Key Facts
| School type | Independent day school, co-educational, 4 to 18, academically selective |
|---|---|
| Location | Chester, Cheshire West and Chester |
| Entry points | 7+, 11+, 16+ |
| Assessment | Online test in English comprehension, maths, non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and puzzles and problems, plus a 30-minute written English paper (writing section only) |
| Test provider | Quest Assessments for the online element at 7+; the 11+ combines an online test, the school's own written English paper and an interview |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £6,826 per term including VAT (Seniors and Sixth Form tuition), plus compulsory lunches of £370 per term |
| Assessment date | Friday 15 January 2027 (11+ entrance exam for September 2027 entry) |
| Scholarships and bursaries | Means-tested bursaries at Year 7 and Sixth Form entry; no scholarships page on the admissions site |
| A level average point score per entry (DfE, 2024/25) | 46.48 (average grade A-) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly. Compare fees at other independent schools.
The King's School admissions in Chester run through assessed entry points at 7+ into the Junior School, 11+ into Year 7 (known as Removes) and 16+ into the Sixth Form, with the 11+ entrance exam as the main route into the Senior School. That exam combines an online test in English comprehension, maths, non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and puzzles and problems, a 30-minute written English paper and a short interview.
The school is academically selective for boys and girls aged 4 to 18, and every route follows the same sequence of online registration, a reference from the current school, an offer letter from the Head of School and an acceptance form with a deposit. Sixth Form entry rests on GCSE grades and an interview day, with no entrance papers.
| Entry point | Year group | Assessment | Interview | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7+ | Year 3 (Junior School) | Online tests with teacher help in verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English, plus a short handwritten English task, with Quest Assessments providing the online element | No interview stated; children sit an age-appropriate test and are observed in class | Not published |
| 11+ | Year 7 (Removes) | Online test in English comprehension, maths, non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and puzzles and problems, plus a 30-minute written English paper (writing section only) | Short interview with a member of the Senior School academic team | Not published |
| 16+ | Year 12 (Sixth Form) | No entrance papers published; offers rest on GCSE grades, a reference and predicted grades from the current school, and chosen A Level subjects | Interview Day covering A Level choices, extra-curricular interests and career ambitions | Not published |
Entry points and places
Children can join at Reception, Year 3, Year 7 and Year 12, with each stage assessed separately. Most pupils start in Reception at age 4 in Willow Lodge, the infants section, or in Year 3 at age 7 in the Junior School, although any year group may be offered a place if a space exists. Year 7 entry is called Removes, and Sixth Form entry is at Year 12.
The admissions pages do not publish a number of places or forms of entry for any stage. Families asking about places in other year groups, or at other times of year, are directed to the Admissions Manager, since availability decides those cases.
- Reception (age 4): play-based assessment lasting about an hour
- Year 3 (7+): online tests and a short handwritten English task
- Year 7 (11+): online test, written English paper and interview
- Year 12 (16+): GCSE grades, reference and Interview Day
How the 11+ entrance exam works
The 11+ entrance exam has three parts: an online test, a 30-minute written English paper and a short interview. The online test covers English comprehension, maths, non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and puzzles and problems. The written paper asks for the writing section only, so there is no separate comprehension paper on the day.
Candidates must be over 11 and under 12 at the start of the September after the exam, and the exam is held in January for entry that September. The school publishes practice papers and past papers on its website, which gives families the nearest view of the format before the day.
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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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 timeline
Registration is online, with an application fee paid when the form is completed, and it must be done no later than one week before the assessment. Parents can check availability with the Admissions Manager first for limited places in the intended year or in non-standard year groups. Both parents or guardians sign the form, which also asks whether a bursary application form is wanted.
The steps run in the same order at Reception, Year 3 and Year 7. Sixth Form applicants also name their A Level subject choices on the registration form.
- Complete online registration and pay the application fee
- The school requests a reference or report from the current school or nursery
- Child takes the assessment
- The Head of School writes with an offer letter
- Return the acceptance form and deposit as soon as possible
Interviews and references
The 11+ includes a short interview with a member of the Senior School academic team, and the school asks the child's current Head Teacher for an academic report before the assessments. The Junior School assessment has no interview listed; children sit an age-appropriate test and are observed in class.
At Reception, the school asks for a reference from the current preschool or nursery. At Year 3 and Year 7, the reference comes from the current school, and an offer letter follows only once the assessment and reference are in.
Bursaries and scholarships
Means-tested bursaries are available for entry into Year 7 and the Sixth Form, and the admissions pages describe no scholarships. Bursaries are typically open to families with a gross annual household income below a stated threshold, and the school also reviews assets, expenditure and overall circumstances. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award, and the amount is set by financial need alone.
The Year 7 route starts with a Bursary Entrance Assessment, after which top performers have a financial review and an informal interview with the Headmaster. For the Sixth Form, a third-party organisation carries out the financial assessment through a secure portal, and the school requests predicted GCSE grades and a reference. The bursary application deadline falls in the autumn before entry, earlier than the main registration cut-off, and the pages do not state a maximum share of fees.
Fees and what they include
Fees are charged per term by section of the school (Infants, Juniors, Seniors and Sixth Form), and Seniors and Sixth Form pay the same tuition rate. The published figures include VAT, textbooks and standard exam fees, and lunches are compulsory and charged separately. The school says fees are normally reviewed annually in the summer term.
Extras include one-to-one SEND support lessons at an additional charge, breakfast and after-school clubs (Larks Club and Owls Club) and private instrument or voice lessons. The amounts sit on the fees page and in the dedicated fee fields of this guide.
Sixth Form entry at 16+
Sixth Form entry requires at least seven GCSEs, with four at grade 7 (A) and three at grade 6 (B) or above, plus grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE Maths and English Language. Each of the four subjects to be studied at A Level also needs grade 7 (A) or above, and some subjects ask for more: grade 8 in Maths, grade 9 in Further Maths, and Biology, Chemistry and Physics need specified GCSE sciences, with grade 8 preferred.
Students may come from the Senior School or any other school. Subject choices are submitted at registration, and an Interview Day covers A Level choices, extra-curricular interests and career ambitions. The Headmaster writes to successful candidates once the reference and predicted grades are received, and progression to the Upper Sixth depends on reaching an expected level of achievement.
How to prepare for the 11+
Preparation for the 11+ works best when it matches the parts the school names: the online test, the 30-minute writing task and the interview. The practice and past papers on the school's website show the online question types in English comprehension, maths, non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and puzzles and problems, so a child can become comfortable with the screen format in short, regular sessions.
For the written paper, practising timed writing to 30 minutes helps a child plan and finish within the limit. For the interview, talking through favourite books, subjects and activities at home usually builds the ease needed for a short conversation with a member of the academic team.
Related guides
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- The 11+ entrance exam explained
- The 7+ entrance exam explained
Preparing for the King's School 11+ with Taylor Tuition
Preparation for the King's 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 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
- How do you get into The King's School in Chester?
- Entry is by assessment at Reception, Year 3 (7+), Year 7 (11+) and Year 12 (16+). Families register online, the school requests a reference from the current school, the child is assessed, and the Head of School sends an offer letter. An acceptance form and deposit follow. Sixth Form entry rests on GCSE grades and an interview.
- What is in the King's School Chester 11+ entrance exam?
- The exam has an online test covering English comprehension, maths, non-verbal reasoning, creative comprehension and puzzles and problems, a 30-minute written English paper (writing section only) and a short interview with a member of the Senior School academic team. Practice and past papers are published on the school website.
- Does King's School Chester offer bursaries or scholarships?
- Means-tested bursaries are available for Year 7 and Sixth Form entry, typically for families below a stated gross household income, with awards set by financial need and assessed through a financial review. The admissions pages describe no scholarships, and they do not state a maximum share of fees.
- When do you register for King's School Chester?
- Online registration is due no later than one week before the assessment, and the entrance exam is held in January for entry that September. Bursary applications have an earlier deadline in the autumn before entry. The exact dates are in the dedicated fields above and on the school's registration page.
- What GCSE grades do you need for King's Sixth Form?
- The minimum is seven GCSEs, four at grade 7 (A) and three at grade 6 (B) or above, with grade 4 (C) or above in Maths and English Language. Grade 7 (A) or above is needed in each of the four A Level subjects, and some subjects ask for higher grades.
- Is there a catchment area for The King's School Chester?
- The admissions pages state no catchment area or geographic boundary. Places at this independent, academically selective school are offered through assessment, so families from any area can register, subject to the age requirements and availability at each entry point.
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