Barnet grammar schools 11+ guide

What is the 11 plus?

The 11 plus is an academic test. Grammar schools use the results of the test to decide whether to offer a child a place at the school. Children who are working in the top 25% of their year group are generally more likely to do well in the 11 plus exam.

Children can only take the test once per academic year, in September while they are in Year 6.

You might also be considering grammar schools in other local authorities. These schools have different exams and admission processes:

• South West Herts Consortium academic tests (Watford)

• The Latymer School (Enfield)

How is the 11 plus marked?

After the test, your child’s papers will be sent to GL Assessment for marking. The papers are marked using a process called Optical Mark Recognition (OMR). This scans the answer papers to detect the marks your child has made to indicate which answer or answers they think are correct.

The sum of these marks is then added together to provide a ‘raw’ score. This is the sum of your child's marks for correct answers.

Next, each raw score is age-standardised based on your child's age in years and months at the time of taking the test. This is to ensure that younger children aren't disadvantaged. Standardised age scores range from 60 to 142, where a score of 100 represents the average for the year group. Grammar schools are normally looking for children whose scores place them above average.

After the tests are standardised, children are usually ranked in order from highest score to lowest score.

What's the pass mark for the 11 plus in Barnet?

Each school has its own factors for deciding which children are eligible for a place at the school.

Boys applying to Queen Elizabeth’s School need to achieve a combined score of 220 or higher to be eligible for a place at the school. This is the combined standardised score from both the English and maths papers. Places are then offered to the 180 highest-scoring children.

Girls applying to St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School are offered places at the school based on their ranked score. Catholic children are prioritised.

Girls applying to The Henrietta Barnett School are also offered places based on their ranked score. The final score is calculated by combining the results from the first round and second round tests.

How to apply to Barnet grammar schools

If you're considering a Barnet grammar school for your child, it's a good idea to speak to your child's teacher first.

Grammar schools are academically-selective and select children working towards the top of their year group. Your child's teacher will be able to indicate whether they think your child will be able to keep up with the pace in a grammar school.

1. Register for the school’s entrance exam

To apply to a grammar school, you need to complete a registration form – sometimes known as a Supplementary Information Form (SIF). This will be available on your target school’s website.

Barnet grammar schools open their 11 plus registration in the summer term in Year 5. The deadline varies for each school, but is usually in July.

11 plus exams then take place in September in Year 7. Girls who are applying to The Henrietta Barnett School and are invited to the second stage will take the second stage test in October 2025.

If you are considering grammar schools outside Barnet, remember to register for their exams too.

2. Apply for school places

You will be sent your child's results in October 2025.

You can use the results to decide which schools to include on your secondary school common application form. Before listing a school on your form, check its admissions policy and make sure your child is eligible.

The application form must be submitted to your home local council by 31st October 2025.

3. National school offer day

On Monday 2nd March 2026, will find out which school your child has been allocated a place at. They will be allocated a place at your highest-preferred school for which they meet the entry criteria and which has places available.

If your child was not allocated a place at your first-choice school, you have the right to appeal the decision. You should contact your child’s headteacher to discuss whether a request for a review can or should be made.