Grammar Schools

If you’re considering applying for a place at the Henrietta Barnett School for your daughter, this guide is for you. 

The Henrietta Barnett School is a highly selective girls’ grammar school located in Hampstead Garden Suburb, North London. The school was founded in 1911 by the social reformer and philanthropist Dame Henrietta Barnett, who championed education, housing and women’s rights across London.

In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the school and its application process, the catchment area, exam format – and how to help your daughter prepare.

Let’s get started.

A brief introduction to Henrietta Barnett School

The Henrietta Barnett School’s mission is to provide an outstanding education for its students, based on the principles of academic excellence, social responsibility, and personal development. Indeed, the school prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming girls from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

Its ethos focuses on fostering intellectual curiosity, creativity, and leadership skills, while also promoting social responsibility and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world. Despite its highly selective nature, the school maintains a warm and supportive atmosphere, with a strong focus on student well-being and pastoral care.

Henrietta Barnett School ranking

The Henrietta School ranking is impressive to say the least. The school is consistently classed as one of the top-performing schools in the country. Indeed, the Parent Power 2023 rankings named Henrietta Barnett as the top overall state school.

The school also has an excellent reputation for academic achievement, with over 89% of A-Level grades being A* to A and 97% being A* or B.  A remarkable 94% of GCSE grades were 8 and 9 for Summer 2022.

These are some of the best results in the UK, which also translates through to the school’s amazing successes with university offers. In fact, girls from Henrietta Barnett received 34 Oxbridge offers in January 2023, which accounts for 24% of the Year 13 group.

What’s the Henrietta Barnett catchment area?

The Henrietta Barnett School doesn’t have a catchment area. This means any child can take the entrance exam, no matter where they live. 

However, the school does give priority to candidates sitting the round two test (which we’ll cover in more detail below) who live within 3 miles of the school.

Further admissions policies and documents are available on the school’s website.

What are Henrietta Barnett School fees?

As Henrietta Barnett School is state funded, attending Henrietta Barnett School is completely free. The school does not charge any fees.

What’s the application process for Henrietta Barnett School?

The application process for Henrietta Barnett School (for September 2024 entry) opens on 28 April 2023. After this date, the school will publish details on their admissions pages.

There’s also an Open Day planned for 11 July 2023, which is a great way for parents and prospective students to get to know the school, its staff and facilities. 

As well as applying with Henrietta Barnett School itself, you’ll have to fill-in a “Common Application Form” with your Local Authority.

If you have any questions about the application process, email the school directly at: admissions@hbschool.org.uk

Are you also applying to schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium? If so, check out our Parent’s Guide for 2024 South West Herts Consortium 11+ Admissions.

Who sets the 11+ test for Henrietta Barnett School?

The first round of the Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam is set by GL Assessment.

GL Assessment is a leading provider of educational assessments in the UK. Their 11+ exams are particularly well-known and respected; used by many selective schools as part of their admissions process.

Henrietta Barnett’s first round of test papers (created by GL Assessment) typically cover a range of Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and English multiple-choice assessments. The exams are designed to be challenging and are intended to identify the most academically capable students for admission to the school.

If your daughter performs well in this first round of testing, they’ll be invited back to sit another test. This second round (attended by around 300 candidates) is set by the school and includes an English and Maths exam. 

Where can I find Henrietta Barnett School test papers?

Henrietta Barnett doesn’t release any past papers.

Even so, you can find GL Assessment familiarisation booklets for the First Round entrance exam – with worked examples and practice materials.

Now, we know, preparing for an 11+ exam is a daunting prospect at the best of times. This is even more so when there’s no guarantee on the exact exam format your child will face.

Nonetheless, there are several ways you can use past papers to help your daughter prepare for the Henrietta Barnett test. Here are a few ideas:

• Practice makes perfect: Encourage your child to practise with as many papers as possible, from different schools and exam boards. This will help them to become more familiar with the types of questions that might be asked and to develop their test-taking skills.
• Analyse strengths and weaknesses: After your child has taken a test paper, go over the results with them to identify key strengths and weaknesses. This will help you to focus your preparation efforts on the areas your child needs the most help. 
• Focus on core skills: When it comes to the Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam, the core skills your child will need are reading, writing, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Make sure your child is comfortable with these skills by practising regularly.
• Manage time: All 11+ exams are timed, so it’s important for your child to be comfortable working under pressure. Encourage them to practise working against the clock to develop their time management skills.
• Develop test-taking strategies: Practice papers are a great way to develop test-taking strategies such as eliminating obviously wrong answers, using context clues to understand unfamiliar words, and reading instructions carefully.

Overall, the key to using test papers effectively is to practise regularly and to identify areas where your child needs most help. By doing this, you can help your child feel confident and prepared for the Henrietta Barnett exam, no matter the exact format.

How can I help my child prepare for the Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam?

Given Henrietta Barnett’s high rankings and astounding academic performance, competition for spaces is unsurprisingly fierce. With this in mind, extensive preparation is required – giving your daughter plenty of encouragement and support throughout. 

The entrance exams are designed to be challenging, encompassing both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning as well as Key Stage 2 Maths and English content. Advanced problem solving (for maths) and creative writing (for English) are particularly important skills for the second round of testing.

Work alongside your child to improve their speed and accuracy, and make sure they feel comfortable asking questions and talking to you (or professional tutors, like us at Achieve Learning!) if they need any help. 

Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind: 

• Start early: Give your child plenty of time to practise and build their skills gradually. You can’t wind the clock back, but whenever you’re reading this post, know it’s never too early to get started!
• Make the most of practice papers: We’ve already spoken about the importance of practice papers (using as many different types as you can find!), but they really are essential for helping you identify areas of improvement.
• Focus on time management: The Henrietta Barnett 11+ exam is designed to test your child’s ability to work under pressure. Work together on speed and accuracy, so your daughter can complete the exam within the given time limit.
• Develop problem-solving skills: The exam includes advanced problem-solving questions, so it’s important to help your child approach problems from different angles.
• Read widely: As well as key Maths content, the exam tests your daughter’s comprehension and creative writing skills. So, encourage them to read and write widely, including books, newspapers, and online articles… anything they enjoy!

Find out how Achieve Learning can help your child excel, whatever exams they’re preparing for. We have over 18 years’ experience offering one-to-one support and academic assistance, with plenty of mock exams and practice papers to help your child prepare. 

Book a free assessment today to chat with one of our experienced tutors, and receive personalised support for your child.

Are you considering applying for a place at Queen Elizabeth’s School this year?

If so, you’ve come to the right place.

Queen Elizabeth’s School located in Barnet, Hertfordshire (also commonly known as QE Boys), is a highly respected and top-performing grammar school for boys. The school doesn’t have a catchment area and admits boys from all over London and beyond. With an intake of around 180 pupils each year, it’s highly sought-after – with fierce competition for places.

To help you and your child prepare, here’s everything you need to know about the application process, test format and tips for success.

Let’s begin.

A brief introduction to Queen Elizabeth’s School

Queen Elizabeth I granted the school a charter in 1573. Ever since, this leading boy’s grammar school has prided itself on its well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and pastoral care.

Queen Elizabeth School has always focused on producing confident, responsible and able young men. They foster resilience and independent thought that stays with students throughout their adult lives. 

As one of the highest performing schools in the UK, Queen Elizabeth’s has consistently outstanding Ofsted ratings. In fact, it’s listed as “outstanding” in all five of Ofsted’s judgement areas, and The Good Schools Guide even praised the school as “one of the most inspirational learning environments” they’d come across, offering an education “even private schools struggle to compete with”. What’s more, in the 2022 Sunday Times Parent Power rankings, it was listed as the top boys state school in the country (for the third time).

This excellence also translates into school’s exam results. In 2023, over 89% of A Levels were awarded an A grade. In the academic year 23/24 , 62 pupils were offered places at Oxford and Cambridge universities – exceeding the previous Queen Elizabeth record of 47 offers.

Does Queen Elizabeth’s School charge fees?

 No, Queen Elizabeth’s School is state funded. This means there aren’t any fees for a child to attend.

What’s the application process for Queen Elizabeth’s School?

To apply to Queen Elizabeth’s School, you must complete an online registration form.

 This “entrance test request form” will be available from Wednesday 1st May 2024. It registers your son to sit the school’s September entrance exams.

 The deadline for these requests will be Friday 12th July 2024 at midday.

The school also holds an Open Day in July, which provides an opportunity for prospective parents and students to visit the school, meet teachers and pupils, and see the facilities.

The entrance test itself (consisting of multiple choice papers in Maths and English) is scheduled for Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th September 2024. More precise arrangements are sent by the school to anyone registered for the exam.

If your son is offered a place, you must also submit a “Common Application Form” (which means you’ve formally applied to the school) with your Local Authority.

If you have any questions about the admissions process, it’s best to email the school directly at: admissions@qebarnet.co.uk

Who sets the test for Queen Elizabeth’s School?

GL Assessment is responsible for developing the test materials and papers used by Queen Elizabeth’s School.

 As a prominent provider of educational assessments, they focus on evaluating a diverse set of skills, such as numerical ability, critical thinking, and problem-solving.  The QE Boy’s school have a particular focus on advance numerical problem solving, inference based comprehension and robust testing of spelling, punctuation and grammar skills.  

These tests are created to ensure fairness and impartiality, with no preferential treatment given to students based on their background or school affiliation.

Where can I find Queen Elizabeth’s School sample test papers?

While previous years’ papers aren’t released by Queen Elizabeth’s School, GL Assessment offers familiarisation papers for both Maths and English. These papers are available on their website.

The school also provides sample papers that might help your preparation, although they don’t follow the exact format of the exam.  For example, the actual format, number and difficulty of questions may differ from those contained in the sample papers.   

Because Queen Elizabeth’s doesn’t provide actual sample past papers, the best way to prepare is to familiarise your son with as many different styles of paper as possible.

Here are a few tips for making the most of practice exam papers:

• Familiarise yourself with sample papers: While you don’t know what questions will come up, it’s a good idea to familiarise your child with as many different papers as possible, as early as possible. This will help them feel more comfortable and confident on the day.
• Identify areas for improvement: Use the past papers to identify areas where your child needs extra support and guidance. Look at the questions they struggled with (analysing any mistakes together) and work on those areas.
• Practice regularly: Make sure to practise consistently, using past papers and other materials. Regular practice will help build your child’s confidence and improve their performance.
• Time management: Make sure your child practices managing their time effectively. They should learn how to allocate their time appropriately for each question and section of the exam.
• Seek feedback: Consider getting feedback from a specialist tutor (like us at Achieve Learning!) on your child’s performance. This can help you identify further areas for improvement and give you a better understanding of how well your child is prepared for the exam.

What’s the format of the Queen Elizabeth’s School test?

The test for Queen Elizabeth’s School consists of two multiple-choice papers in English and Maths. These tests last roughly 50 minutes each, although the exact format and question types can vary from year to year. 

Both papers are taken in the same session, and scores are age-standardised and then ranked. The marks for Maths and English are combined to give an overall test result for each candidate. 

Overall, the test is designed to assess a student’s mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills and overall English skills.

What’s the pass mark for the Queen Elizabeth’s School entrance paper?

In the past, any child who scored a minimum of 210 across both English and Maths was considered for a place at the school. For 2024, however, this increased to 220. 

It’s important to know that even meeting the minimum test requirement doesn’t automatically guarantee a place.

In 2022, there were over 3,000 candidates for just 180 places. The average scores for English and Maths were just over 100, with an average combined score of 200. For 2022, a minimum score of 234 was actually required to gain admission – showing how tough the competition really is.

You can find more admissions information (including further guidance on September 2024 entry) on the school’s website.

If you’re considering applying to schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium (as well as Queen Elizabeth’s School), check out our previous guide to 2024 admissions.

How can I help my child prepare for the Queen Elizabeth’s School 11+ exam?

We’ve already looked at tips on the best ways to use past papers, but there are plenty of other ways you can prepare for the Queen Elizabeth’s School 11+ exam.

There’s no doubt it’s a highly competitive test. Given the sheer number of applicants and high scores required, it’s important to focus on careful, consistent and targeted long term preparation.

Work on English and Maths Key Stage 2 content in the first instance, we would advise particularly for Maths that all the content (Year 6) has been mastered well before the actual exams. Your child should have a strong foundation in Maths, with a focus on problem solving and working with speed and accuracy. For English, focus on comprehension, spelling, punctuation, and grammar, as these are all tested in the exam. In fact, historically there have been two separate comprehensions in the test, so developing strong reading skills is vital.

• For Maths, practice regularly and to focus on the areas where your child may need more support. This could include timed practice tests to help your child work on speed and accuracy, as well as providing opportunities for problem-solving. Regular practice with workbooks, online resources and games (to keep things fun!) will all help. In addition, encouraging your child to use real-life examples, diagrams and models (as well as breaking down problems into smaller, more manageable parts) will help identify key information and figure out complex problems.
• For English, reading comprehension is fundamental. Encourage your child to read widely and practice summarising what they’ve read. Additionally, working on spelling, punctuation, and grammar through regular practice writing exercises (whether that’s journals, creative writing or school essays) will help your child develop the skills they need to succeed. There are so many online resources, quizzes and games available (to make practice a little more enjoyable) as well as worksheets tailored to specific age groups and skill levels.

Discover how Achieve Learning can help your child excel, no matter what exams you’re preparing for. We have over 18 years’ experience providing expert 1-1 guidance and support.

Take advantage of mock exams and practice papers and get in touch with our experienced tutors to discuss tailored support for your child. Book a free assessment today to learn more.

Are you preparing your child to sit the South West Herts Consortium 11 Plus Exams in 2023?

If so, you’re not alone. Last year over 3500 children sat these exams and similar tests are used by selective schools up and down the country, to assess children’s academic ability and determine if they’re suitable for admission.

Preparing for any 11 Plus exam can be a daunting task. And as a parent there are so many questions. Should you hire a tutor? Invest in past papers and study materials? Or maybe you’re unsure how to support your child without adding too much pressure.

Don’t worry though. In this up to date Parents Guide for 2024 admissions, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus exams. From understanding the exam format to registration dates, minimum pass marks and study strategies, we’ll guide you through the process – and help you support your child’s academic journey.

What are the South West Herts Consortium 11 Plus Exams?

The South West Hertfordshire Consortium is a group of partially selective schools in Hertfordshire. These schools use “11 Plus Exams” for children in the area, to assess their academic abilities. A high score in these exams can lead to admission in one of the participating schools. 

11 Plus exams look at academic potential and help decide whether a grammar school environment is right for your child.

Your child can only take the 11 Plus exam once per academic year. The tests usually take place in September (although the exact dates can vary from year to year). They happen when your child has just started Year 6 – their last year of primary school. 

Seven schools in South West Hertfordshire share these 11 Plus exams. This means your child only has to take one round of tests, rather than a separate exam at each school. 

Which schools make up the South West Herts Consortium? 

The schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium are “partially selective”. This means they are state-funded secondary schools that select a proportion of their intake each year by academic ability. 

Each school assesses students on sports, music, or academic aptitude – with some making entrance decisions based on one, two, or all three criteria. 

The seven schools in the South West Hertfordshire Consortium are: 

Music criteria only

Croxley Danes School

Academic and Music criteria

Parmiter’s School

Rickmansworth School

St Clement Danes School

Watford Grammar School for Boys

Watford Grammar School for Girls

Academic, Music and Sports criteria

Queens’ School

All these schools have a well-deserved excellent reputation for academic excellence. As you’ll already know – admissions are highly sought after, which means a high mark in the 11 Plus Exam is a crucial step to securing a place. 

Who administers the South West Herts Consortium test?

The South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam is administered by the Consortium itself. 

You can find the registration page here, with up-to-date advice on deadlines, dates for testing and familiarisation papers.

Who sets the test?

GL Assessment sets the test and creates the papers. 

GL Assessment is a leading provider of educational assessments to schools across the UK and Ireland. They specialise in tests designed to assess a wide range of skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, and numerical ability. 

These tests are also designed to be fair and unbiased, with no advantage given to students from any particular school or background.

For free familiarisation papers, visit the GL Assessment website. You’ll also find information on question types and approaches to answers, parent guidance and tips for preparation. 

What is the format of the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus Exams?

The entrance exams for South West Hertfordshire Consortium schools consist of three different tests. 

These are:

Academic Ability: 9th September 2023

Music Aptitude: 4th September and 18-22nd September 2023

Sports Aptitude: 13th September 2023 (Queen’s School only)

You can choose which tests you want your child to take when you register. 

Here’s the format of each exam in more detail. 

Academic Ability 

The Academic exams consist of two multiple-choice papers: 

The Maths paper tests a range of mathematical skills, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data handling. It assesses your child’s knowledge of Key Stage 2 national curriculum objectives.

The Verbal Reasoning paper tests a range of verbal skills, including vocabulary, comprehension, and problem-solving. It assesses your child’s ability to spot patterns, manipulate verbal information and connect ideas. 

Both papers are timed (taking around just under an hour). Historically, the Maths test sets 50 questions in 50 minutes, while the Verbal Reasoning test sets 80 questions in 50 minutes. 

Despite this, the exact number of questions and timings can change from year to year – so it pays to be flexible and prepare your child with a wide range of past-papers.  For example, in 2022 the maths paper had 60 questions in 50 mins which caught a lot of parents off guard. 

Music Aptitude

If your child is applying for a music place, they’ll sit the Music Aptitude Test. 

This involves around 60 questions about topics such as rhythm, melody, pitch and texture. The test takes 45 minutes.

If your child performs well in this test, they’re invited back for an audition. During this performance, they can play their own choice of music – either vocally or on an instrument. Marks are awarded for musicality, accuracy and musical communication. 

Find more information on the SW Herts Schools website. 

Sports Aptitude

Queens’ School is the only school using the Sports Aptitude test. They state only children with “exceptional sports aptitude” who live within their catchment area should apply.

This test covers various aspects of physical fitness, with movement skills selected from the Council of European Physical Fitness. Elements include shuttle runs (testing speed and agility) as well as an endurance run (8 minutes) and things like standing broad jumps (for explosive strength) and the “flamingo test” (balance).

Find more information on the SW Herts Schools website.

Is there a minimum pass mark for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium?

There’s no minimum pass mark for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam.

Instead, the Consortium uses a scoring system to rank students based on their relative performance each year. This means students who achieve the highest scores are more likely to secure a place at one of the schools. 

However, it’s important to note that admission to these schools is highly competitive, and a high score doesn’t automatically guarantee a place. Schools define their own cut-off scores each year, based on their admissions criteria and student performance.

To get an idea of the previous years cut-off scores, take a look at each school’s website.

For instance, Watford Boys Grammar School lists the lowest scores required for a place, broken down by area, exam and year. For the Watford area, the lowest admission score was 202 for the academic test and 35 for the music test. For the rest of the admission area, this rose to 215 for the academic test and 39 for the music test.

Remember, this doesn’t necessarily mean a similar mark would be good enough this year. So when you’re preparing for the exam – aim for the top!

What are the registration deadlines for 2023?

For 2023, online registration for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam commences on Tuesday 11th April and closes on 16th June.

It’s important to register your child as early as possible to ensure they have a place in the exam. Late registration may be possible, but this is subject to confirmation by the Consortium.

You can find more key registration information on the South West Herts Schools website. 

How should I help my child prepare for the tests?

Preparing your child for the South West Hertfordshire Consortium 11 Plus Exam requires careful planning and dedication.

Because the Verbal Reasoning paper contains so many potential question types, familiarise your child with as many past papers and different questions as possible. This will improve their exam technique and help them stay calm on the day.

Focus on any weaknesses and help your child develop a strong vocabulary (for instance, going over synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, and compound words).

For the maths paper, much of the content comes from the Key Stage 2 syllabus. So make sure your child’s familiar with this, and work on any areas of weakness or uncertainty. You should aim to complete the Year 6 syllabus well before the exam, with plenty of time for past paper practice.

Lots of children struggle with time-management (for both the Maths and Verbal Reasoning papers), so this needs to be tackled well in advance of the exam. 

Here are a few more tips: 

Start early: It’s never too early to start preparing for the 11 Plus Exam. Even if your child is in Year 5, start familiarising them with the exam format and questions they may encounter.

Practice papers: Practice papers are an excellent way to help your child prepare for the exam. You can find a range of practice papers online.

Set a study schedule: Create a study schedule for your child that includes regular practice sessions and plenty of breaks. Stick to the schedule (as much as possible!) to help your child develop good study habits.

Encourage reading: Reading is an excellent way to improve your child’s verbal skills, which are tested in the VR paper. Encourage them to read widely and discuss what they’ve read with you.

Consider a tutor: If you feel your child would benefit from additional support, consider hiring a tutor who specialises in 11 Plus Exam preparation (like us, at Achieve Learning!). A experienced tutor can provide tailored support and guidance, focusing on areas where your child needs extra help.

At Achieve Learning we have been delivering expert guidance and support for the eleven plus exams since 2004 and have a range of proven resources to help your child prepare for the South West Hertfordshire 11 Plus Exams.

We offer mock exams and practice papers to help your child identify strengths and weaknesses. Our experienced tutors also provide tailored support to help your child excel in the exam. Book a free assessment today to find out more.