Key Facts
| School type | Independent day and boarding school, co-educational, ages 2 to 18 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wisbech, Cambridgeshire |
| Entry points | 2+ (Kindergarten), 4+ (Reception), 9+ (Prep 5), 11+ (First Form/Year 7), 13+ (Third Form/Year 9), 16+ (Sixth Form) |
| Assessment | Entrance Assessment Event: academic assessments, an interview and team-building challenges held on a single day |
| Day fees (2026/27) | £7,325 per term (£21,975 per year) for Senior School, including First Form (Year 7) |
| Assessment date | Entrance Assessment Event held on a Saturday in mid-October (exact date confirmed annually on the school's Senior Admissions page); Year 7 assessments generally taken in October/November while the child is in Year 6 |
Figures correct at the time of writing — always confirm current fees and deadlines with the school directly.
Entry to Wisbech Grammar School at 11+ runs through First Form (Year 7) admissions, and a place is decided by registration followed by a single-day Entrance Assessment Event covering all assessment in one sitting. Once a child is registered, the school arranges academic assessments, an interview and team-building challenges all on one day in mid-October, while the child is still in Year 6, so that staff can judge each candidate beyond test scores alone.
Families move through enquiry, a personalised visit, registration, the assessment day and, where both sides agree it is the right fit, an offer of a place. Academic, creative arts, performing arts and sport scholarships are available from First Form, alongside a means-tested bursary fund for those who would otherwise be unable to take up a place.
How the 11+ assessment works
Entry to First Form is assessed through a single Entrance Assessment Event held on one day in mid-October. During that day, candidates complete academic assessments, take part in an interview and join team-building challenges, which the school says lets it understand each child beyond test scores. Year 7 assessments generally take place in October or November while the child is in Year 6. The admissions pages do not set out the individual subjects or question formats covered within the academic assessments.
The admissions process, step by step
Admission to First Form follows a fixed sequence, set out by the Admissions Team.
- Enquire with the Admissions Team by phone or email, and request a personalised prospectus if useful.
- Book a personalised visit, arranged on a weekday between 09:00 and 14:30.
- Register your child using the Registration Form, noting at this stage any application for a bursary or scholarship.
- Sit the Entrance Assessment, arranged by the school once registration is complete.
- Receive an offer of a place; where a bursary application is pending, the offer is a reservation subject to the bursary outcome.
Scholarships available at 11+
Scholarships at First Form are awarded across academic, creative arts, performing arts and sport, recognising both current achievement and potential. Academic scholars are selected from the entrance assessment and an interview with the Headmaster, with no separate application needed. Creative Arts (Art, Design and Textiles) candidates submit a portfolio, and Performing Arts candidates audition on the assessment day; music candidates are typically expected to be around Grade 5 standard. Candidates who do not quite reach scholarship standard may instead be offered a place on the Exhibitioner programme, with the option to reapply for a scholarship at the next opportunity.
Bursaries and financial assistance
Bursaries at Wisbech Grammar School are means-tested awards, ranging from 5% to 85% of fees, with 100% available in a small number of cases. Parents declare an intention to apply for a bursary when registering, then attend a meeting with the Bursarial Team and complete an online declaration of their financial circumstances. The prospective pupil sits the entrance assessment and meets a member of Senior Staff, after which an Awards Panel reviews applications once the assessment process is complete; bursaries can be awarded alongside a scholarship, and recipients are expected to maintain high standards of academic engagement.
Fees for Year 7 entry
Fees are reviewed annually and published by year group on the school's fees page, covering First Form within the Senior School fee band. Charges are invoiced termly through a Termly Fees account and are due by the first day of each term, whether paid by cheque, bank transfer or a monthly payment plan; late payment brings a fee and interest. The published fee includes tuition, text and library books, science materials, games equipment and personal accident insurance, while transport, uniform, meals, public examination fees and some extra-curricular activities are charged separately. A 5% discount applies to second and subsequent siblings attending at the same time.
How to prepare for the assessment day
Because the day combines academic assessments with an interview and team-building challenges, preparation is best spread across more than exam technique alone. Familiarity with Year 6 level reasoning, reading and number work is useful groundwork, since the school has not published a specific list of papers or question types. The interview rewards a child who can talk naturally about their interests and current school life, and the team-building element favours a cooperative, easy-going attitude over a purely competitive one. A visit beforehand, arranged as part of the admissions process, helps a child feel less unfamiliar with the surroundings on the day itself.
Related guides
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Frequently asked questions
- What happens during the 11+ entrance assessment day?
- Candidates attend a single Entrance Assessment Event on one day in mid-October, combining academic assessments, an interview and team-building challenges. The school runs this in place of separate test sittings, so that staff can assess a child's abilities and character alongside academic performance. The day generally falls while the child is still in Year 6, ahead of a Year 7 start.
- How do you register for Year 7 entry?
- Families first enquire with the Admissions Team and book a personalised visit, then complete the Registration Form. Registration must happen before the school will arrange the entrance assessment, and it is also the point at which parents should flag any application for a bursary or interest in a scholarship.
- Are scholarships available at First Form (Year 7)?
- Yes. Academic scholars are chosen from the entrance assessment and an interview with the Headmaster, with no separate application required. Creative Arts and Performing Arts scholarships need a portfolio or audition on the assessment day. Candidates just below scholarship standard may be offered a place on the Exhibitioner programme instead, with the chance to reapply later.
- What financial help is available besides scholarships?
- A means-tested bursary fund offers awards from 5% up to 85% of fees, with 100% possible in a small number of cases. Parents declare an intention to apply when registering, attend a meeting with the Bursarial Team, complete a financial declaration, and the prospective pupil sits the entrance assessment and meets a Senior Staff member before an Awards Panel reviews the application.
- When do children sit the Year 7 entrance assessment?
- The Entrance Assessment Event is held on one day in mid-October, and Year 7 assessments are generally taken in October or November while the child is in Year 6. The school confirms the exact date on its admissions pages each year.
- What if a child does not reach scholarship standard?
- Children who show potential but do not yet meet the scholarship standard may be offered a place on the Exhibitioner programme, designed to stretch and develop them further. Exhibitioners can choose to reapply for a scholarship at the next available opportunity, such as the Year 10 or Year 12 round.
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