment on a desktop PC at the school covering mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and English comprehension and literacy, plus a confidential report from the current school | No interview; some children are invited to an informal group activity session | Main intake; no fixed number of places published |
| 16+ | Year 12 | Baseline aptitude assessment, then interview for those who meet the required standard; school report, reference and forecast GCSE grades required, with minimum grades for each A Level subject | Interview about subject interests, academic strengths and co-curricular passions for those who meet the assessment standard | Up to 50 new Sixth Form students |
Entry points and places
The school admits at Year 3 (7+), Year 5 (9+), Year 7 (11+) and Year 12 (16+), and places occasionally arise in other year groups, which the Head of Admissions can discuss with families. Year 7 is the main intake into the Senior School, although the school publishes no fixed number of places for it.
At the other entry points the numbers are published: Year 3 takes up to 60 pupils in three classes of 20, Year 5 takes 8 to 12 new pupils with classes increased to up to 24, and the Sixth Form admits up to 50 new students.
- Year 3 (7+): up to 60 pupils
- Year 5 (9+): 8 to 12 pupils
- Year 7 (11+): main intake, no fixed number published
- Year 12 (16+): up to 50 students
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment is an online aptitude assessment taken on a desktop PC at the school, and it covers mathematics, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and English comprehension and literacy. The pages read do not name an external test provider or give a length, so families should treat the school as the source for those details.
Some children are then invited to an informal group activity session, which the school uses to observe how they interact and to judge their potential to thrive. No interview is described at this entry point. A confidential report is requested from each applicant's current school, so the school will contact the head or class teacher directly.
11+ tutors
Hannah
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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.
Enquire about this tutorRegistration and the admissions timeline
Registration at the school starts with an enquiry or an application, and both can be begun at any time through the Apply Now button on the admissions page. The sequence at 11+ then runs from application to a Saturday Assessment Day, an Activity Day for successful applicants, and an offer emailed to families on the published date.
An application fee is paid when the application is submitted, and a separate deposit is due only if a place is accepted. Bursary applicants have an earlier application deadline than other families, so those seeking support should check the published dates before the autumn of Year 6. An Open Morning is held each November.
- Register as an enquirer or start an application
- Submit the application and pay the application fee
- Sit the Assessment Day
- Attend the Activity Day if invited
- Receive the emailed offer, then accept and pay the deposit
How the 7+ and 9+ assessments work
At 7+ children spend a day at the school on an Assessment Day, taking part in activities that test literacy and mathematics and show learning ability, cooperation and perseverance. A report from the current school is also required.
At 9+ applicants sit short literacy and mathematics test papers at an Assessment Morning, and a small number are invited to an Activity Day afterwards. Year 5 applications and offers fall earlier in the autumn than Year 3 ones, which are decided in the new year, so the two routes follow different calendars. The Junior School page lists the exact dates.
Sixth form entry at 16+
Entry to the Sixth Form begins with a baseline aptitude assessment, and applicants who meet the required standard are invited to interview. The interview is a conversation about subject interests, academic strengths and co-curricular passions.
Applicants supply a recent school report, a reference and forecast GCSE grades. Each A Level subject carries a minimum grade requirement, published in a separate document linked from the admissions page, and applicants who fall short of a subject's requirement are guided towards other options they qualify for. The school offers a wide A Level list, including Further Maths, Latin, Ancient Greek, Film Studies and BTEC Sport and Exercise Science.
Scholarships and bursaries
The school states that it does not offer academic-only scholarships, and its financial support takes the form of means-tested bursaries at the main entry points. Applicants must be permanent residents of the North East of England and academically able enough to meet the entry requirements, and support can be full or partial. Full bursaries typically go to households with a gross income at or below a published threshold.
Assessment has two parts: a financial assessment covering income, savings, assets and family size, and the same academic assessment that fee-paying applicants sit. The Head of Bursary Support works with shortlisted families, and the Headmaster takes the final decision. An unsuccessful bursary application cannot be switched to a fee-paying place.
In the Sixth Form the Reece Foundation Bursary Scheme supports future engineers, and a Music Award Scheme is open to Year 11 pupils and external applicants considering A Level Music.
Fees and what they include
Fees are published as a single annual figure for the Junior School and another for the Senior School, both including VAT, and are paid by Direct Debit either termly or in 11 monthly instalments. The fees page gives no breakdown by year group.
The fee covers before- and after-school care from early morning until early evening and co-curricular activities. School lunches are optional and charged at the start of each term. New pupils pay a deposit on accepting a place, and the application fee is separate. Bursary families receive free school lunches and may receive uniform and sports kit grants.
Where pupils join from
Pupils join the Senior School from the school's own Junior School and from other schools, since the Senior School states that Year 7 is its main intake and requests a report from each applicant's current school. The Junior School itself admits at Year 3 and Year 5.
The admissions pages read do not describe how Junior School pupils move up to Year 7 and name no partner or feeder schools. Families weighing a Year 3 or Year 5 place with the Senior School in mind can put that question to the Head of Admissions, whose contact details are on the admissions pages.
How to prepare
Preparation for the 11+ assessment is best matched to its four named components: mathematics, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, and English comprehension and literacy. Because it is taken on a desktop PC, children benefit from practising on-screen questions, and from reading widely for the comprehension section. The school itself advises against over-preparing.
For the group activity, children tend to do well when they are used to listening, sharing ideas and building on what others say. At 7+ the day is activity based, while at 9+ short literacy and mathematics papers are sat, so practice should follow the format of the relevant entry. Sixth Form applicants can prepare for the interview by revisiting the subjects they plan to study.
Related guides
- Independent school fees compared
- Dame Allan's Schools (11+)
- Newcastle High School for Girls (11+)
- The 11+ entrance exam explained
- The 7+ entrance exam explained
- 11+ and 13+ scholarship exams explained
- What is a bursary? Private school bursaries explained
Preparing for the Royal Grammar School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Royal Grammar 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 the North of England 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.
Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
- How much are the fees at Royal Grammar School Newcastle?
- The school publishes one annual fee for the Junior School and another for the Senior School, both including VAT, on its fees page. Fees can be paid termly or in 11 monthly instalments by Direct Debit. They include before- and after-school care and co-curricular activities, while lunches are optional extras and new pupils pay a deposit on acceptance.
- What is the Royal Grammar School entrance exam at 11+?
- It is an online aptitude assessment sat on a desktop PC at the school, covering mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and English comprehension and literacy. Some children are invited to an informal group activity session. The school also requests a confidential report from the current school, and no interview is described.
- Does the school offer scholarships?
- The school states that it does not offer academic-only scholarships. It offers means-tested bursaries at its main entry points, which can be full or partial. In the Sixth Form there is the Reece Foundation Bursary Scheme for future engineers and a Music Award Scheme for A Level Music.
- When do you register for Year 7 entry?
- Families can register as an enquirer or start an application at any time using the Apply Now button. Bursary applicants have an earlier application deadline than other families, and the closing date for all Year 7 applications is published on the senior school admissions page each year.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements?
- Applicants sit a baseline aptitude assessment, and those who meet the required standard are invited to interview. A recent school report, a reference and forecast GCSE grades are needed. Each A Level subject has a minimum grade requirement, published in a document linked from the Sixth Form admissions page.
- Is there a catchment area?
- The admissions pages read do not publish a catchment area for fee-paying entry. Bursary applicants must be permanent residents of the North East of England. Families outside that area can ask the Head of Admissions about their position before applying.
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