The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus: parents' guide for 2022

Preparing for entrance to The Henrietta Barnett School? This guide covers key dates and the application process as well as tips for how to prepare for the 11 plus transfer test.

The top girls’ state school in the country (Sunday Times Parent Power Magazine 2021), The Henrietta Barnett is a grammar school founded in 1911, which became an Academy in 2012. It is located in the Hampstead Garden Suburb in the London Borough of Barnet and has a number of notable alumnae.

The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus at a glance

• Address: The Henrietta Barnett Grammar School, Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, NW11 7BN

• Admissions contact details: [email protected], 020 8458 8999

• School type: girls’ grammar

• Number of pupils: 745 (approximately)

• Number of Year 7 places: 104

• Open day: 7th July 2022

• 11 plus registration opens: 2nd May 2022

• Open day: 18th July 2022

• Registration closes: 19th July 2022

• Exam date: Round 1: 1st and 2nd September 2022; round 2: first week of October 2022

• Exam board type: Round 1: GL Assessment; round 2: school’s own

• Results: End of September 2022 for invitation to round 2 of testing

• National school offer day: 1st March 2023 (or next working day)

• Appeals: heard by an independent appeal panel

The Henrietta Barnett School term dates

The term dates for 2022-23 are:

• Autumn term: 1st September – 16th December

• Half term: 21st – 28th October

• Spring term: 3rd January – 31st March

• Half term: 10th – 17th February

• Summer term: 17th April – 14th July

• Half term: 29th May – 2nd June

How to register for The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus test

To apply to sit the 11 plus test for entrance to The Henrietta Barnett school, you will need to complete the schools Entrance Test Entry Form, which is available on the school website. This must be returned by 5pm on Friday 15th July 2022.

The school participates in the scheme for co-ordinated admission operated by the London Borough of Barnet and follows their registration and allocation deadlines.

What are the timings for the Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus exam?

Applicants will sit the round 1 test on either 1st or 2nd September 2022. The top 300 candidates will be invited back for the round 2 tests in early October.

In October, you will then need to complete the Common Application Form from your Local Authority. In March, you will be informed whether your child has been offered a place at their first-choice school, or given information about the appeals process.

Admissions to The Henrietta Barnett School

Location is a key factor in admissions to The Henrietta Barnett School. Priority is given to top scoring candidates who live within three miles of the school.

Looked After children (or previously Looked After children) and those in receipt of Pupil Premium funding will be eligible for entrance if they are in the top 300 applicants in the Round 1 test.

The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus exam format

Round 1

The Henrietta Barnett School's Round 1 entrance exam is provided by GL Assessment. The test is split into three papers of 45–50 minutes each.

• Paper 1: English (50 questions)

• Paper 2: Non-verbal reasoning (80 questions)

• Paper 3: Verbal reasoning (80 questions)

The GL English paper is aligned with Key Stage 2 national curriculum content and covers reading comprehension, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Non-verbal reasoning tests your child’s understanding of graphic information. It includes puzzles relating to pattern continuation and rule finding, assessing spatial awareness and logical thinking. Learn more about preparing for non-verbal reasoning questions here.

The verbal reasoning paper assesses your child’s understanding of vocabulary and the ability to manipulate information related to words.

For more information about what is covered on the 11 plus and how to prepare, check out Atom's complete guide to the 11 plus here.

Round 2

If your child ranks within the top 300 applicants on round 1, they will be invited back for the second round at the beginning of October. Designed by the school, these papers cover English and maths.

The English paper will test your child’s comprehension and creative writing skills, while the maths section assesses their problem solving.

What is the pass mark for The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus?

There isn't a specific pass mark to qualify for round 2 of testing. Candidates' raw scores are standardised to remove any potential age disadvantage. These scores are then ranked from highest to lowest, and the top 300 applicants are invited to take part in round 2.

For children who complete round 2, the combined standardised score from both rounds is taken into account. The Local Authority offers the highest-ranking scorers a place in order of parental preference. The school’s oversubscription policy is used for remaining places.

How competitive is The Henrietta Barnett 11 plus test?

The entrance exam for The Henrietta Barnett School is known to be competitive. 2,849 girls applied for the first round of testing in 2020-21, with just over 100 places in Year 7. Appeals can be submitted via the school for an independent panel to undertake. There were 11 appeals heard last academic year, with no overturned decisions.

When should I start preparing my child for The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus?

Usually, the 11 plus preparation journey begins at the end of Year 4 or beginning of Year 5. As the 11 plus entrance exams for Barnet grammar schools are aimed at the top 30% of each cohort, it's a good idea to ensure your child is secure in their understanding of the curriculum content before beginning targeted exam preparation. If needed, core curriculum programmes will help to boost attainment and confidence before tackling exam preparations.

How to prepare for The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus

Once your child is comfortable with the national curriculum content, it's time to begin focused exam preparations. Familiarisation materials are available on the GL website which can give your child an idea of what to expect on test day.

Mock Tests are another valuable way to practice so that your child knows exactly what to expect when they come to sit the test. (With Atom's Exam Preparation Plus package, your child can access unlimited Mock Tests in the format and style of The Henrietta Barnett School round 1 exams.)

Read widely: expanding your child’s vocabulary across traditional and contemporary texts will support their understanding of complex words and those not heard in everyday conversation. This will stand them in good stead for the comprehension section of the test. Find free resources for engaging your child with reading here.

Focus on their needs: tailoring exam practice to your child’s needs is the best way to stay on track. Atom’s adaptive learning algorithm personalises your child’s optimal learning journey to master everything they need to achieve entry into their target school. Data-driven insights give you a window into your child’s progress and where to focus next.

Overall progress and targets achieved:

A detailed breakdown of progress by subtopic, compared to the average student in their year:

Set Custom Practices to target your child's most challenging subtopics, with functions to personalise timings and question types:

Start your 5-day free trial of Nucleus today to help your child feel fully prepared for success in The Henrietta Barnett School 11 plus exam.

We know how crucial this time is, so our team is on hand to support you and your family every step of the way. You can book a call with one of our Education Experts to ask any questions you may have about preparing for grammar school in Barnet:

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