Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, 0 to 16 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Harlow, Essex |
| Entry points | 4+, 10+, 11+ |
| Assessment | No entrance assessment is described; parents complete a registration form and pay a registration fee, and a waiting list operates if the year group is full. |
| Day fees (From September 2026) | From September 2026, per term including VAT: Reception and Years 1 to 2 £4,966; Years 3 to 5 £5,783; Years 6 to 8 £6,472; Years 9 to 11 £7 |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Saint Nicholas School admissions work in two ways: Reception places are secured by registering, and entry in Year 6 or Year 7 involves assessments in verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning followed by a taster day in class. Other year groups are filled only where spaces exist, and the school takes pupils up to age 16.
The school's pages do not publish the test provider, the length of the papers or the number of places, so the guide below sets out what is stated and points to the Admissions Secretary for the rest.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4+ | Reception | No entrance assessment is described; parents complete a registration form and pay a registration fee, and a waiting list operates if the year group is full. | Not stated | Not published |
| 10+ | Year 6 | Assessments in verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning, followed by a taster day in class before a place is confirmed. | A taster day in class follows the assessments; no interview is described. | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Assessments in verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning, followed by a taster day in class before a place is confirmed. | A taster day in class follows the assessments; no interview is described. | Not published |
Entry points and places
Saint Nicholas takes pupils into Reception at age four, into Year 6 and Year 7 through assessment, and into other year groups only where spaces are available. Its Early Years provision also includes Rocking Horse Nursery for ages 0 to 3 and Little Saints Pre-School for ages two and a half to four.
The school pages do not publish a number of places or forms of entry at any point. Families who want to know whether a particular year group has room can use the enquiry route on the admissions pages or telephone the Admissions Secretary.
- Reception (age 4): registration form and fee
- Year 6 (age 10) and Year 7 (age 11): assessments, then a taster day
- Other year groups: where spaces exist
How the Year 6 and Year 7 assessment works
The Year 6 and Year 7 assessment covers four areas: verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and quantitative reasoning. The school describes the tests as assessing abilities in key areas that support educational development and academic attainment.
The admissions pages do not name a test provider, state how long the papers last or describe the question types. Applicants for other year groups, where spaces exist, are invited to an assessment session, and a successful result leads to a taster day in class.
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.
Enquire about this tutor
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.
Enquire about this tutor
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 for Reception is made by completing the registration form and paying the non-refundable registration fee, and it can be done at any time after the child's birth. The school recommends early registration, and parents can join a waiting list if the year group is full.
For Year 6, Year 7 and other year groups, families apply online through the school's application portal, which is linked from the Apply page, where the closing date for Year 6 and Year 7 entry is also published. The steps below show the order in which the process runs.
- Register or apply online, paying the registration fee
- Sit the reasoning assessments (Year 6, Year 7 and other year groups with spaces)
- Attend a taster day in class
- Receive confirmation of a place
- Pay the admission fee on joining, which is refunded when the pupil leaves
Taster days, interviews and references
A taster day in class follows the assessments for Year 6 and Year 7, and it takes place before a place is confirmed. For other year groups the taster day follows a successful assessment session.
The admissions pages do not describe an interview, a group activity or a reference from the current school. Families who want to ask about reports from the current school can contact Mrs Julie Bradley, the Admissions Secretary, on 01279 429910 or through the contact page. Open Events and Tours can be booked from the admissions menu.
Scholarships and bursaries
The school's admissions and fees pages do not list scholarships or bursaries, so no scholarship types, entry points or bursary percentages can be stated here.
Families who would like to ask about financial support can put the question to the Admissions Secretary before applying, ideally at the same time as booking a tour.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged per term and rise by age band: Reception with Years 1 and 2, Years 3 to 5, Years 6 to 8, and Years 9 to 11. The exact amounts, which include VAT, are in the key facts for this page and on the school's fees page.
Termly fees cover tuition, before-school care from 7.30 am, lunch, stationery, textbooks, teaching materials, swimming, games, educational visits (excluding residential trips) and most activities. After-school and homework clubs, late collection, visiting-teacher music, dance and sport lessons, residential trips and GCSE exam charges are extra. A registration fee is charged on application, and an admission fee is refunded when the pupil leaves.
Where pupils join from
Many families enter through the school's own Early Years provision, which comprises Rocking Horse Nursery, Little Saints Pre-School and Reception, all on the same site in Old Harlow. Little Saints offers up to 15 hours a week of funded provision under the EYFS entitlement from age three.
The school is organised into Early Years, Lower School, Middle School and Upper School, with Upper School covering ages 13 to 16. No named feeder or partner schools are published on the pages read, and there is no sixth form.
How to prepare for the Year 6 and Year 7 assessment
Preparation is best aimed at the four named areas: verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning. Short, regular practice with each type of puzzle, such as sequences, odd-one-out, shape rotation and number problems, usually builds familiarity without pressure.
Because the length and question style are not published, it helps to ask the Admissions Secretary what to expect when you book a tour. Children tend to settle more easily when they know a taster day in class follows the assessment, so describing it as an ordinary school day gives them a calm picture of the process.
Related guides
- Best private schools in Essex
- Independent school fees compared
- Brentwood School (11+)
- New Hall School (11+)
- Chigwell School (11+)
- Felsted School (11+)
- The 11+ entrance exam explained
Preparing for the Saint Nicholas School 4+, 10+ and 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The Saint Nicholas School 4+, 10+ and 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
- Is there an entrance exam for Saint Nicholas School?
- Applicants for Year 6 and Year 7 sit assessments in verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning, followed by a taster day in class. Reception entry is by registration, and other year groups take an assessment only where spaces exist. The school does not publish the test provider or paper length.
- When should families register for Saint Nicholas School?
- Reception registration can be made at any time after a child's birth, and the school recommends registering early. For Year 6 or Year 7 the closing date is published on the school's Apply page, where applications are made through the online portal.
- What are the fees at Saint Nicholas School?
- Fees are set per term by age band and include VAT, with a non-refundable registration fee on application and a refundable admission fee on joining. The amounts are listed in the key facts and on the school's fees page, along with what is included and excluded.
- Does Saint Nicholas School offer scholarships or bursaries?
- The school's admissions and fees pages do not mention scholarships or bursaries. Families interested in financial support can ask the Admissions Secretary on 01279 429910 or through the contact page before they apply.
- Does Saint Nicholas School have a sixth form?
- No. The school covers ages 0 to 16, with Upper School serving ages 13 to 16, so there is no 16+ entry point. Pupils sit GCSEs in Years 10 and 11, and exam charges appear on the fees page.
Enquire about 11+ preparation
Start your enquiryHow Taylor Tuition can help
Expert, one-to-one support from specialist tutors.
Editorial Notice
We use automated research tools to help collate and maintain information across our website. While each post is reviewed before publication, some details may be incomplete or inaccurate.
Free 11+ familiarisation pack
English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with mark schemes.
Taylor Tuition
Educational Consultancy
Contributing expert insights on education, exam preparation, and effective learning strategies to help students reach their full potential.