St Catherine's Bramley 11 plus guide

About St Catherine's School

St Catherine’s School – known locally as St Cat’s – is a private day and boarding school for girls aged 11–18 in Bramley, Surrey. Girls live and learn on a 25-acre campus in the countryside of the Surrey Hills, just 3 miles from Guildford.

The school aims to develop sensible, caring and competent young women through an all-round 21st century education. In addition to traditional subjects, girls study a bespoke short course called 'grey matters' to help them become independent thinkers and learners. While focus is not entirely on academic success, girls' exam results are still outstanding and place the school 12th out of all private girls' schools in the UK.

Students have lots of extracurricular opportunities at St Cat's. Typical enrichment activities include lacrosse, chess, coding club, debating, and public speaking. There's an on-site dance school with lessons in ballet, musical theatre, choreography and jazz. Meanwhile, girls in Year 9 have the opportunity to take part in an Australian Exchange, spending the spring term at St Catherine’s School in Melbourne and hosting an Australian pupil in the UK during the summer term.

• Head: Mrs Alice Phillips

• School type: private day and boarding

• Address: St Catherine's, Station Road, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0DF

• County: Surrey

• Age range and gender: 11–18, girls only

• Number of pupils: 600+

• National league table rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 39

• A level results: 94.5% A*–B

• GCSE results: 90.4% 9–7

St Catherine's School fees and financial assistance

The current fees at St Cat's are £6,975 per term for day pupils and £11,660 per term for boarding pupils. Occasional boarding is available for £68 per night. Fees include the cost of lunches, whole year-group residential curricular trips, and the annual activities week.

Financial assistance

St Catherine’s is able to offer means-tested financial assistance, known as bursaries, to children who meet the school’s entrance requirements, but whose families would not otherwise be able to afford the full fees.

Up to 100% of school fees can be covered in exceptional circumstances, plus support with essential extras including uniform, iPads, trips, music tuition, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. More information about bursaries can be found on the school website.

Scholarships

Girls applying for 11 plus entry to St Catherine's can also apply for a scholarship. These awards are not means-tested but based on talent in a particular subject.

• Academic scholarships: 10–20% reduction on school fees

• Music scholarships: 10––20% on school fees, plus tuition on one instrument

St Catherine's School 11 plus admissions process

Most girls join St Catherine's School in Year 7, at 11 plus entry. Both day and boarding places are available.

1. Visit the school

If you're considering St Catherine's School for your daughter, it's a good idea to attend an open event first. The school holds regular open events and these provide an opportunity to talk to staff and current pupils, see the school facilities (including boarding houses), and find out what activities your daughter could get involved in.

More information about upcoming open events is available on the school website.

2. Register for 11 plus entry

If you have visited St Catherine's and decided it would be a good fit for your daughter, you'll need to complete the 11 plus registration form. A non-refundable registration fee of £150 applies (£200 for overseas applicants).

The deadline for submitting the form for entry in 2024 is Friday 13th October 2023. Early registration is encouraged as registered girls will be invited to an 11 plus taster day on Saturday 7th October 2023. This includes the opportunity to talk with current students and attend four mini lessons.

4. Offers

St Catherine's Bramley will let you know the outcome of your daughter's application by the end of December. If your daughter is offered a place and you would like to accept, you will have until Friday 1st March 2024 to return the acceptance form and pay the deposit.