Year 7 (11+) - Notre Dame School

Year 7 entry

Year 7 is the main entry point for our Senior School. We work hard to make our admissions process as stress-free and welcoming as possible for everyone involved because we appreciate that the 11+ and choosing a senior school can be a daunting prospect for girls and parents alike. We endeavour to provide you with as much information and insight as we can to support your decision making. Join our 725 Programme to keep in touch.

Welcome to 725

Our Notre Dame 11+ process ensures a seamless and stress-free experience with our 725 Programme, designed for families applying for a place in our Senior School for entry in September 2025. Our 725 Programme offers key information and invites to events which guide you and your daughter through each stage of the process.

Visiting us

Our Open Events are a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our school and the opportunities it offers.

You may prefer to schedule a private tour with our Headmistress, Mrs King and her Senior Leadership Team, who are each passionate about education and can provide you with valuable insights into our school’s ethos, teaching methods, and the unique advantages Notre Dame and an all-girls education have to offer.

The Selection Process

Entry into the Senior School in Year 7 is subject to all girls passing the Year 7 Entrance Examination that is held in November of Year 6. The Entrance Examination comprises English (Creative Writing and Comprehension), Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers and an informal Interview. We also make time for some fun activities on the examinations day so that girls can relax and get to know the other candidates.

The English and Mathematics papers target levels 4-6 of the National Curriculum, and therefore special preparation is not required. As a rough guide, our intake sits within the top 40% of the ability range. The Non-Verbal Reasoning paper is of the typical format for papers of this type. Past papers are not available.

Girls personally receive full details of what to expect on the exam day, including a personal timetable and Q&As. We find this really helps them to feel more relaxed on the day and many enjoy their time with us. A fundamental principle that runs through our entire school is that relaxed and happy girls give off their best and this is as true of the admissions process as it is anywhere else – we start our relationship with the girls as we mean to go on.

For all applicants, we request a detailed reference from a student’s existing school.

725 key dates

The key dates for your diary are below. Be sure to register via this form by 31 October 2024.

Welcome to 725 Key Dates and Information – available from 26 February 2024
Senior School Open Day & Art Exhibition – date to be confirmed in June 2024
Whole School Open Day – 12 October 2024 (Saturday)
Scholarship Applications Open – 1 September 2024
Exam Registration and Scholarship Application Deadline – 31 October 2024
Exam Day Information – 8 November 2024
11+ Exam Day – 22 November 2024 (Friday)
Art Scholarship Assessment – Tuesday, 26 November 2024
Drama Scholarships Assessment – Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Music Scholarships Assessment – Thursday, 28 November 2024
Sport Scholarships Assessment – Friday, 29 November 2024
Year 7 Offers and Scholarship Offers (via email) – 20 December 2024
Offer and Scholarship Acceptance Deadline – 7 March 2025

For internal Notre Dame candidates, progression to the Senior School is subject to assessment of progress over Years 4 and 5. Formal offers will be made at the end of Year 5, after which girls will not be required to sit the entrance exam unless they would like to apply for an Academic Scholarship. For all scholarship applications, the process for internal girls is the same as that for external girls.

Feedback from Parents on our 11+ Admissions Procedure

“You have put a lot of thought into [the 11+ process] and made it fun, inviting and pleasurable for the girls, at a really stressful time for them. For us we were looking for a school that was approachable, welcoming, and one that looks at [our daughter] as an individual, rather than just being another child coming through the door."

“I wanted to email you to say that the admissions process you run is streets ahead of the experience we have had with other schools. Your warm letters to the girls explaining the process and exams has been lovely and very reassuring. It really does make a huge difference to parents and girls who are going through the very stressful process of applying for secondary schools.”

“Thank you so much for all your time and your kindness with a far less stressful 11+ experience than some schools. You have been so wonderful.“