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Are you considering Trinity School for your son? We've collated everything you need to know about applying for a place in Year 7. Learn about key dates, what's covered on the 11 plus exam, and how to help your child prepare.
About Trinity School
Trinity School is an independent day school for boys in Croydon, South London, with a mixed sixth form. It was founded in 1882 as part of the legacy of Archbishop John Whitgift.
The school has a culture of strong values and aims for students to make a positive impact on the world. Students in Years 7–8 get involved in a unique Diploma programme which teaches skills such as teamwork, creativity, and discovery. The school has an excellent record for helping students achieve places at top universities, including Oxbridge and the Russell Group.
There are 105 co-curricular clubs for pupils to get involved in and nurture interests beyond the classroom. Sport at Trinity is strong, with excellent facilities and teams representing the country. There are also outstanding opportunities for musicians and singers. Trinity became the first All Steinway School in London in 2012 and 300 students now learn piano.
Headteacher: Alasdair Kennedy
School type: private day
Address: Trinity School, Shirley Park, Croydon, CR9 7AT
Age range and gender: boys 10–18, mixed sixth form
National league table rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 23
A level results: 96% A*–B
GCSE results: 93% 9–7
Key info for 11+ admissions
Admissions contact: 020 8656 9541
Open days: 30th September 2023
Entry process: online and written assessments and an interview
Registration closes: 31st September 2023
Assessment date: 13th December 2023
Trinity School fees & financial assistance
The current tuition fees at Trinity are £22,685. This can be paid monthly by direct debit. Fees cover the cost of tuition and the majority of curricular trips, but do not include school lunch, uniform, sports' and PE kit, external exam fees, and individual music and LAMDA tuition.
Financial assistance
Trinity School is able to financially support children who would not otherwise be able to afford the school fees. Means-tested financial support, known as a bursary, is available to low-income families. Bursaries are available from both Trinity School and the John Whitgift Foundation. Find out more about how to apply for a bursary at Trinity.
Scholarships
Trinity School also has an extensive scholarship programme, which can provide support with school fees. Scholarships are not means-tested but awarded based on talent in a particular area. All scholarships are worth up to 50% of fees.
Children applying for 11+ entry can apply for a scholarship in art & design technology, drama, music, or sport. All children are considered for an academic scholarship on the basis of their performance in the entrance assessment.
Trinity School term dates
The 2023–2024 term dates at Trinity are:
Autumn term: 4th September – 12th December 2023
Half term: 14th–29th October 2023
Spring term: 9th January – 27th March 2024
Half term: 10th–18th February 2024
Summer term: 16th April – 5th July 2024
Half term: 25th May – 2nd June 2024
Trinity School 11+ admissions process
Trinity is an academically-selective school, so children interested in entry will need to pass an exam to secure a place. 11+ (11 plus) is the main entry point to Trinity.
1. Visit the school
If you're considering Trinity School for your son, it's best to visit the school first. Open events are a great opportunity to experience everything the school has to offer and to meet students and staff. Seeing the school in-person can help you get a feel for whether your son would thrive there.
2. Register for 11+ entry
When you're ready to begin your son's application, you'll need to complete the online 11 plus application form. A non-refundable application fee of £200 applies. You'll also need to upload:
A copy of your son's passport or birth certificate
A copy of your son's most recent written school report
A head and shoulders photograph of your son
A scanned copy of your son's 'candidate's questionnaire' (available to download from the form)
Most recent copy of your son's Educational Psychogist Report (if applicable)
Details of any medical condition and exam concessions needed
The registration deadline for entry in 2024 is Tuesday 31st October 2023. The same deadline applies for scholarship registration. If you're applying for a bursary, you will have until 24th November 2023 to submit your bursary application form.
3. Trinity School entrance exam
All children applying for 11+ entry to Trinity School will sit an entrance exam. Children applying for entry in 2024 will take this exam on Wednesday 13th December 2023.
There are three parts to this entrance exam. Parts 1 and 2 are taken on a computer. Part 3 consists of written tests.
Part 1
Part 1 of the Trinity entrance exam is a general assessment, taken on a computer. The whole test takes 60 minutes to complete:
Maths: 20 minutes
English: 20 minutes
Verbal reasoning: 10 minutes
Non-verbal reasoning: 10 minutes
The questions in the general assessment are multiple-choice. They are also adaptive, which means that they will get more challenging depending on how your child is performing.
Part 2
Part 2 of the test is also taken on a computer. This consists of two sections:
Creative comprehension: 20 minutes
Puzzles and problem-solving: 15 minutes
These questions are all multiple-choice. However, they are non-adaptive. This means that all children will see the same questions in the same order, although some children might progress faster than others.
Try some example questions
This familiarisation test has been designed to help your child get familiar with the types of questions in Parts 1 and 2 of the Trinity entrance exam.
Part 3
The final part of the Trinity School 11+ entrance exam consists of written tests. These take 1 hour to complete:
English creative writing: 30 minutes
Maths problem-solving: 30 minutes
Sample papers are available on the school website.
4. Interviews
If your son is successful in the entrance exam, he will be invited to an interview. This will take place with a member of teaching staff shortly after the exam.
The interview is a chance for the school to get to know your son better. Questions will focus on your son's strengths at school, his interests, and any areas he might find challenging (based on the entrance exam).
Find out more about private school interviews and how to help your child prepare.
5. Offers
Offers of places are based on the results from the entrance exam, performance at interview, and school report and reference. Offer letters will be posted in February. If your child is offered a place at Trinity, you will be invited to a 'decider tour' later the same month.
The acceptance deadline is in early March. If you decide to accept your child's place, you will need to pay a deposit to confirm.
Top tips to prepare for the Trinity School entrance exam
Trinity School is a popular choice for many parents, so entry is competitive. Here are our top tips to help your child prepare for the entrance exam and the interview.
It can be tempting to jump straight into practice papers to prepare for school exams. However, this is not an effective way to learn and can cause children to feel demotivated.
Your child should have a good understanding of the content they’ve been taught in Year 5 before testing their knowledge with practice papers. Using a ‘little and often’ approach when recapping content is key, as our brains encode new information more effectively when dealing with smaller ‘chunks’ of information. Experts recommend study sessions should last no longer than 30 minutes for children aged 10–11.
Exam support & free resources
Looking for more information? Visit the Atom blog to find out more about entrance exams, learn how to develop key skills, and download helpful resources.
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