Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, ages 3 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Solihull, West Midlands |
| Entry points | 11+ (Third Form, Year 7) is the main Senior School entry point; the school also admits externally at 12+, 13+, 14+ and into the Sixth Form (16+), with earlier entry available into the Junior School, including via 10+ |
| Assessment | Written papers in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, plus an interview and a reference from the child's current school |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £7,828 per term for the Senior School (all year groups), inclusive of tuition, lunch and books/stationery; a non-refundable deposit of £480 is also payable |
| Registration deadline | Senior School applications (including 11+ and scholarships) close Tuesday 22 September 2026 |
| Assessment date | Entrance exam: Saturday 7 November 2026; interviews: Saturday 21 November 2026 |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
Entry to Solihull School at 11+ runs through a written entrance examination in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, followed by an interview and a reference from the child's current school, with offers made on the combined strength of these elements. The Third Form (Year 7) intake is the main point of entry to the Senior School, though the school also admits at 12+, 13+, 14+ and into the Sixth Form, alongside earlier entry into the Junior School.
Families register online through the school's admissions portal ahead of the exam, and pupils already in the Junior School sit the same 11+ papers and interview as external candidates, partly to generate scholarship and benchmarking data. Preparation therefore centres on comprehension and creative writing, arithmetic and problem-solving, and the two reasoning papers; there is no single specialist test.
How entry works at 11+
The main entry point to the Senior School is 11+, taking pupils into the Third Form, equivalent to Year 7, and the school also admits externally at 12+, 13+ and 14+ where places arise, plus into the Sixth Form. Pupils already in the Junior School who hold a 10+ offer move up to an 11+ place automatically, and all Junior School pupils in J4 sit the same 11+ entrance examination and interview alongside external candidates, both to benchmark progress and to be considered for scholarships.
How the 11+ assessment is structured
The 11+ assessment at Solihull School comprises papers in English, mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, plus an interview. The English paper covers comprehension of a prose passage and a piece of creative, descriptive or original writing chosen from several options. Mathematics is tested across three strands: basic arithmetic, arithmetic combined with thinking skills, and problem-solving. Verbal reasoning tests logical thinking and use of English vocabulary, while non-verbal reasoning assesses pattern-based problem-solving without reference to subject knowledge.
Alongside the written papers, every candidate has an interview, and the school also takes a reference from the child's current school where one is available.
- English: comprehension plus a choice of creative, descriptive or original writing
- Mathematics: basic arithmetic, arithmetic with thinking skills, and problem-solving
- Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning, assessed separately
- Interview for every candidate, plus a current-school reference where available
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.
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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.
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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 process, step by step
Registration for Senior School entry, including 11+, is completed online through the school's admissions portal, where documents such as the child's passport or birth certificate page and a photograph are uploaded alongside the application form. Registration closes ahead of the exam, which is followed some weeks later by interviews. Families then receive results and, where successful, a formal offer; accepting the offer and paying the required deposit secures the place, with a separate, later reply deadline set specifically for 11+ compared with the other Senior School entry points.
- Register online via the admissions portal, uploading identity documents and a photograph
- Sit the entrance exam
- Attend interview
- Receive results and, if successful, an offer
- Accept the offer and pay the deposit by the 11+ reply deadline
Scholarships and bursaries for 11+ entry
Scholarships at 11+ are offered in five categories: academic, art, music, performing arts and sport, awarded at the Headmaster's discretion and coming with or without a reduction in fees. Bursaries are separate and means-tested, aimed at children who do well in the entrance exam but whose families could not otherwise afford fees; awards sit on a sliding scale up to full remission of tuition fees, with further support available in some cases.
A scholarship and a bursary can be held together. Families wishing to be considered for a bursary must declare their interest in writing by the registration closing date, with means-testing forms sent out before the exam or interview.
- Scholarship categories: academic, art, music, performing arts, sport
- Bursaries: means-tested, sliding scale up to full tuition fee remission
- A scholarship and a bursary can be awarded together
Fees and what they cover
Senior School fees cover tuition, curriculum and learning support, and most co-curricular activities, along with lunch and books or stationery, billed termly. A non-refundable deposit is payable to secure a place, which is returned at the end of a pupil's final term if they complete their education at the school. Families with more than one child at the school concurrently receive a fee reduction for a third or subsequent sibling.
How to prepare for the 11+ assessment
Preparation for the Third Form entrance exam benefits from practice across all four tested areas: comprehension and a range of creative writing styles for English, arithmetic together with multi-step problem-solving for maths, and timed practice with verbal and non-verbal reasoning question types, since these differ in format from ordinary classroom work.
Because the interview and a current-school reference both feed into the final decision, it also helps for a child to be comfortable talking about their interests and schoolwork, and for parents to keep their current school informed of the application in good time. Sample papers and syllabuses published by the school give the clearest guide to question style and difficulty.
Related guides
Preparing for the Solihull School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the Solihull 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 Birmingham 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
- What subjects does the 11+ entrance exam cover?
- The exam includes English (comprehension of a prose passage plus a piece of creative, descriptive or original writing), mathematics (arithmetic, arithmetic with thinking skills, and problem-solving), and separate verbal and non-verbal reasoning papers. Every candidate also has an interview, and a reference is taken from the child's current school where available.
- Do children already in the Junior School sit the same 11+ exam?
- Yes. All J4 pupils sit the same 11+ entrance examination and interview as external candidates, partly to provide benchmark data and partly so they can be considered for scholarships. Pupils holding a 10+ offer move up to an 11+ place automatically.
- Can a pupil hold both a scholarship and a bursary?
- Yes. Scholarships, covering academic, art, music, performing arts and sport, are awarded at the Headmaster's discretion and may or may not include a fee reduction. Bursaries are means-tested and separate, and a pupil can receive both a scholarship and a bursary at the same time.
- How can parents register their child for 11+ entry?
- Registration is completed online through the school's admissions portal, where the application form is submitted along with identity documents such as a passport or birth certificate page and a photograph. Registration for Senior School entry closes ahead of the entrance exam, which is followed by interviews before results and offers are issued.
- Is there a separate offer deadline for 11+ compared with other entry points?
- Yes. The school sets a later reply deadline for 11+ offers than for 12+, 13+ and 14+ entry, giving Third Form families additional time after results are issued to accept a place and pay the required deposit.
- What does the deposit cover and is it refundable?
- A non-refundable deposit is payable once a place is accepted; it is forfeited if a family later declines the place but is refunded at the end of a pupil's final term at the school if they complete their education there.
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