Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, Nursery to Sixth Form, girls with a phased move to co-education |
|---|---|
| Location | Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire |
| Entry points | 7+, 11+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Group assessment day in the first half of Year 6 covering Maths, English and non-verbal reasoning |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £9,248 per term (Years 7 to 11, including VAT) |
| Assessment date | Saturday 14 November 2026 (Year 7 assessment day); scholarship assessments Monday 16 November 2026 |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Academic, arts, sport and gymnastics scholarships at 11+ and 16+; means-tested Senior House bursaries |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 38.20 (average grade B-) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
You get into St Mary's School, Gerrards Cross by registering online and then sitting the school's own assessment for the relevant year group: an experience day at 7+, a group assessment day in Maths, English and non-verbal reasoning at 11+, and an interview plus GCSE requirements at 16+. Year 7 is the entry point with the fullest published process, and the school requests a reference from the child's current school once the registration form arrives.
The assessments are set and run by the school itself, and the admissions pages describe them without naming an external test. Waiting lists operate in most year groups, so registering early matters at every entry point.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 | Experience day with peers including a short numeracy and literacy assessment, with non-verbal reasoning added from age 7; children attend lessons | No separate interview stated; a reference is requested from the current school | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 | Group assessment day in the first half of Year 6 covering Maths, English and non-verbal reasoning | No general interview stated; a reference is requested from the current school; some scholarships include an interview | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 | Entry based on academic ability, with at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 5 and grade 6 in each subject to be studied at A Level | Interview with the Head and the Head of Sixth Form | Not published |
Entry points and places
The main entry points are Nursery, Reception, Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+) and Year 12 (16+), with Year 5 or Year 6 also listed as main points of entry on the admissions overview. Other year groups are considered when a place is free, and Years 8 to 11 are open to girls, subject to availability, with a waiting list when no place is open.
The school publishes no figures for places or forms of entry in any year group. Its entry points page includes an admissions calculator that suggests the most relevant entry point from a child's date of birth, and the Registrar can confirm availability. The school has also announced a phased move to co-education, with boys joining the Nursery and Prep first.
- Year 3 (7+): Prep Department entry
- Year 7 (11+): Senior House entry
- Year 12 (16+): Sixth Form entry
How the 11+ assessment works
The 11+ assessment is a group assessment day held in the first half of Year 6, covering Maths, English and non-verbal reasoning. It is the school's own assessment, and the pages we read do not give paper lengths or question types, so families who want those details need to ask the Registrar.
The same day doubles as the academic scholarship assessment. Candidates for an academic scholarship make no separate application beyond registering for the entrance assessment, whilst art, drama, dance, gymnastics, music and sport scholarships have their own additional stages.
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Enquire about this tutorHow the 7+ assessment works
The 7+ assessment is an experience day in which a child joins peers in the Prep and takes a short numeracy and literacy assessment. From age 7, non-verbal reasoning is assessed as well, and children attend lessons, so staff see how they work in a classroom as well as on paper.
Offers for Prep entry are usually made within a week of the assessment. The pages we read do not publish the number of Year 3 places, the length of the tasks or a fixed assessment date, because the school arranges assessments around each family.
Registration and the admissions timeline
Registration is an online form followed by a non-refundable registration and assessment fee, and the school lists a sequence of five stages from first visit to transition. Waiting lists operate in most year groups, so the school asks families to register as early as possible. For Year 7 the registration deadline falls in the autumn before the assessment day, and the entry points page carries the exact dates.
The form asks for the child's present school, any siblings, any special requirements affecting the assessment and whether the family wishes to be considered for fee assistance.
- Visit: book an Open Event or arrange a tour with the Registrar, hosted by a current student, with a chance to meet the Head
- Register: complete the online form and pay the registration and assessment fee; Sixth Form uses a separate form
- Assessment: experience day for the Prep, group assessment day for Year 7, interview for Year 12
- Offer: usually within a week of assessment, and within two to three weeks for Year 7
- Accept: respond by the published acceptance deadline; a returnable deposit is credited against the final account
- Transition: taster days, offer breakfasts and staff visits to the child's current setting
Interviews and references
The school requests a reference from the child's current school as soon as the registration form is received, and the declaration on the form gives permission for this. References are not required for early years applicants.
Interviews are published for the Sixth Form, where every applicant meets the Head and the Head of Sixth Form. At Year 7, the pages we read describe no general interview for the entrance assessment, although the art, music and sport scholarships each include an interview or discussion stage. Parents meet the Head during the visit stage.
Scholarships and bursaries
At Year 7 the school offers academic, art, drama, dance, gymnastics, music and sport scholarships, each worth a remission of 5 to 10 percent of fees, alongside honorary scholarships that carry no remission. At Year 12 the same remission applies to academic, art, drama, music and sport scholarships, and Year 12 Awards are worth 50 percent of fees.
Year 7 art candidates submit a portfolio and a take-home piece before an interview; drama candidates attend a group workshop and perform a monologue; music candidates play a prepared piece and sight-read. Year 12 academic candidates sit a paper and present to the Head and Head of Sixth Form. Awards for Year 12 depend on GCSE mock results, and the Prep has an under-9 gymnastics scholarship.
Means-tested bursaries are available for a small number of promising pupils entering Senior House whose parents cannot meet the full fees. The bursary application form is considered alongside the registration form, and the school publishes no maximum share of fees.
Fees and what they include
Fees are published per term on the school's fees page and vary by year group, with separate bands for Nursery, Reception, Years 1 and 2, Years 3 and 4, Years 5 and 6, Years 7 to 11 and Years 12 and 13. Tuition, textbooks, most stationery, morning break and lunch are included.
Individual learning support, music and dance lessons, public exam entry, school trips and workshops, speech and drama including LAMDA, additional sports coaching and the minibus service are charged separately. A returnable deposit appears on the first term invoice and is credited against the final account when the child leaves.
Sixth Form entry at 16+
Sixth Form entry is based on academic ability, and applicants need at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 5, with a minimum of grade 6 in each subject they plan to study at A Level. All applicants are interviewed by the Head and the Head of Sixth Form.
Applicants use a separate Sixth Form registration form, which is also where interest in a Year 12 scholarship is indicated. Sport applicants submit a sporting CV and expressive arts applicants write a letter to the Registrar, with shortlisted candidates called for interview and, depending on the subject, a presentation or fitness test.
Where pupils join from and how to prepare
The school has its own Nursery and Reception, Prep Department, Senior House and Sixth Form, and names no feeder or partner schools on the pages we read. For Year 7 entrants, the Head of Year 7 visits each student's primary school during the transition programme that begins when an offer is made.
Preparation can follow the published formats: steady Maths and English practice and some familiarity with non-verbal reasoning for the Year 7 group assessment day, relaxed classroom readiness for the Prep experience day, and GCSE grade targets plus presentation practice for Year 12. Scholarship candidates should prepare the specific portfolio, piece or workshop task named for their discipline.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the St Mary's School Gerrards Cross entrance exam?
- At Year 7 it is a group assessment day in the first half of Year 6 covering Maths, English and non-verbal reasoning. At Year 3 it is an experience day with a short numeracy and literacy assessment, plus non-verbal reasoning from age 7. The school sets its own assessments.
- How much are St Mary's School Gerrards Cross fees?
- Fees are charged per term and vary by year group, from Nursery to Year 13, with the full table on the school's fees page. Tuition, textbooks, most stationery, morning break and lunch are included, whilst music lessons, trips, exam entry and the minibus are extra.
- Does St Mary's Gerrards Cross offer scholarships and bursaries?
- Yes. Year 7 scholarships cover academic, art, drama, dance, gymnastics, music and sport at 5 to 10 percent of fees, and Year 12 has similar awards plus Year 12 Awards worth 50 percent. Means-tested bursaries exist for a small number of Senior House entrants.
- When should families register a child at St Mary's Gerrards Cross?
- As early as possible, because waiting lists operate in most year groups. Registration is an online form with a non-refundable fee, and Year 7 has a registration deadline in the autumn before the assessment day. The entry points page publishes the dates.
- What are the sixth form entry requirements at St Mary's Gerrards Cross?
- Applicants need at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 5, with a minimum of grade 6 in each subject they plan to study at A Level. Every applicant is interviewed by the Head and the Head of Sixth Form, and a separate Sixth Form registration form is used.
- Is there a catchment area for St Mary's Gerrards Cross?
- The admissions pages we read mention no catchment area or catchment criteria. Places are offered after registration, assessment and a reference from the current school, and waiting lists operate in most year groups.
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