Bolton School 11 Plus (11+) Entrance Exam Information 2026

Introduction

Bolton School is a large independent day school comprising a co-educational Nursery and Infant School and single-sex Junior and Senior Schools. The Boys’ School was originally known as Bolton Grammar School for Boys and dates back to the 16th century, whereas the Girls’ School was established in the 19th century.

The Boys’ Senior School is known as the Boys’ Division, and the Girls’ Senior School is known as the Girls’ Division. Both are for pupils aged 11-18. Boys and girls are taught separately at this stage because there is compelling evidence that girls and boys learn better when they do not feel constrained by stereotypes. Also, teaching styles can be adapted to suit the preferred learning methods of the different sexes.

Bolton School is rightly proud of its pupils’ academic achievements. Committed and highly experienced teachers motivate students to work hard and reach their full potential, making Bolton School one of the top schools in North England for GCSE and A Level results.

More than 100 clubs and activities are available to pupils in the Senior Schools, enabling students to learn new skills and enhance their talents while forging new friendships and having fun. Bolton School even has its own outdoor pursuits centre in the Lake District and a sailing boat on which pupils can take voyages.

Pastoral care is a key priority at Bolton School. All members of the school community are expected to treat each other with kindness and respect. If pupils experience any difficulties, they have plenty of trusted adults they can turn to for support and guidance, including their Form Tutor and Head of Year.

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

Admissions Process for 11 Plus Entry to Bolton School

Visiting Bolton School is the best way to start the admissions process so you can be sure it is the right school for your child. An Open Morning is held in October, which allows you to tour the school, listen to a presentation from the relevant Head, talk to staff, view the facilities and find out more about the entry procedure. You can also arrange an individual tour and book your child onto a taster morning.

If you decide you want a place in Year 7 in the Boys’ or Girls’ Division for your child, you should fill out the application form, preferably by early December of Year 6, but definitely before the start of the Christmas holidays. Please notify your child’s current school, as Bolton School will request a reference from the Head.

In January of Year 6, your child will sit Bolton School’s Year 7 entrance exam, which comprises three papers: maths, English and non-verbal reasoning. If your child reaches the required standard in the exam, they will be invited to attend an interview. A strong performance in their interview and a glowing reference from their current Head is likely to lead to the offer of a place.

Offer letters are sent out at the end of February and will specify the date by which you must accept or decline the offer.

You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

Bolton School: Scholarships and Bursaries for Year 7 Entry

Scholarships

Bolton School offers scholarships to candidates who excel in the entrance exam and to those who are exceptionally talented in sports, drama or music. Scholarships are worth up to £1,000 per annum and are not means-tested. Only a limited number are available.

Bursaries

If your household income is less than around £20,000 per annum, you may be entitled to a bursary covering 100% of the school’s fees. If your income is between £20,000 and £80,000, you may be entitled to a partial bursary. Bursaries are designed to enable gifted candidates whose families cannot afford the fees to benefit from an education at Bolton School.

You should indicate on your application form if you want to apply for a bursary. You will then be sent a bursary application form, which you must return before your child sits the entrance exam.

Our Top Tips for Preparing for the Year 7 Entry Exam to Bolton School

Here are our top tips to help your child prepare effectively:

• Encourage your child to read. The more your child reads, the wider their vocabulary will be. Reading will also enhance their spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Get your child to practise their mental arithmetic. You can ask your child mental arithmetic questions when you are on a car journey together. Make it fun by seeing how many answers they can get correct in a row. Challenge them to beat their record next time. In a shop, you could get your child to add up the cost of the items you’re going to buy and then see if they get it right.
• Schedule study sessions for your child to revise their KS2 maths and English schoolwork. This will ensure your child has the knowledge they need for the entrance exam. If you start the study sessions at least a few months before the entrance exam, you can avoid any last-minute panic and stress. Keep the sessions to around 30 minutes in length, as most children around the age of ten can only focus effectively for this length of time.
• Ask your child questions that they may be asked in their interview. You can ask your child, for example, what their favourite school subject is and why. You don’t want them to learn a response by heart, but you do want to get them thinking so that they have plenty to say in the interview. You also want them to be proficient at giving clear and articulate responses.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Lots of sleep, a nutritious diet and regular exercise will help your child’s concentration levels and optimise their physical and mental health. If they feel at their best, they will cope better with the build-up to the entrance exam and the exam itself.
• Adopt a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief that we can all improve our skills if we are prepared to put in the time and effort. Knowing that their study sessions will pay off can help keep your child motivated. Teach them that making mistakes is part of the process and that they can learn from them.
• Use targeted resources and practice papers. We have produced, after careful research, targeted resources and practice papers that your child can use so that you can feel confident your child has covered all the material they need to know for the entrance exam. The practice papers will familiarise them with the question types they will encounter and get them used to working accurately under time pressure. Our products will enable your child to develop all the skills necessary to ace Bolton School’s Year 7 entrance exam.
  

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

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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Bolton School 11 past papers. The information provided about Bolton School is believed to be correct at the time of publishing. However, please be aware of future changes. We advise you to contact the school directly if you are unsure of anything. School contact details are provided within the article.

Please note that Exam Papers Plus is an independent publisher of practice tests and resources, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bolton School.

Other entry points for Bolton School:

Click here to learn about Year 3 entry via the 7 Plus (7+) Exam
Click here to learn about Year 4 entry via the 8 Plus (8+) Exam