Bancroft’s School: parents’ guide to Year 7 entry

Bancroft’s School is a large independent day school for boys and girls aged 7–18 in the north-east London Borough of Redbridge. It was set up by the Drapers’ Company in 1737 in Mile End (the site of the current Queen Mary University of London) as a boys’ school, with girls first admitted in 1973.

The six core values of curiosity, kindness, integrity, courage, balance and excellence are integral to life at Bancroft’s School. The school is self-described as ‘unashamedly aspirational’ and devoted to scholarship and intellectual inquiry. Bancroft’s School has high academic standards, which are evident in pupils’ exam results; in 2021, 82% of GCSEs were graded 9 or 8 (A* equivalent) while 98% of A level grades were A*–B.

Beyond the classroom, pupils at Bancroft’s School have over 100 different clubs and societies to choose from, including pupil-led societies such as Ethical Eating, Law Society and Japanese Cultural Appreciation Society. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is one of the most popular activities at the school with training including flying, gliding and orienteering. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Scout Group are also extremely popular.

Bancroft’s School is committed to its founding principles and hopes to attract a greater number of pupils from a diverse range of backgrounds. The Bancroft’s Foundation was established in 2012 to mark the school’s 275th anniversary with the sole purpose of generating funding for assisted places (bursaries) with over £2 million raised to date.

Key information for Bancroft's School

• Head: Mr Simon Marshall

• Address: Bancroft’s School, High Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0RF

• London Borough: Redbridge

• Admissions contact: [email protected], 020 8585 4821

• Age range and gender: 7–18 (co-educational)

• Number of pupils: 1,112

• Number of places in Year 7: 60 external places

• Ratio of applicants to places: Approximately 8:1

• Open day date: Saturday 12th November 2022. Visit the school website as booking will open closer to the date.

• Overview of selection procedure: Entrance exam, school report and interview

• Registration opens: Currently open – apply on the school website

• Registration closes: Thursday 1st December 2022

• Assessment date: Tuesday 10th January 2023

Bancroft's School fees and financial assistance

The school fees for Bancroft’s School from September 2022 will be £6,916 per term (£20,748 per year). The fees include school lunches, personal accident insurance, all curriculum-related books, materials and some curriculum-related external trips.

Bancroft’s School is committed to widening access to bright and talented children through Assisted Places (bursaries). These are means-tested based on a confidential financial assessment of household income, which is reassessed every year.

The school also offers Music Awards to musically-talented pupils in Year 7, although they are only awarded towards the end of the school year. Pupils will need to apply in the January of Year 7 and will undergo an assessment before the Easter holidays. Successful candidates will receive two free instrumental lessons per week.

There are no scholarships available with fee-remission.

Bancroft's School term dates

The term dates for 2022-23 at Bancroft's School are:

• Autumn term: 7th September – 16th December 2022

• Half term: 24th October – 4th November 2022

• Spring term: 11th January – 31st March 2023

• Half term: 13th–17th February 2023

• Summer term: 24th April – 6th July 2023

• Half term: 29th May – 5th June 2023

The provisional term dates at Bancroft's School for 2023–24 are:

• Autumn term: 4th September – 15th December 2023

• Half term: 23rd October – 3rd November 2023

• Spring term: 9th January – 28th March 2024

• Half term: 12th–16th February 2024

• Summer term: 22nd April – 5th July 2024

• Half term: 27th May – 3rd June 2024

Admissions process for Year 7 entry to Bancroft's School

To apply for Year 7 entry to Bancroft’s School in 2023, you will need to register your child through the school’s online registration form and pay the non-refundable registration fee of £125 before the deadline of Thursday 1st December 2022. If you would like your child to be considered for an assisted place (means-tested financial assistance), you should not complete this registration form and complete the school’s Initial Assessment of Income Form instead and submit this before the deadline of Wednesday 16th November 2022. If the school then confirms that your child is eligible for an assisted place, you will then be invited to complete a different registration form and pay a reduced registration fee of £20.

All registered candidates will be invited to the testing day at Bancroft’s School on Tuesday 10th January 2023. Children who are successful and who have a strong school report will then be invited back to Bancroft’s School for an interview on Saturday 28th January 2023. Candidates will talk to members of the school’s senior staff about academic subjects, their achievements and their interests. The school is specifically looking for children who are enthusiastic, intelligent, curious and will make the most of school life and Bancroft’s excellent facilities.

Bancroft’s School will email and post letters to families with the outcome of their child’s application on Thursday 16th February 2023. Successful candidates and their families will also be invited back to see the school again for an offer-holders event on Thursday 23rd February to help guide their decision to accept a place. The closing date for acceptance of places is Monday 6th March 2023.

Bancroft's School 11 plus exam

The 11 plus exam for Bancroft’s School consists of three tests:

Reasoning

Children will sit an online reasoning test which is provided by CEM (Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring). It includes questions that measure:

• Verbal ability: vocabulary, grammar and comprehension

• Numerical ability: arithmetic and problem-solving

• Non-verbal ability

The three types of response are multiple-choice, drag and drop and complete the word (type in the letters).

Have a go at a CEM reasoning familiarisation test.

English

The 11 plus English test at Bancroft’s School has a time limit of 30 minutes. Children are asked to write a piece of imaginative writing following a prompt. They will be assessed on their ideas and style, ability to craft sentences and their accuracy and use of vocabulary. A sample paper is available on the school website.

Does your child struggle to write creatively? Take a look at our parents’ guide to creative writing and suggestions for your children.

Maths

The 11 plus maths test at Bancroft’s School also has a time limit of 30 minutes, with 40 marks available. Questions are non-calculator and are designed to get more challenging throughout the paper. Children will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of the Key Stage 2 national curriculum for maths.

Have a go at Bancroft’s School’s 11 plus maths sample paper.

How to help your child prepare for the selection process at Bancroft's School

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