Emanuel School 11+ entry guide

Considering Emanuel School for your child? We’ve collated everything you need to know about 11+ entry. Learn more about the school’s key details, what’s on the entrance exam, and how to help your child prepare for success.

About Emanuel School

Emanuel School is a private day school for boys and girls aged 10–18 in Battersea, London. It was founded by Lady Anne Dacre – cousin of Queen Elizabeth I – in Westminster in 1594. The school relocated to its current site on the edge of Wandsworth Common in 1883. It is an increasingly popular choice for families in southwest London.

Pupils at Emanuel enjoy an extensive range of co-curricular activities including art and design, drama, music and sport. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a popular choice for pupils in Years 10–11. Enrichment opportunities include Goddard Lectures, which allow pupils to hear from experts from a wide range of industries.

Pupils benefit from a blend of traditional and contemporary facilities. These include a multi-use sports centre, 14-acres of off-site sports pitches, swimming pool, film studio, a biodiversity garden, and boathouse.

Emanuel School is committed to charity work and outreach. The Primary Ambitions partnership involves students working with children at local primary schools. Sixth form students deliver lessons and activities that local children might not otherwise be able to enjoy.

Key information for Emanuel School

• Address: Emanuel School, Battersea Rise, London, SW11 1HS
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• Type of school: Independent day school
• London borough: Battersea
• Age range and gender: Boys and girls, aged 10-18
• Number of pupils: 1,100+
• National league table rank: Take a look at our blog, The top private schools in the UK
• A level/GCSE results: Find more on results here or visit the school website
• 11+ selection criteria: entrance exam, interview, group experience and year 5 school report

Dates for your diary for 11+ admissions

• Open days: Open days are held in the Summer and Autumn term
• Registration window: Registration closes in October of Year 6
• Selection process: Assessment exams are held in November

For more information, head to the school website.

Emanuel School 11+ entrance exam

Children applying for 11 plus entry to Emanuel School sit tests in English, maths and verbal reasoning. These exams are taken on paper.

English

The English test lasts 1 hour and is split into two sections:

• Section A: reading comprehension. Your child should spend 30 minutes on this section. They will need to read a passage of text and answer questions to demonstrate their understanding of what they have read. They will need to provide written answers of varying lengths.
• Section B: creative writing. Your child should also spend 30 minutes on this section. They will need to write an original piece in response to a prompt. Your child will be marked on the originality of their writing, as well as their accuracy with spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Maths

The maths test lasts 45 minutes. This paper tests your child’s knowledge and understanding of the Key Stage 2 maths curriculum. This includes topics such as:

• Number skills
• Fractions and ratios
• Decimals
• Shapes
• Units (money, length, mass, time, capacity, perimeter and area)
• Data

Your child will be able to see how many marks are available for each question on the question paper.

Verbal reasoning

The third paper tests verbal reasoning and lasts 30 minutes. Verbal reasoning tests how well your child can reason and solve problems with written information, like letters, words and numbers.

Emanuel School devises its own verbal reasoning papers based on GL Assessment papers.

Children who perform well in the entrance exam are invited back to the school for an interview and a group experience in January. Interviews usually take place with a senior member of staff and last around 20 minutes. Learn more, find out top tips, and download a free interview resource in our guide to private school interviews.

Financial information

Emanuel School is a fee paying school. Take a look at the school website for a full breakdown of fees per year group.

Financial assistance

When exploring independent schools for your child, scholarships and bursaries are worth considering. They can ease the pressure of school fees and open doors to opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded for a child’s talent or achievement. While many schools focus on academic excellence, some offer awards in music, sport, drama, art, or other specialist areas.

Scholarships often come with a small fee reduction and acknowledge your child’s talents, motivating them and boosting their confidence. Some schools automatically consider all applicants, while others may request an additional application, assessment or audition.

Visit your target school’s website to see what scholarships are available and how to apply.

For more information, read: Your guide to independent school scholarships.

Bursaries

Bursaries are means-tested awards (based on a family’s financial situation) designed to make independent education more accessible. Depending on your circumstances, a bursary could cover part or all of the school fees and sometimes extras like uniforms, lunches or school trips.

Families provide financial information to qualify, and awards are reassessed each year. For many families, bursaries make an excellent education possible that might otherwise seem out of reach.

Visit your target school’s website to find out what bursaries are available and how to apply.

For more information, read: Bursaries: a parents’ guide

Top tips for applying to independent schools

Preparing for independent school entrance exams doesn’t need to feel daunting. With the right support, your child can feel confident and ready for the exam process.

Here are our top tips to do just that:

1. Get familiar with the 11+ exam format

Many independent school entrance exams test four key areas: English, maths, verbal reasoning, and non-verbal reasoning. These aren’t always taught explicitly in school, so it’s important your child gets used to the types of questions they’ll see in the test.

How Atom helps: Atom’s learning platform mirrors independent school exams, with thousands of interactive questions in all four subjects. Content can be tailored to your child’s ability, so they’re always working at the right level.

2. Strengthen core knowledge

A strong grasp of Key Stage 2 English and maths is essential. Make sure your child is confident with grammar, spelling, punctuation, arithmetic and problem-solving before focusing on exam technique.

How Atom helps: Atom covers the entire Key Stage 2 curriculum in English and maths, plus verbal and non-verbal reasoning (which aren't taught on the national curriculum). As your child learns, they’ll earn rewards and progress through fun, engaging learning journeys — all in one platform.

3. Practise speed and accuracy

Your child will need to answer questions accurately and under timed conditions. Regular practice will help them build speed and avoid common mistakes.

How Atom helps: With Atom, your child can access unlimited practice papers and custom mock tests. You'll get instant results and insights into their strengths and areas to improve.

4. Keep a regular routine

Consistent, manageable study sessions work better than last-minute cramming. Aim for short bursts of focused learning, with regular breaks to avoid fatigue and keep motivation high.

How Atom helps: Atom creates a personalised weekly learning schedule based on your child’s progress. This helps them stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.

5. Practise interview technique

Many independent schools hold interviews to provide a better understanding of whether the school is right for your child and vice versa. Practising interview techniques at home will build confidence ahead of the big day.

How Atom helps: Find out more about preparing your child in our ultimate guide to interviews, including question examples and more.

6. Track progress over time

Knowing how your child is progressing can give you peace of mind — and help you target revision more effectively. It’s also a great way to celebrate the effort they’re putting in.

How Atom helps: You’ll get access to a real-time parent dashboard, where you can see how your child is performing across all subjects. No need to guess what’s going well or what needs more attention.

7. Get the right support

You don’t need to rely on expensive tutors to prepare for independent school exams. With the right tools, your child can prepare effectively and independently — while building long-term skills and confidence.

How Atom helps: Atom combines high-quality learning resources with smart technology to deliver a tutor-quality experience at home. And if you ever need help, our Education Support team is here to guide you.