Aldenham School: Entry Procedure for 11 Plus/Year 7
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Aldenham School is a private day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 3-18. It comprises a Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior School and Sixth Form. Boarding is available from Year 7 onwards.
The academic curriculum at Aldenham is broad and challenging, and the staff have high expectations for pupils. In 2024, 47.5% of GCSE grades were in the 9-7 range, which is considerably above the national average. Most students stay at Aldenham for the Sixth Form after their GCSEs, which is a testament to how happy students are there.
Life outside of the classroom is varied and vibrant. Pupils benefit from Aldenham’s proximity to central London, with regular visits taking place to the capital’s museums and theatres. Overseas trips are also a part of school life. Recently, a group of Year 10-13 pupils went skiing in Canada, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Superb pastoral care is a priority at Aldenham. Robust systems are in place to ensure that students have the support they need if they experience difficulties. All pupils are allocated to a House, which is overseen by a Housemaster or Housemistress and provides a home from home.
Aldenham School: Contact Details and Year 7 (11+) Entry Admissions Process
School Details for Aldenham School
Address: Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3AJ
County: Hertfordshire
Admissions info: [email protected] or 01923 851618
School type: Independent co-educational school for pupils aged 3-18 (day and boarding)
Registration deadline: Mid-November of Year 6
Assessment date: End of November or the start of December of Year 6
Entrance assessment: Online Quest assessment
Admissions Process for 11 Plus Entry to Aldenham School
When your child is in Year 5, you can book a tour and attend an Open Morning at Aldenham. Visiting is an ideal way to learn more about the school and its ethos. When you look around, ask any questions you have about boarding, as you will be required to indicate on your registration form whether you want your child to board.
You can register your child for 11+ entry from the summer term of Year 5. The deadline is mid-November of Year 6, but Aldenham recommends applying before the end of Year 5. A £180 non-refundable registration fee must be paid. Once you have submitted the registration form, the school will request a reference from your child’s current school and a recent school report.
Aldenham will arrange an interview for your child to determine whether your child is a good fit for the school. You will attend the interview, too. Most interviews will take place before the entrance exam, but some later applicants may have to be interviewed after the exam (if they reach the required standard in the exam).
The exam will take place late November or early December of Year 6. Your child will likely sit the online entrance exam at their current school, making the process less daunting. However, if their school cannot accommodate this, your child can sit the exam at Aldenham School.
Places will be offered to candidates who, based on their interview, entrance exam results and the quality of their school reference and report, will thrive academically at Aldenham and make the most of the opportunities on offer.
If your child is offered a place, you must accept it by the March deadline. Once you have paid the acceptance deposit (£1,500 for UK applicants), the place is secured. The deposit will be offset against your child’s fees during their final term at Aldenham.
Please read on if you are interested in a scholarship or bursary for your child.
Aldenham School: Scholarships and Bursaries for Year 7 Entry
Scholarships
The following scholarships are available for 11+ entry:
- Academic
- Art
- Drama
- Design & Technology (including Textiles)
- Music
- Sport
There is no need to apply for an academic scholarship because academic scholars are chosen based on performances in the interviews and entrance exams.
If you are interested in one of the other scholarships, you can apply when you register with Aldenham. Assessments will be held in the Christmas term of Year 6, and the awards will be given to students with exceptional talent in their chosen areas.
All scholarships are reviewed annually, with scholars retaining their awards if they continue to excel and show commitment.
Bursaries
If you need a bursary for your child to attend Aldenham, it is worth contacting the school to discuss this ([email protected]) before registering. Funds are limited, making it unlikely that any bursaries offering significant financial support will be available.
Aldenham School: Online Quest Entrance Exam for Year 7 Entry
The entrance exam your child will sit for 11+ entry to Aldenham School is a bespoke online test produced by Quest. It will consist of two parts:
Part One
Part One has some adaptive questions, meaning not all candidates will answer exactly the same questions. If your child keeps answering questions correctly, the questions will get trickier. If your child gets questions wrong, the questions will not get more challenging. The idea is to ensure that candidates answer questions at a suitable level for them to avoid demotivation.
Part One has four sections:
- Maths: Your child can expect questions on topics they have covered at school: geometry, measurement, numbers, statistics and arithmetic. They will not be tested on any material beyond the Year 5 curriculum. Your child will need to use their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills and be prepared to answer questions involving more than one step.
- English: A reading comprehension (fiction or non-fiction) will be used in this section to assess various skills, such as your child’s ability to understand what they read and make inferences. Your child will also have questions testing their spelling, punctuation and grammar.
- Verbal Reasoning: In this section, your child must solve problems using written information, such as letters and words. They will find this section easier if they have a developed vocabulary.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: In this section, your child must solve problems using visual information, such as pictures and diagrams. They might, for example, have to work out how a folded piece of paper with shapes cut out of it would look when it is unfolded.
Part Two
Part Two has no adaptive questions, meaning your child will face the same questions as all the other candidates. Some candidates will answer more questions than others, though.
Part Two has two sections:
- Puzzles and Problem-Solving: Interactive puzzles will evaluate your child’s perseverance and ability to solve problems using their reasoning skills.
- Creative Comprehension: Your child will see a number of sources that share one common theme. They must answer questions that involve extracting information from one or more sources at a time.
Please do not worry about the Aldenham School 11+ entrance exam. You can take steps to ensure your child is ready to give a polished performance when they take the exam.
Tips to Help Your Child Prepare for the Aldenham School Year 7 Entrance Exam
We recommend the following:
- Starting study sessions early
Scheduling short but frequent study sessions well before the entrance exam is a great approach. It will keep stress at bay and eliminate the need for long cramming sessions. Besides, short study sessions are more effective because the average Year 5 pupil can focus for around 30 minutes at a time.
- Reading regularly
It cannot be overstated how crucial reading is. Reading will expand your child’s vocabulary and improve their spelling, punctuation and grammar. It is an enjoyable and relaxing way to promote cognitive development.
- Having a growth mindset
Teach your child that intelligence is not set in stone but can be developed through hard work and effort. Show them that mistakes are an opportunity to learn and that listening to feedback will lead to improvements.
- Revising Year 5 work
Going through maths and English work from Year 5 is worthwhile because questions in the entrance exam will cover Year 5 material. You may find that there are some concepts your child is unsure of, but a little time will soon eliminate any issues.
- Using practice tests
Your child is unlikely to have encountered any test like the online Quest assessment before, which is why, after careful research, we have produced Quest practice tests. Working through our Aldenham Quest practice tests will fill your child with confidence as they get used to the online format, the timings of the modules and the question types. Additionally, they can learn from their mistakes using our answers and explanations, leading to fewer errors in the entrance exam. When it comes to highly competitive entrance exams, this sort of targeted practice can make all the difference between securing a place or not.
Aldenham School: 11 Plus (11+)/Year 7 Entrance Exam Practice Tests
Recommendations for each section of the Aldenham School 11 Plus Exam can be found below:
Aldenham School 11+ Online Test
To prepare for the highly competitive Aldenham School 11+ Online Test, we would highly recommend using the following resources:
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 1
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 2
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 3
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 4
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 5
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 6
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 7
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 8
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 9
11+ Aldenham School Practice Test 10
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Aldenham School 11+ Skill Practice
The following Skill Practice exercises focus on one module that will come up in the Aldenham School 11+ Online Test, allowing you to target the specific exam sections that your child finds challenging.
11+ Aldenham School Mathematics
11+ Aldenham School Creative Comprehension Pack 1
11+ Aldenham School Creative Comprehension Pack 2
11+ Aldenham School Puzzles & Problem Solving Pack 1
11+ Aldenham School Puzzles & Problem Solving Pack 2
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If you have any questions about our 11+ exam practice materials or need guidance, feel free to reach out to us! We’re here to help your child succeed in the entrance exam.
The information in this post was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of possible future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the post.
Please note that Pretest Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and not affiliated with or endorsed by the publishers of the Quest bespoke online test or any other test publisher.
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