Last updated: July 2026 — updated with current entry data for Henrietta Barnett School.
In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about the school and its application process. A key focus will be the catchment area, exam format, and how to help your daughter prepare.
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 Barnett School is consistently classed as one of the top-performing schools in the country. Indeed, the Parent Power 2025 rankings named Henrietta Barnett as the top overall state school.
The school also has an excellent reputation for academic achievement, with over 81% of A-Level grades being A* to A and 95% being A* or B. A remarkable 90% of GCSE grades were 8 and 9 for Summer 2024.
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 2025.
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, priority in Round Two is given in this order: looked after children and previously looked after children, then Pupil Premium candidates ranked in the top 300 by score, then girls living within 3 miles of the school, and finally remaining candidates ranked by score. Check the school’s admissions policy document on the HBS website for the full current criteria. 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?
For September 2027 entry, applications for the Henrietta Barnett entrance examination opened on 1 April 2026 and closed on 1 July 2026. HBS does not accept late applications, so parents should always check the school’s admissions page carefully for the latest dates.
Parents should refer to the school’s admissions page for the latest published timetable, test arrangements and documents.
An Open Day was planned for 30 June 2026, which is a great way for parents and prospective students to get to know the school, its staff and facilities. Exam invitations are sent by Monday 17 August 2026 with first round exam dates being 2, 3, 4 September 2026. Results of 1st round/invitations sent by 28th September 2026. Second round exams will commence week commencing 5th October 2026.
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 2026 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 the First Round, she may be invited back to sit the Second Round assessment. 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:
- Use practice papers diagnostically: Practice papers should not simply be used to generate scores. They are most useful when parents review mistakes carefully and identify whether errors are caused by weak vocabulary, timing pressure, reasoning gaps, careless reading or uncertainty with specific question types.
- Analyse strengths and weaknesses: Analyse strengths and weaknesses: After each paper, look for patterns rather than just recording the score. Is your daughter losing marks because of vocabulary, timing, careless reading, reasoning gaps or a specific topic weakness?
- 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 places 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 if they need any help.
Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind:
- Build skills gradually: Give your child plenty of time to practise and build their skills gradually. Many families begin building core skills in Year 4 and move into more structured preparation during Year 5. However, preparation should be matched to your daughter’s current level, maturity and motivation.
- 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!
Preparing your daughter for Henrietta Barnett School?
The HBS entrance process is genuinely demanding — a First Round covering Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and English, followed by a Second Round with school-set English and Maths papers for around 300 shortlisted candidates. Strong comprehension, SPaG and creative writing skills are essential throughout.
Our English practice paper packs are designed to develop the demanding comprehension, vocabulary and SPaG skills needed for highly selective schools such as HBS and QE Boys. Each pack includes full-length comprehension papers, a SPaG section, detailed answers and vocabulary support.
→ English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 1 — £19.99
→ English Practice Pack — Classic Texts Set 2 — £19.99
→ English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 1 — £19.99
→ English Practice Pack — Mixed Genres Set 2 — £19.99
Created by 11+ content specialists with over 22 years of experience preparing children for competitive grammar school entry across North London.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Henrietta Barnett School have a catchment area?
No. HBS has no formal catchment area and any girl can sit the entrance exam regardless of where she lives. However priority is given in Round Two to girls living within 3 miles of the school after looked after children and Pupil Premium candidates. Most successful candidates actually come from outside Barnet, so distance alone does not determine your daughter’s chances.
How many girls apply to Henrietta Barnett School each year?
Over 2,000 girls typically apply for 120 Year 7 places — an acceptance rate of around 6%, making HBS one of the most selective girls’ schools in England.
Is the Henrietta Barnett entrance exam harder than QE Boys?
The two exams are difficult to compare directly as they test different things. QE Boys uses a single-round exam in English and Maths. HBS uses a two-round process — Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning and English in Round One, followed by school-set English and Maths papers in Round Two for the top 300 candidates. The two-round format means HBS candidates face additional pressure of a second assessment day after already succeeding once.
Can families prepare for both Henrietta Barnett and QE Boys?
Yes. Many North London families prepare children for both Henrietta Barnett and QE Boys, especially where they have both daughters and sons sitting selective entrance exams. The schools differ in format, but both require strong English, careful preparation and performance under pressure.
Does Henrietta Barnett require an interview?
No. Admission is based entirely on performance across the two exam rounds. There is no interview component.
When should my daughter start preparing for Henrietta Barnett School?
Most families begin structured preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, given the breadth of skills tested — Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, English comprehension, SPaG and creative writing, plus Maths problem-solving in the second round. The range of subjects tested means broad preparation is particularly important for HBS, but the timing should still depend on your daughter’s current level, maturity and motivation.
