Senior School 11+

Registration for entry in September 2024 is now closed. We regret that we are unable to accept any requests for late registration. Please revisit the school website in May for an update on the process for September 2025 registration.

The choice of the right secondary school for your child and the subsequent application procedure can seem, at first, challenging for both child and parent. At Alleyn’s we aim to make the whole process as friendly, smooth and clear as possible. Our Admissions team is on hand to guide parents through the various steps from initial interest, to visiting the School, to registration, to assessment and to confirmation of the outcome.

During the assessment phases we gain an understanding of the whole child, so whilst there is a strong focus on academic ability and potential, we also want to understand what each individual will be able to take from the co-curricular life of the School. We offer around 150 places, with two-thirds of these new children joining from a wide spread of state and independent schools, and the remaining children joining from Alleyn's Junior School.

In Year 7 we offer a number of academic, art, design & technology, drama, music and sport scholarships to pupils of exceptional merit. We also offer means-tested financial assistance to those families who could not otherwise afford an Alleyn’s education. The level of assistance varies in value up to 100% of annual fees, and is dependent on the financial circumstances of the parents.

The 11+ Assessment Process

The ISEB Common Pre-test will not form part of the 11+ process for entry in September 2024.

Instead, and with the exception of candidates based overseas, all candidates will attend Alleyn’s in early January for written assessments in Reasoning, English and Maths.

Those children whose assessment results and school report demonstrate that they will flourish both inside and outside of the classroom at Alleyn’s will be invited to attend a group activity and one-to-one interview.

Our aim is for our entrance assessments to allow children to demonstrate what they are capable of and, above all, to offer an enjoyable and rewarding experience to all candidates.

We understand that parents, children and their teachers may have some questions about our 11+ process. We assure everyone that all efforts will be made to ensure that the overall assessment process will be conducted with the utmost care and consideration.

Key Dates for September 2024 Entry

Registration period opens	Friday 1 September 2023
Experience Alleyn's Taster Afternoon	Friday 29 September 2023
Music Department Open Day for potential 11+ Music Scholars	Wednesday 18 October 2023
Registration period closes	Friday 10 November 2023 at midday
Girls' Sports Scholarship Assessment Day	Tuesday 28 November 2023
Boys' Sports Scholarship Assessment Day	Wednesday 29 November 2023
Art Scholarship: submission of digital portfolio	Thursday 4 January 2024
Design & Technology Scholarship: submission of written work	Thursday 4 January 2024
Entrance Examinations	Tuesday 9 January 2024
Music Scholarship Auditions	Wed 10, Thurs 11, Fri 12 January 2024
Interview and small group activity for selected candidates	Saturday 20 January 2024
Design & Technology Scholarship: workshop for selected candidates	Week commencing 22 January 2024
Drama Scholarship: workshop for selected candidates	Week commencing 22 January 2024
Art Scholarship: workshop for selected candidates	Week commencing 22 January 2024
Sports Scholarship assessment day II for selected candidates	Week commencing 22 January 2024
Workshops for selected Academic Scholarship candidates	Friday 26 January 2024

11+ Scholarships

Academic Scholarships

All 11+ candidates are automatically considered for an Academic Scholarship and everyone sits the same entrance examination papers. Selected candidates, including those who have demonstrated academic excellence in the entrance examinations, are then invited to return to Alleyn’s for interview and small group activity. Following these two stages, the strongest candidates are invited to visit Alleyn’s one more time to participate in a series of Academic Scholarship workshops. No preparation is expected for this element of the assessment process, and potential scholarship candidates should attend with an open mind and ready to engage fully and enjoy the workshop tasks presented to them. There will be no one-to-one interviews at this stage.

All academic scholarships are awarded on the basis of a candidate’s achievement in the 11+ entrance examinations, group activity and one-to-one interview as well as the final academic scholarship workshops.

Each academic scholarship is worth up to £5,000 per year.

Saddlers’ Scholarships are a special category of academic scholarship, typically awarded to candidates who have demonstrated outstanding merit and ability in the 11+ assessment process. They are partly funded by the Worshipful Company of Saddlers who, in addition to funding bursary places, wish to support academically able candidates who will contribute markedly to the academic life of the School.

Art Scholarships

Art Scholarships are worth up to £2,000 per year. Candidates will be invited to submit a digital portfolio of artwork and selected candidates will then be invited to attend a drawing session in the Art Department, following which Art Scholars are selected.

Art Exhibitions are awarded to those who have demonstrated real talent but do not quality for an Art Scholarship.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIPS

Design & Technology Scholarships are worth up to £2,000 per year. Candidates will be invited to submit a piece of written work. Selected candidates will then be invited to participate in a Design & Technology workshop following which Design & Technology Scholars are selected.

This scholarship is intended to identify candidates with the potential to develop a real talent in this area of the curriculum. Candidates with no previous experience of Design & Technology are encouraged to apply. We hope to meet candidates who are inquisitive about designing and manufacturing; who can problem solve real world issues and who are undaunted by challenges where the solution has not already been suggested.

Design & Technology Exhibitions are awarded to those who have demonstrated real talent but do not quality for a Design & Technology Scholarship.

DRAMA SCHOLARSHIPS

Drama scholarships are worth up to £5,000 per year. This scholarship is intended to recognise candidates with real flair and potential in this area of the curriculum and co-curriculum. Candidates are not expected to have had any particular training or experience and we are hoping to meet children with a real passion for drama.

Following the January entrance examinations, candidates will be invited to attend a half day of drama activities and workshops which will include a prepared speech (which will be provided in advance).

Drama Exhibitions are awarded to those who have demonstrated significant talent but do not qualify for a Drama Scholarship.

Music Scholarships

Music Scholarships are awarded to musicians of exceptional ability and are worth up to £5,000 per year, plus free tuition on the scholar’s principal instrument. Selected candidates attend a 30-minute audition to play two instruments (or voice and one instrument), usually to at least Grade V standard on their principal instrument.

Music Exhibitions are awarded to those who have outstanding musical ability but do not qualify for a Music Scholarship. A Music Exhibition funds tuition in one instrument throughout a pupil’s time at the School.

In addition, the WJ Smith Trust offers financial assistance up to 100% of the school fees to young musicians who demonstrate exceptional musical promise at the music scholarship auditions. The WJ Smith award is means-tested and assists families who could not afford the school fees.

Sports Scholarships

Sports Scholarships are worth up to £5,000 per year. They are awarded to candidates with considerable potential and in recognition of a very high sporting standard. Candidates are assessed through a range of group activities involving a variety of sporting skills.

Sports Exhibitions are worth £250 per year, and may be made to those demonstrating significant ability as a contribution towards the cost of participation in, and equipment for, sports activities.

Overseas Applications

Sample Papers

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I register my child for 11+ entry to Year 7?

You can register your child for 11+ entry when he or she commences Year 6. The registration period will open on 1 September 2023 for 2024 entry. We do not accept early applications and everyone who is registered is invited to sit the entrance examinations.

Complete registration forms and registration fees must be submitted to the Registrar before the registration deadline. Registration forms submitted after the registration deadline, for whatever reason, will be returned.

How much is the registration fee?

The non-refundable registration fee in September 2023 is £175 or £300 for overseas applicants. You must pay the registration fee when you submit your registration form.

I cannot afford the registration fee. Can I still register my child?

The registration fee is not payable if your child qualifies for the Pupil Premium or if you are in receipt of Universal Credit. You must provide written evidence of the Pupil Premium or Universal Credit when you submit your child’s registration form.

I cannot afford Alleyn’s school fees. Can my child still be considered for a place?

Yes. You can apply for financial assistance to help cover the cost of your child’s school fees. This financial assistance is means-tested. Once you have submitted your child’s registration form we will send you a special Bursary Application Form for you to complete and return. This will provide us with important information about your family’s financial situation, which will be assessed by the School.

The Alleyn’s entrance examinations clash with another entrance examination, or is inconvenient. Can my child sit the entrance examination on another day?

All candidates are expected to sit the entrance examinations on the published date and it is not possible to offer alternative arrangements. Please inform the Registrar of any examination clashes.

We live overseas at the moment. Must my child sit the entrance examinations at Alleyn’s?

Candidates who are living abroad at the time of the entrance assessments may sit the assessments at another approved test centre by prior arrangement (please note this is usually only applicable to overseas applicants).

We look for boys and girls, from all backgrounds, who will respond to the School's opportunities and values, and contribute with their talents and enthusiasm.

Senior School Prospectus

Contact the Admissions Team