Our Admissions Process

There are approximately 72 places available to join Third Form (Year 9) each year.

The 13+ Entrance Exam takes place in January and boys must be registered by 30 November of the year preceding entry.

If you are interested in applying for a place from September 2025 onwards, please contact Admissions.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATION TIMETABLE - FOR ENTRY AT 13+ IN 2025:

Our friendly and experienced Admissions Department will be happy to answer any enquiries you have and to guide you through each stage of the process. They are contactable via the links below:

Telephone 01727 515182

Email

In the June of Year 7, we offer a 12+ preliminary assessment for boys for whom St Albans School is their first choice.

At our 12+ Assessment we will be using a new online adaptive testing process. This new system is bespoke for St Albans School and seeks to discover a candidate’s potential in Maths, English, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning as well as creative and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and problem-solving. This is a modern and efficient testing process which is fair, clear, robust and accessible to candidates from all schools and backgrounds. The adaptive aspect of the tests provides for greater differentiation and will result in a more precise evaluation of ability for high-ability candidates than standard tests. The tests are based on the National Curriculum which allows candidates in both state and independent schools to have equal accessibility.

The testing will be completed online on the St Albans School site during the 12+ Assessment Day and candidates will have a chance to undertake a familiarisation task before each test begins. There are seven parts to the assessment including Maths, English, Non-verbal Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Puzzles and Problem Solving and Creative Comprehension. There is no change to our interview process and all candidates will still have a small group interview with a member of staff on the Assessment Day. 

Please click here to view a familiarisation test and see examples of the types of questions candidates might see in the assessment.

Please click here to read a useful FAQ’s document which will hopefully answer any questions you may have.  

On the basis of this assessment, we may offer a place for entry into Third Form the following September. Alternatively, we may suggest a further attempt at entry via the competitive Entrance Examination at the end of January/beginning of February, or suggest that the candidate and his parents reconsider their choice of school in consultation with the Head of the Prep School.

12+ Timings for Year 9 entry in September 2025:

Click here to complete the online registration form for our 12+ Assessment

We encourage all families to get to know St Albans School better by visiting us.

We welcome prospective families to visit the School at our Open Mornings which we run three times a year. Our next Open Morning is on Saturday 20 April 2024 and you can book your place by completing the booking form here.

We also offer a number of daytime tours to prospective families looking for 13+ entry in 2024/2025. These tours are a great opportunity to visit us during a typical school day and will provide you with first-hand experience of life at St Albans School. The tour is led by one of our Senior prefects and lasts approximately 60 minutes with the option of meeting with the Admissions Team afterwards. 

Please contact Admissions via the links below to arrange your daytime tour:

Telephone 01727 515182

Email

For entry in Year 9 (Third Form) in September 2024 registration is now closed. 

If you would like to apply for a 13+ place for entry in September 2025 onwards, please complete our online registration form:

Click here to complete the 13+ online registration form

There is a non-refundable £150 registration fee payable when you submit your application and you will be directed to our online payment facility when you have completed the form.

Bursary applicants should contact the Admissions Department in advance of applying. 

If you have any queries or would like to send additional information or documents, please contact the Admissions Department via the links below:

Telephone 01727 515182

Email

Following the application deadline we will request a confidential academic reference from each candidate’s current school.

At the 13+ Assessment, candidates are required to sit papers in English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning, and there is also a short interview with a senior member of staff. 

Click here to view a sample 13+ English Paper

Click here to view a sample 13+ Maths Paper

At 13+ entry, we offer the following Scholarships:

Academic Scholarships 

External 13+ candidates must fulfil the 13+ academic entry requirements and the award of an academic scholarship will be conditional on the subsequent gaining of a place to enter the School in the Third Form.

A Scholarship is awarded for outstanding performance or potential and carries a small amount of financial remission. The value of the majority of scholarship awards is up to 25% of the annual school fee to commence at the beginning of Third Form. 

Scholars will sit papers in Verbal Reasoning, English, Maths, Science, French (or German/Spanish/Mandarin), History, Geography and an optional Latin paper. Candidates will have an interview with the Headmaster or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Sample paper French

Sample paper Geography

Sample paper History

Sample paper Latin

Sample paper Science

Click here to register for a 13+ Academic Scholarship examination

Art, Music and Sport Scholarships:

These Assessments take place towards the end of the same week as the Academic Scholarships and are open to both internal and external candidates.

Art Scholarships

External 13+ candidates must fulfil the 13+ academic entry requirements and therefore the award of an Art scholarship will be conditional on the subsequent gaining of a place to enter the School in the Third Form. Scholars will be expected to choose Art as an option in the Third Form and continue with the subject until Lower Sixth, as a minimum.

The value of the majority of scholarship awards is up to 25% of the annual school fee to commence at the beginning of Third Form. 

Candidates should bring a portfolio consisting of recent artwork undertaken at their present school and independent work. There should be a mixture of direct observational drawings and work of an imaginative nature which should clearly highlight the candidate’s strengths. Portfolio work should be executed in a variety of media and evidence of any involvement with stage design for school plays and illustrations for school magazines is also helpful as an Art Scholar would be expected to contribute to these activities at St Albans. Please note the copying of cartoons, comic strips or photographs is not encouraged.

Candidates will be required to sit a practical test of 2 ½ hours which will involve an A3 observational drawing of a Still Life arrangement using a range of provided graphite pencils. The drawings should focus on the Formal Elements of Line, Tone, Texture, Composition and Perspective.

Click here to register for a 13+ Art Scholarship

Music Scholarships

External 13+ candidates must fulfil the 13+ academic entry requirements and the award of a Music Scholarship is conditional on the subsequent gaining of a place to enter the School in the Third Form.

Scholars will be expected to play a full part in the musical life of the school. Scholars do not need to take Music as a GCSE subject choice. Current St Albans School pupils going into Third Form may also apply for a Music Scholarship.

The value of the majority of scholarship awards is up to 25% of the annual school fee to commence at the beginning of Third Form. 

Candidates should be playing at, or have achieved, at least distinction standard at ABRSM Grade 6 or above in one instrument and/or singing. Candidates are encouraged to perform on second instruments if available, but this is not a condition for an award; musical ability and potential are sought.

At the Assessment, candidates should prepare a programme of 8-10 minutes duration, which may include pieces on a second instrument and/or voice. Original compositions may also be submitted. A short sight-reading test equivalent to that expected for Grade 6 standard will be given. There will also be a brief discussion about the candidate’s
current musical interests and activities.

Click here to register for a 13+ Music Scholarship

Sport Scholarships

Sport Scholarships are awarded to students who excel in one (or more) of the following major sports at the School:

• Cricket
• Cross Country/Athletics
• Hockey
• Rugby

External 13+ candidates must fulfil the 13+ academic entry requirements and the award of a sport scholarship will be conditional on the subsequent gaining of a place to enter the School in the Third Form. Current St Albans School Pupils (going into Third Form). Scholars will be expected to play a full role in the sporting life of the school.

The award value is up to 15% of annual school fee to commence at the beginning of Third Form.

Candidates should be County Level (or equivalent) in their primary sport. They should also be competent and show future potential to represent St Albans School at A team level in at least one other of the above named sports or in another of the representative sports at St Albans such as Swimming, Tennis, Golf or Football. Applications should include references from current schools and sports bodies (such as County) indicating clear evidence of the applicant’s sporting achievements. In addition to displaying a high level of competency within their chosen sport, applicants will also be expected to display attributes such as positive attitude, the ability to motivate and high levels of leadership.

The assessment consists of:

• Practical assessments in the four sports mentioned above
• Fitness tests
• Group Cohesion & Leadership Challenge
• Interviews

Click here to register for a 13+ Sport Scholarship

Combined Academic Scholarship and Competitive Entrance Exam

Those candidates wishing to be considered for Scholarships, regardless of whether they already hold an offer following the 12+ Preliminary Assessment, sit papers over three days at the end of the January prior to entry. Boys wishing to enter the School at 13+ the following September without attempting the Scholarship, who have not secured a conditional place prior to this within the Preliminary Assessments, will sit a selection of the same exams (over a two-day period) but are not in direct competition with the Scholarship candidates. These exams take place during the final week of January.

I’m interested in a St Albans School education for my son, where do I start?

The best place to start is to come in tour the School and find out more about us. We offer three Open Mornings a year and daytime tours during the week with one of our prefects. Contact the Admissions Department to arrange your visit.

I came to an Open Morning, can I come back and visit the School again?

Yes, you can attend another Open Morning or can book a daytime tour during the working week by contacting the Admissions Department. Daytime tours take place three times per week with one of our Sixth Form Prefects.

What is the difference between a Bursary and a Scholarship?

A Bursary is means-tested funding provided by the School to assist pupils in obtaining a place at St Albans School when it wouldn’t otherwise be accessible. A Scholarship is awarded for outstanding performance or potential and carries a small amount of financial remission (up to 20%).

I am interested in applying for a Bursary, what do I need to do?

You can indicate when completing your online registration form that you would like to be considered for a Bursary. The Admissions Department will be in touch to discuss the next steps. The level of funding award is usually between 40-100%.

I’ve completed the registration form, when will I hear from the School again?

Exam day information for 13+ is sent to parents at the beginning of December via email.

Timings for 12+ and 13+: