Registration for St Albans High School for Girls 11+ closes in 39 days, on 13 November 2026. A free consultation now leaves time to plan the preparation before the assessment.
Book a free consultationKey Facts
| School type | Independent day school, girls, 4 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | St Albans, Hertfordshire |
| Entry points | 4+ (Reception), 7+ (Year 3), 11+ (Year 7) and 16+ (Year 12); the school also considers small numbers for occasional places elsewhere in the Prep and Senior School, subject to availability |
| Assessment | ISEB Common Pre-Test (online Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning) plus a written communications task, taster lesson and team activity on an assessment day, followed by interview for shortlisted candidates |
| Test provider | ISEB (Common Pre-Test) |
| Registration deadline | 13 November 2026 (for September 2027 entry) |
| Assessment date | Assessment day 5 January 2027; interviews 22 and 25 January 2027; offers made 12 February 2027 (for September 2027 entry) |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to St Albans High School for Girls at 11+ depends on performance in the school's own assessment day, built around the ISEB Common Pre-Test, followed by an interview for candidates who are shortlisted afterwards. There is no published quota of places or forms of entry; the school states that offers go only to candidates whose scores sit well above the national average, and describes the process as competitive given the number of girls who apply.
Families register online through the school's OpenApply portal, and STAHS also offers a number of scholarships and means-tested bursaries at this entry point for girls who qualify.
How entry works
Girls join St Albans High School for Girls mainly at 11+, entering Year 7 alongside intakes at 4+, 7+ and 16+, and the school also considers small numbers of candidates for occasional places elsewhere in the Prep and Senior School when space allows. Selection at 11+ rests on performance in the school's own assessment day and interview; STAHS does not publish a fixed number of places or forms of entry, and describes the process as competitive, given the number of candidates who sit the assessment.
How the 11+ assessment works
All candidates for Year 7 sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an online, multiple-choice assessment covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with scores age-standardised for fairness. Some children take the pre-test at their own primary school if it is a registered invigilation centre, then spend the rest of an assessment day at STAHS; the day runs close to normal school length, with breaks and lunch provided. Candidates also complete a written communications task, a taster lesson and an outdoor team activity. The school states that no special preparation is required, since examples and practice questions are given during the tests themselves.
What happens at interview
Candidates whose pre-test and assessment day results stand out are invited back to STAHS for an interview with senior members of staff, run as a relaxed group activity, and the school says no preparation is required. Because offers depend on scores sitting well above the national average, only a proportion of those who sit the assessment day reach interview stage. While pupils are interviewed, parents meet individually with the Head or a Deputy Head; this meeting is for parents' benefit alone and forms no part of the assessment of the child.
Registration and the admissions process
Applying to STAHS for Year 7 follows a set sequence. Registration opens well ahead of the assessment day and closes in the autumn before entry, with the school publishing exact dates on its admissions pages; families then receive details of the assessment day itself, followed for shortlisted candidates by an interview invitation. Offers follow the interview round, and accepting a place requires payment of a non-refundable deposit within the timeframe the school sets out.
- Register online via OpenApply and pay the registration fee
- Attend the assessment day: ISEB Common Pre-Test, written task, taster lesson, team activity
- Shortlisted candidates return for interview; parents meet the Head or a Deputy Head separately
- Offers are made, and a place is confirmed with an acceptance deposit
Scholarships and bursaries
STAHS awards scholarships at 11+ across several categories, including Academic, Art, Drama, Music (instrumental and choral), Sport, Design and Technology and Debating, each assessed through methods suited to the discipline such as auditions, portfolios or practical tasks alongside the entrance process. The school describes scholarships as awarded on ability, with financial need playing no part, and as carrying a partial reduction in fees. Means-tested bursaries are handled separately and can cover up to the whole of tuition fees for families who qualify, with support potentially extending to trips, uniform, school lunches and the coach service. Families apply for a bursary by indicating interest on the main application form, after which the school sends a separate bursary application requiring supporting financial documentation, assessed independently.
Preparing for the assessment
Because the pre-test covers Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, familiarity with the ISEB Common Pre-Test's on-screen, timed format helps a child feel comfortable, even though the school states that no special preparation is required and gives practice questions during the test itself. The written communications task and taster lesson reward clear expression and easy classroom engagement, so practising short writing tasks and discussing books at home can help. STAHS also runs optional taster days before the assessment, giving candidates a low-pressure chance to see the school and reduce first-day nerves.
Related guides
Preparing for the St Albans High School for Girls 11+ with Taylor Tuition
The St Albans High School for Girls 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 in the East 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, 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.
Frequently asked questions
- What test does STAHS use for 11+ entry?
- STAHS uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an online, multiple-choice assessment covering Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, with results age-standardised. Some candidates sit it at their own primary school if that is a registered invigilation centre; others sit it at STAHS as part of a full assessment day, which also includes a written communications task, a taster lesson and a team activity.
- Is there an interview for 11+ entry?
- Yes. Candidates whose assessment day results stand out are invited back for an interview with senior staff, described by the school as a relaxed group activity for which no preparation is required. While children are interviewed, parents meet the Head or a Deputy Head individually, though this has no bearing on the outcome for the child.
- How much preparation does the STAHS 11+ assessment need?
- The school states that no special preparation is required, since examples and practice questions are provided during the test itself and scores are age-standardised. Optional taster days before the assessment let candidates experience lessons and activities at the school, building familiarity and confidence with the setting.
- Does STAHS offer bursaries for 11+ entry?
- Yes. Means-tested bursaries are available for Year 7 entry, assessed independently of academic scholarships, and can cover up to the whole of tuition fees for families who qualify, with support potentially extending to trips, uniform, lunches and the coach service. Families apply by indicating interest on the main application form.
- What are scholarships worth at STAHS?
- Scholarships at 11+ cover categories including Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport, Design and Technology and Debating, each assessed by methods suited to the subject, such as auditions, portfolios or practical tasks. The school describes scholarships as awarded on ability, with financial need playing no part, and as carrying a partial reduction in fees.
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