St Benedict's School, Ealing 11+ and 16+ Admissions: Entrance Exam, Scholarships and Fees

To get into St Benedict's School in Ealing at 11+, a child registers online and sits the school's entrance exam in Mathematics and English, after which most candidates are invited to a group assessment day. Year 7 has 120 places, and the same exam is used for entry at 12+, 13+ and 14+, where places depend on availability and some candidates are interviewed.

The school also admits at 7+ into its Junior Department and at 16+ into the Sixth Form, where interviews, a school reference and GCSE or IGCSE grades decide offers. The sections below set out each stage as the school describes it.

Entry points and places

St Benedict's admits pupils at 7+ into the Junior Department, at 11+ into Year 7, at 12+, 13+ and 14+ into Years 8, 9 and 10, and at 16+ into Year 12. Year 7 is the main entry point, with 120 places, whilst Years 8 to 10 are offered subject to availability.

The Sixth Form has up to 30 places, and the Junior Department runs up to three classes per year group with about 20 pupils in each. Age is calculated as at the start of the September term of entry, and the school prefers Sixth Form entrants to be under 17 at that point.

• 7+ (Year 3): Junior Department
• 11+ (Year 7): 120 places
• 12+, 13+ and 14+ (Years 8, 9 and 10): subject to availability
• 16+ (Year 12): up to 30 places

How the 11+ assessment works

The 11+ assessment begins with an entrance exam in Mathematics and English, which every Year 7 candidate sits, and most candidates are then invited to an assessment day. The school publishes Mathematics and English 11+ sample papers as PDFs on its Senior School admissions page, although it does not state the length of each paper or the question types there.

The assessment day consists of group tasks that look at communication, empathy, teamwork, creativity, confidence and inclusion. Candidates are told the tasks are relaxed, giving them the chance to show their personality and meet potential classmates, and staff use the day to judge what each child might contribute to school life.

A reference is sought from each candidate's current school, and the Headmaster finalises the list of candidates eligible for further consideration. Formal offers follow by email.

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Interviews and references at 12+, 13+ and 14+

Candidates for Years 8, 9 and 10 sit an entrance exam in Mathematics and English, and some are then invited to interview. The school does not describe the interview format on its admissions page, so families are best placed to ask the Admissions Office when an invitation arrives.

A reference is sought from the current school at every Senior School entry point. At 7+, the Junior School asks for a reference from the child's current setting, a copy of the latest academic report and any relevant medical or SEND reports, and the Junior School Headmaster holds a short meeting with the family to discuss the child and answer questions.

Registration and the admissions timeline

Registration happens online through the school's Applicaa portal, with a separate form for the Junior School, Year 7, Years 8 to 10 and the Sixth Form. For all Senior School and Sixth Form entry points the closing date falls in the autumn before the September of entry, and the school recommends applying early. The Junior School accepts applications throughout the year.

The sequence runs in order, and the school's admissions brochure covers anything beyond the steps below.

• Complete the online registration form for the relevant year group and pay the non-returnable registration fee
• Sit the entrance exam in Mathematics and English (Years 7 to 10), or attend the Sixth Form interview
• Attend the Year 7 group assessment day or, where invited, the Years 8 to 10 interview
• The school seeks a reference from the current school
• Formal offers are sent by email
• Accept the place and pay the acceptance deposit, which is refunded when the pupil leaves

What are the 16+ entry requirements?

Sixth Form entry requires, for external candidates, at least 35 points from the five highest GCSE or IGCSE results (30 for internal candidates), with grade 7 or above in at least five subjects and grade 6 or above in each subject to be studied at A level. Subject-specific rules apply: Biology, Chemistry and Physics need grade 7 in Mathematics, Mathematics A level needs grade 7 and Further Mathematics grade 8.

Shortlisted applicants attend a formal interview and bring their latest school report and predicted grades where relevant, and the school requests a reference. Offers are conditional on the interview, the reference and predicted grades, then confirmed on GCSE results. Candidates without GCSEs complete an online assessment and sit an entrance paper for Mathematics or any Science.

The Humanities Pathway is a Sixth Form route in subjects such as English Literature, Latin and Philosophy, Ethics and Religion, selected on predicted grades (typically 8 or 9), references and interview.

Scholarships and bursaries

St Benedict's offers academic scholarships at 11+ and in the Sixth Form, art and design, drama and music scholarships at both points, and sport scholarships at 11+ and 16+. Assessment varies: academic awards use the 11+ exam, group assessments and a reference, whilst music involves two contrasting pieces, aural and sight-reading tests, and an interview, at a typical standard of Grade 5 at 11+ and Grade 7 in the Sixth Form. Late applicants are not considered, and the Headmaster decides the awards.

Means-tested bursaries are available at 11+ and 16+ and are reviewed annually. Applicants usually hold a scholarship, though funding is limited. Shortlisted families upload financial evidence to a Bursary Portal, and an external partner, Bursary Administration Ltd, may carry out an online financial review. The St Anselm Award, offered at 11+ with limited places, covers 100% of fees.

Fees and what they include

St Benedict's publishes fees per term on its fees page, with separate rates for Nursery options, Pre-Prep, the Junior School and the Senior School. Senior tuition covers text and library books, scientific materials and games, whilst external exam fees such as GCSE and A level are added to the final bill of the year.

Extras include lunches, music lessons and instrument hire, the school minibus, and Junior wraparound clubs. A non-returnable registration fee applies, the acceptance deposit is refunded when the pupil leaves, and withdrawal needs a full term's written notice. Second and subsequent new children receive a 10% reduction, and fees are paid by direct debit or in full on the first day of term.

Where pupils join from

The school's own Junior School, covering Nursery from age 3, Pre-Prep and the Junior Department for ages 7 to 11, is the main route into Year 7. Junior pupils are admitted with the expectation of moving up and do not sit the 11+, which the school says helps keep their learning on track. Transfer depends on satisfactory progress, and parents of children unlikely to receive a place are told in Form 1 (Year 5).

An induction programme with lessons at the Senior School supports the move, and a team-building day helps pupils joining from other schools. The school names no separate feeder or partner schools, so external candidates enter through the Year 7 exam and assessment day.

How to prepare

Preparation for Year 7 starts with the Mathematics and English 11+ sample papers on the school's admissions page, which show the format the school sets. Working through them at a steady pace, with the child reading the instructions aloud, builds familiarity with the paper without adding pressure.

For the assessment day, practice at group tasks matters more than extra papers: taking turns, listening, building on others' ideas and including quieter members all match the qualities the school names. At 12+ to 14+, a child who talks comfortably about their own work and interests is ready for an interview, and Sixth Form applicants gain from reviewing their predicted grades against the points and subject grades above.

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• 13+ Common Entrance explained
• The 11+ entrance exam explained
• The 7+ entrance exam explained
• 11+ and 13+ scholarship exams explained
• What is a bursary? Private school bursaries explained

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