Guide to Senior Schools

The senior school landscape

Independent senior schools in the UK are among the most academically rigorous in the world, and competition for places at the top schools is genuinely fierce. Entry is either at 11+ (the main route for London day schools) or 13+ (the main route for boarding schools). A handful of schools take pupils at both. Senior schools run from Year 7 or Year 9 through to Year 13, covering GCSEs, A-levels (and sometimes the International Baccalaureate), and university preparation.

• Day schools: predominantly 11+ entry, strong in London, Bristol, Bath, Oxford, Cambridge
• Boarding schools: predominantly 13+ entry, many in the countryside and market towns
• All-through schools: entry at 11 or 13 with combined junior and senior departments

The 11+ route

The 11+ is the examination taken in Year 6 (age 10–11) for entry to senior school in Year 7. Independent school 11+ assessments are set by the schools themselves and typically include verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English — written papers, sometimes accompanied by an interview. The most competitive London day schools receive 8–12 applicants per place. Applications open in September of Year 6; assessments are held October–January; offers are sent in February.

• Register for popular schools by June of Year 5 — some schools have earlier deadlines
• Assessments: typically November–January of Year 6
• Offers: February of Year 6 for September Year 7 entry
• Most children prepare via tutoring from Year 4 or 5
• Some schools also require an interview or activity afternoon

The 13+ and Common Entrance route

Children entering senior boarding schools at 13 (Year 9) sit Common Entrance in May/June of Year 8. Before that, most schools require an ISEB Common Pre-Test or a bespoke Pre-Test in Year 6 — this "conditional offer" system means the place is secured early but depends on passing CE at the required grade. Preparation begins in earnest in Year 7; scholarship candidates begin working to scholarship standard in Year 6.

• ISEB Pre-Test or school's own Pre-Test: Year 6 (age 10–11)
• Conditional offers: typically issued by early Year 7
• Common Entrance: May–June of Year 8 (8 subjects)
• Scholarship exams: January–February of Year 8

Results, rankings and what they mean

The Sunday Times Parent Power list is the most widely cited UK independent school ranking, based primarily on A-level and GCSE results. It is a useful starting point, but narrow: a school ranked 300th may be a better fit for your child than one ranked in the top 20. University destinations — particularly Oxford, Cambridge and the top American universities — are a better measure of academic outcomes over time. Ask schools for their full destinations list, not just headlines.

• A-level A*–B percentage: the most commonly published metric
• GCSE 9–7 percentage: a more granular academic indicator
• Oxbridge and Russell Group entry rates per year
• Value-added vs. absolute attainment — a school that takes the top 1% will produce top results

Choosing between day and boarding

The day-versus-boarding decision is often more emotional than it is practical. Boarding schools offer immersion — the enrichment that comes from being together all week, with sport, music, theatre and social life woven into every evening. Day schools offer home life, local friendships and flexibility. Many families find a school that offers both and start with day, moving to boarding in Year 10 or the sixth form. There is no right answer: the right school for your child is the one where they will thrive.

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