Woldingham School 11+ guide

Considering Woldingham 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.

Woldingham School is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18. It’s nestled in the Surrey countryside on 700 acres of land. Woldingham is one of the UK's oldest girls' schools, founded in 1842.

The single-sex environment of the school creates a 'supportive and stimulating' place for life and learning. The school has an excellent academic track record. Over half of students achieve GCSE grades 9-7. At A Level, most grades are at A* to B.

Alongside lessons, there are over 100 co-curricular clubs and activities for students to get involved with. They are encouraged to develop their talents, with academic and personal growth being ‘two sides of the same coin’ at the school.

Key information for Woldingham School

• Address: Woldingham School, Marden Park, Woldingham, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 7YA
• County: Surrey
• Admissions contact: [email protected]
• Type of school: Independent day and boarding
• Age range and gender: Girls aged 11–18
• Number of pupils: 550+
• National rank: Take a look at our blog, The top private schools in the UK in 2025
• A level/GCSE results: Find more on results here or visit the school website
• Type of entrance exam: ISEB (11+) and Quest Admissions (12+)

Dates for your diary for 11+ admissions

• Open days: Weekday and weekend open days are held throughout the year
• Registration window: Registration closes end of September in Year 6
• Selection process: Assessment days are held in the Autumn term with decisions made in December

What's tested on the ISEB Pre-Test?

All children applying for 11+ entry to Woldingham School sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test. This is an exam created by the Independent Schools Examination Board which is usually taken in the autumn term of Year 6.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test is taken online and consists of multiple choice questions. It is entirely adaptive, which means the questions become more difficult depending on how your child is performing. The questions span four subjects:

• Maths: questions are based on the Year 5 national curriculum – although children in Year 6 may find this section challenging. The questions range from arithmetic to multi-step problem solving.
• English: questions are split into two sections: reading comprehension, and spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Verbal reasoning: your child will be tested on their ability to reason and solve problems with written information, such as letters, words, symbols and numbers.
• Non-verbal reasoning: these questions assess your child’s logic, critical thinking and problem-solving skills using figures and diagrams. They will need to show that they can analyse and manipulate 2D and 3D figures.

The ISEB Common Pre-Test takes around 2 and a half hours to complete. Your child can sit the four subjects together or at separate times. If they are taking all four subjects on the same day, they will be allowed a short break between each section.

Financial information

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

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

Stay on track with every stage of the independent school admissions

Open days, entrance exams, bursary applications… there’s a lot to keep track of, and the deadlines can creep up fast.

That’s why we’ve created our parent checklist and timeline to provide a clear, term-by-term guide that shows you exactly when to take action in Year 5 and Year 6.

No more guesswork, no more last-minute panic, just a simple plan you can print, pin up, and follow confidently.

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. Learning content is adaptive, so your child will always work at the right level to keep them challenged without losing motivation.

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 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.