The Perse School: Entry Procedure for 11 Plus/Year 7

Introduction

The Perse School is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 3-18. It comprises the Pelican School (ages 3-7), the Prep School (ages 7-11), the Upper School (ages 11-16) and the Sixth Form (ages 16-18). It was founded in 1615 by Dr Stephen Perse, who wanted gifted boys to find a way out of poverty through the power of education.

Academically, The Perse School is superb. In 2024, an impressive 88% of GCSE grades were in the 9-7 range, and 82% of A Level grades were A* or A. Leavers went on to study at world-leading universities, including 19 at Cambridge and 18 at Oxford. 

A wide range of extra-curricular activities are on offer at The Perse. Pupils are encouraged to get involved so that they develop into well-rounded, confident young people. Available pursuits include chess, yoga, baking and ceramics. Additionally, the outdoor education department organises a number of exciting trips.

Pastoral care at The Perse School is excellent. The pastoral team is there for any pupil who needs support and guidance. Tutors are also on hand to listen to any concerns pupils have. Should a student prefer, they can seek support from one of the school counsellors.

If you are considering applying for a place in Year 7 for your child, please read on.

 

Admissions Process for 11 Plus Entry to The Perse School

A great way to start the admissions process is by visiting The Perse, which will let you get a feel for the place and see if it is a good fit for your child. You will be taken on a tour by a pupil, listen to a talk given by the head, meet staff members and chat with the admissions team. Open events are held in the summer and autumn terms. 

You must then complete the online registration form by the deadline at the start of December of Year 6 and submit a copy of your child’s latest school report. Additionally, a £240 non-refundable registration fee has to be paid at this stage.

In January of Year 6, your child will attend The Perse School for the following:

• To sit assessments in English, maths and verbal reasoning
• To participate in a group activity
• To be interviewed by a Perse teacher, who will ask about their hobbies and passions
  
  

In early February, The Perse School will let you know whether your child has been allocated a place. If your child is offered a place, you are required to accept or decline it by early March. If you accept it, you must pay the £840 non-refundable acceptance fee.

 

The Perse School: Scholarships and Bursaries for Year 7 Entry

Scholarships 

The Perse School does not offer any scholarships for Year 7 entry. However, music scholarships are offered at the end of Year 7 once the music department has had the opportunity to assess pupils’ musical abilities and enthusiasm. Invitations to audition for a music scholarship are then offered to the most exceptional students. Scholarships carry a one-off monetary value of £500 and are not means-tested.

Bursaries

Several bursaries are available for pupils joining The Perse in Year 7. They are worth 5-100% of the school’s fees and are means-tested. If you cannot afford the fees but your child excels throughout the admissions process and would make the most of all The Perse has to offer, you could be offered a bursary. Please indicate on your registration form if you need financial assistance.  

We will now cover what your child can expect in the entrance exam for Year 7 entry to The Perse.

 

 

Our Top Tips for Preparing for the Year 7 Entry Procedure to The Perse School

We recommend the following when you are helping your child to prepare for the assessment day at The Perse School:

• Encourage your child to read.

Reading a diverse range of books will help expand your child’s vocabulary, spark their imagination and improve their writing skills. This will prove beneficial for the English and verbal reasoning papers.   

• Ensure your child develops their interests and discovers things they are passionate about.

Doing activities they enjoy is good for your child’s mental health. It will also give them plenty to talk about at the interview.

• Revise work covered in school. 

Please help your child revise the KS2 topics they have covered at school. It is crucial they have the necessary knowledge to write well when sitting the English paper and answer questions in the maths paper. Consider a tutor, who will be in a great position to know precisely what your child needs to revise. 

• Ensure your child eats a balanced diet, gets enough sleep and exercises regularly.

A balanced diet, sufficient sleep and regular exercise will optimise your child’s cognitive abilities, reduce stress and promote good mental health. 

• Celebrate your child’s successes.

Praise your child for their efforts and successes, no matter how small. A positive approach will help keep them motivated. Also, they should be encouraged to have a positive mindset, believing that skills can be improved with time and effort.   

• Use targeted resources and practice tests.

Using targeted resources and practice tests is an effective way to prepare for a competitive entrance exam. Our resources and practice tests have all been produced after careful research, meaning they can form a valuable part of your child’s preparation. Practice tests are particularly useful for getting your child used to answering questions under time constraints.  

Please look at the resources we recommend below.

 

The Perse School: 11 Plus (11+)/Year 7 Entrance Exam Practice Materials

Recommendations for each section of The Perse School 11 Plus exam can be found below:

Online Practice Tests

We have carefully selected a range of product recommendations to support your child’s preparation for The Perse School 11+ exam. These resources cover Mathematics, English, Non-Verbal Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning, ensuring that all key areas are thoroughly addressed. Each product is designed to replicate the actual exam format, providing your child with effective practice and helping to build confidence ahead of the assessment.

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 1

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 2

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 3

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 4

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 5

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 6

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 7

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 8

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 9

11+ The Perse School Practice Test 10
11+ The Perse School Practice Test 11
11+ The Perse School Practice Test 12
11+ The Perse School Practice Test 13
11+ The Perse School Practice Test 14

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for The Perse School 11+ Online Test at a large discount. These are available on our other site, Pretest Plus. Click the button below to learn more:

11+ The Perse School Practice Tests 1-14 Bundle - Save 33%

Online Skills Practice

The following Skill Practice exercise focuses on one module that will come up in the The Perse School 11+ online exam, allowing your child to target the specific exam section they find most challenging.

11+ The Perse School Mathematics

 

Don’t forget to use the code eppdiscount at checkout to get 10% off orders over £70 and 20% off orders over £250 if you don’t buy a bundle.

Please do contact us if you have any questions about our resources. We will do our best to help you. We want to take this opportunity to wish your child all the best in their entrance exam and at senior school.

The information provided about The Perse School 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 resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publishers of the Quest Assessment or any other test publisher and The Perse School.