At a glance
11+ · Year 7 · about 100 to 110 places
School's own paper-based test developed with Quest: English and verbal reasoning (40 min), maths and non-verbal reasoning (45 min), creative comprehension (20 min), creative writing (20 min). About half are invited to an interview and team exercise; reference from current school
11+ deferred entry (joins Year 9) · Year 9 · places not published
Sits the 11+ test in Year 6; if offered a place, joins in Year 9. Only for boys at UK 13+ prep schools
13+ · Year 9 · about 20 places
School's own written papers in Year 8: English (45 min), maths (45 min, no calculator), humanities (history, geography, theology and philosophy, 25 min each) and science (45 min). Selected candidates are interviewed; reference from current school
Occasional places (year groups outside the main entry points) · Year groups outside the main entry points · places not published
English and maths, then an interview with a member of senior staff, only if places become available. Register interest first; no bursaries or scholarships
| Entry point | Joins in | Places (approx.) | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ | Year 7 | About 100 to 110 | School's own paper-based test developed with Quest: English and verbal reasoning (40 min), maths and non-verbal reasoning (45 min), creative comprehension (20 min), creative writing (20 min). About half are invited to an interview and team exercise; reference from current school |
| 11+ deferred entry (joins Year 9) | Year 9 | Not published | Sits the 11+ test in Year 6; if offered a place, joins in Year 9. Only for boys at UK 13+ prep schools |
| 13+ | Year 9 | About 20 | School's own written papers in Year 8: English (45 min), maths (45 min, no calculator), humanities (history, geography, theology and philosophy, 25 min each) and science (45 min). Selected candidates are interviewed; reference from current school |
| Occasional places (year groups outside the main entry points) | Year groups outside the main entry points | Not published | English and maths, then an interview with a member of senior staff, only if places become available. Register interest first; no bursaries or scholarships |
At 11+ you can choose deferred entry: your son sits the 11+ in Year 6 and joins in Year 9. The school says this route is only for boys at UK 13+ prep schools, and you must tell admissions before the registration deadline. Occasional places in other year groups are assessed at the end of February or beginning of March if places come up; no bursaries or scholarships are offered for them.
The school's pages give different scholarship values (10% to 25% fee remission, or a "nominal tuition fee discount"), so check with the admissions team.
Entry points and who can apply
Haberdashers' Boys' School in Elstree has three ways into the Senior School for September 2027. The school says it "remains predominantly an 11+ school".
- 11+ (Year 7). For boys aged 11 on 1 September 2027, so born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016. The admissions policy gives about 100 to 110 places.
- 11+ deferred (Year 9). Your son sits the same 11+ assessment in Year 6 and, if offered a place, joins in Year 9. The policy says this route is only for boys at UK prep schools that run to 13+, and that you must tell the admissions team before the registration deadline. You choose this route on the application form.
- 13+ (Year 9). For boys aged 13 on 1 September 2027, so born between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014. The policy gives about 20 places. Boys sit the school's own papers in Year 8.
Registration for both 11+ and 13+ closes on Friday 6 November 2026. You apply online through the school's website. The admissions policy gives the registration fee as £150 (£200 for overseas applicants), and it is non-refundable. The school can arrange assessments in your country of residence if you live overseas.
Tell the school about any health needs, disabilities or learning difficulties when you register, so it can consider adjustments for the test and interview.
The assessment: what your son will sit
11+ and 11+ deferred
The 11+ is a paper-based test that the school developed with the assessment company Quest. It mixes multiple-choice and written questions. It takes place at the school on Friday 20 November 2026.
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| English and verbal reasoning | 40 min |
| Maths and non-verbal reasoning | 45 min |
| Creative comprehension | 20 min |
| Creative writing | 20 min |
That is just over two hours of working time. The school links a free familiarisation test from its admissions page so your son can see the format and style of questions.
13+
The 13+ written papers are on Thursday 26 November 2026, while your son is in Year 8.
| Paper | Time |
|---|---|
| English | 45 min |
| Maths | 45 min |
| Humanities: History | 25 min |
| Humanities: Geography | 25 min |
| Humanities: Theology and Philosophy | 25 min |
| Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) | 45 min |
The school publishes a guidance sheet for each subject except English. In short:
- Maths is worth 75 marks, with no calculator. Marks are given for sensible methods even when the final answer is wrong. Questions get harder as the paper goes on.
- Science has three sections. The school says to spend no more than 15 minutes on each. Topics follow the ISEB 11+ and 13+ Science specification.
- History, Geography and Theology and Philosophy each start from sources, such as a document, a photograph or a quote. Your son answers two questions in each: the first asks him to infer, describe, explain or show understanding; the second asks him to evaluate and reach a judgement.
What this means in practice
- The 11+ is on paper, not a screen. Your son needs to write clearly and keep to time without an on-screen clock.
- Writing counts twice at 11+. There is a creative comprehension and a separate creative writing task, each 20 minutes. With 20 minutes for each, it helps to practise planning quickly.
- The 13+ is a lot of writing. The papers add up to three and a half hours, all listed for one date. The three humanities sections are 25 minutes each, and each one starts from sources.
- Showing working matters at 13+. The maths guidance says working must be clear and set out logically. It also says to move on from a hard question and come back later.
Interview, next stage and the decision
11+: The school says about half of candidates are invited back for an interview and a team exercise, between Friday 8 and Friday 15 January 2027. It says this helps it look beyond test results at your son's interests and character, and at how he works with others. Parents are invited to an informal meeting with members of the leadership team.
13+: Selected candidates are invited back for an interview on Monday 18 January 2027.
The school also asks your son's current school for a written reference or report at every entry point. Offers go out by email on Friday 12 February 2027. The offer holder event is on Thursday 25 February 2027 for 11+ and Tuesday 23 February 2027 for 13+. You must accept by 9am on Wednesday 3 March 2027 (11+) or Thursday 25 February 2027 (13+, described as a "conditional acceptance deadline"). Senior School fees for 2026–27 are £10,829 a term including VAT (£32,487 a year). Accepting a place means paying a deposit of 50% of a term's fees, which the school returns when your son leaves.
The admissions policy says the school cannot give individual feedback to boys who are unsuccessful in the first round. A boy who is unsuccessful at 11+ deferred can apply again at 13+.
Help with fees: bursaries and scholarships
Bursaries are means-tested and available at 11+ and 13+. Your son first has to earn a place through the normal assessment. Awards cover 100% of fees (a free place) or between 50% and 95%. As a guide, the school says families with a total gross household income below £50,000 are likely to qualify for a free place. Households earning about £150,000 or more are not eligible, and contributions are on a sliding scale between the two.
Bursary holders also get help, in proportion to their award, with coach travel, lunches, trips and lessons on one musical instrument. The school looks at income, outgoings, family size, assets, and the value and council tax band of your home. The process includes an informal meeting with the school's finance team, and the bursary policy says a home visit may also be necessary. Awards are reviewed every year. The bursary deadline is Thursday 19 November 2026 for 11+ and Thursday 26 November 2026 for 13+. The school also runs the Bright Futures Bursary, a donor-supported scheme "for students of Black African or Caribbean heritage", with up to two fully funded places at 11+, 13+ or 16+.
Scholarships at 11+ are for academic ability, art, drama, music and sport. At 13+, design and technology is added. Academic scholarships need no separate application: they go to the strongest performers in the test and interview. For the other scholarships, you submit a form by Friday 6 November 2026, and your son must also pass the entrance assessment. Boys on the deferred route can apply for a specialist scholarship in Year 8. Your son can hold a scholarship and a bursary together. The school's pages differ on scholarship value: the admissions policy says 10% to 25% fee remission, while the fee assistance page calls it a "nominal" discount. Ask the admissions team if this matters to you.
How to prepare
The school says no tutoring or specific preparation is needed, because the 11+ is based on skills taught in the National Curriculum.
- Try the familiarisation test (11+). Use it to get used to the format, not to drill.
- Practise to the clock on paper. The four sections run from 20 to 45 minutes. Practise each type on its own timer.
- Write short pieces regularly. For 11+, practise planning and writing a short creative piece in 20 minutes, then read it back together.
- Read the 13+ guidance sheets together. They explain marks, timings and question types.
- Secure the core maths without a calculator (13+). The guidance names number, fractions, decimals, percentages, algebra, ratio, measures, geometry and averages. Practise setting out working clearly.
- Practise working from sources (13+). Look at a picture, quote or short document and talk about what it shows, how useful it is, and what the other side of the argument might be.
- Let interviews be natural. The school wants to understand your son's interests and character.
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Sources
All checked on 21 October 2026. Akiru is independent and not connected with Haberdashers' Boys' School. Always confirm details with the school before applying.