St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024

Introduction

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School is a co-educational Catholic grammar school that operates in line with the motto Dieu Mon Abri (God is my shelter). Located in Langley, Berkshire, St. Bernard’s was founded in 1897 and continues to promote a spiritual life through worship and prayer.

 

Over 800 pupils are divided across four houses, named after monastic houses that all relate to the school’s history. The grammar has been deemed ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and achieves excellent academic outcomes, placing it in the top 1% nationally. [1]

 

According to recent GCSE results, 77% of students achieved grades 9-7 in English and Mathematics. This is mainly due to the comprehensive and effective teaching methods that characterise the school’s overarching academic provision.

 

Within the extensive enrichment programme, students have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of artistic, sporting and other activities. The school also organizes a rich timetable of residential trips to exciting destinations, such as the United States, France, Spain and Italy, providing the cohort with valuable experiences that broaden their horizons. [2]

 

The pastoral care system at St. Bernard’s is designed to provide comprehensive and personalised guidance, fostering a positive and motivational culture. Pupils are not only recognised and rewarded for their achievements but also encouraged to reach their full potential.

 

The school’s community values each student’s individual strengths and aspirations, assisting them in identifying their goals and providing them with the necessary support to help them succeed. Through regular communication and mentoring, staff ensure that students feel empowered to excel across all areas of their development.

 

Here is a short tour video to help you learn more about everything on offer at St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School:

 

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2024

 

Address: 1 Langley Road, Slough SL3 7AF

County: Berkshire

Admissions info: secretary@st-bernards.slough.sch.uk, 01753 527020

School type: Co-ed grammar

Number of places in Year 7: 150

Open Day date: July, September

Exam date: 21st September 2024

Pass mark: Aim for 80%+ in our practice tests. See below for more details.

Exam type / Board: GL Assessment

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions

 

There are currently 150 Year 7 places available at St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School and entry is determined by pupil performance in the 11 Plus exam. In a case of oversubscription, the school will adhere to the following criteria, giving priority to:

 

1. Looked after children or previously looked after children
2. Practising Baptised Catholic children with a Priest’s reference or a certificate of Catholic Practice
3. Other Baptised Catholic children
4. Baptised or Dedicated children of other Christian Churches with a religious leader’s reference
5. Baptised or Dedicated children of other Christian Churches
6. Children from other faiths.

 

To view the full list of oversubscription criteria at St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, please consult their admissions policy.

 

All prospective families are kindly advised to visit the grammar in order to meet staff members in person and explore the school’s grounds. Open Morning and Open Evening take place in July and September, respectively. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:

 

 

Is St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School part of a Consortium?

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School belongs to the Slough 11+ Consortium, a group of schools that use the same entrance exam format and share a very similar admissions process.

 

 

How to Apply for 11 Plus (11+) Entry to St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School

 

To apply for a Year 7 place at St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School on behalf of your child, you must register them with the Slough Consortium. You will also need to complete a Common Application Form (CAF), which can be done online via the Slough County Council website, and list St. Bernard’s as a school of preference.

 

As St. Bernard’s follows Slough Consortium’s schedule for Year 7 place allocation, you are kindly advised to consult the ‘Key Dates’ document (available on the school’s website) to ensure your child is registered in time for the 11+ exam.

 

Does St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School have a catchment area?

 

Although St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School doesn’t have a formally defined catchment area, it will prioritise children who attend one of the Catholic Primary Schools in St Peter’s Pastoral Area.

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format

 

The St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus exam consists of two papers, produced by GL Assessment, which cover the following areas:

 

• English
• Verbal Reasoning
• Mathematics
• Non-Verbal Reasoning (including Spatial Reasoning)

 

The English Comprehension paper examines comprehension skills, including inference. There will be no writing component.

 

The Verbal Reasoning section of the exam assesses logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary.

 

The Mathematics paper measures problem-solving abilities and arithmetic skills, including questions on number, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics.

 

The exam will also cover Non-Verbal Reasoning and Spatial Reasoning, both testing logic and intelligence.

 

How to Prepare for the St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam?

 

We highly recommend incorporating practice papers into your child’s study routine at an early stage. They will familiarise your child with the format and style of the exam, providing them with a clearer understanding of what to expect.

 

It is beneficial to encourage your child to take these practice papers under timed conditions, simulating the time constraints of the actual exam. This approach will help them become accustomed to answering questions efficiently and managing their time effectively.

 

We advise that you create such a ‘mock exam’ environment so that your child can benefit from valuable practice and build academic confidence. Providing a rare opportunity for your child to refine their exam techniques, our practice tests will help them approach the St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School exam with self-assurance.

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Pass Marks and Target Scores

 

The minimum required (standardised) score for the St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11+ exam is 111. Pupils who are able to score 80%+ consistently in our 11+ practice tests should be on track to pass the 11+ test.

 

Whilst there are no guarantees, this has historically been a fairly strong indicator that your child should do well in the St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11+ exam. Please click here to learn more.

 

St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Practice Exam Papers

 

The resources below will prove useful for children currently preparing for the St. Bernard’s Grammar School eleven plus exam:

 

Slough: Full Practice Tests

 

The following practice tests are specifically designed to help your child prepare for the 11 Plus Slough assessment. They provide excellent mock exam preparation, highlighting your child’s strengths and weaknesses:

 

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 1

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 2

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 3

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 4

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 5

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 6

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 7

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 8

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 9

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 10

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 11

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 12

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 13

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 14

11+ Slough Grammar Schools Practice Test 15

 

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11+ Slough Tests 1-5 Bundle - Save 15%

 

11+ Slough Tests 6-10 Bundle - Save 15%

 

11+ Slough Tests 11-15 Bundle - Save 15%

 

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Slough: Subject Specific Practice

 

English

The following 11+ resources will provide your child with effective practice in the lead-up to the St. Bernard’s English exam, thoroughly familiarising them with its requirements:

 

Full Practice Tests

11+ English – Pack 1

11+ English – Pack 2

11+ English – Pack 3

11+ English – Pack 4

11+ English – Pack 5

Skill Specific Practice

11+ Spelling – Pack 3

11+ Punctuation

11+ Sentence Completion

11+ Comprehension – Pack 1

11+ Comprehension – Pack 2

11+ Inference Skills – Pack 1

11+ Inference Skills – Pack 2

Masterclasses

11+ English (GL) Masterclass

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the English section of the Slough 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

11+ Slough English Bundle

 

Verbal Reasoning

The following Verbal Reasoning practice tests provide effective preparation for the 11+ exam at St. Bernard’s, exposing your child to various question types:

 

Full Practice Tests

11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1

11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2

11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3

11+ Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4

Skill Specific Practice

11+ Anagrams

11+ Analogies

11+ Codes

11+ Compound Words

11+ Embedded Words

11+ Form a Word

11+ Insert a Letter

11+ Letter Analogies

11+ Letter Calculations

11+ Letter Codes

11+ Letter Grids

11+ Letter Sequences

11+ Move a Letter

11+ Number Analogies

11+ Number Calculations

11+ Number Sequences

11+ Related Words

11+ Rhyming Synonyms

11+ Shuffled Sentences

11+ Synonyms

11+ Word Completion

11+ Word Match

11+ Word Opposites

11+ Word Pairs

11+ Word Puzzles

11+ Word Relationships

Masterclasses

11+ Verbal Reasoning Masterclass

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Verbal Reasoning section of the Slough 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

11+ Slough Verbal Reasoning Bundle

 

Mathematics

The following mathematics resources will efficiently prepare your child for the requirements of the St. Bernard’s entrance test:

 

Full Practice Tests

11+ Maths – Pack 1

11+ Maths – Pack 2

11+ Maths – Pack 3

11+ Maths – Pack 4

Skill Specific Practice

11+ Algebra

11+ Angles & Degrees

11+ BODMAS

11+ Estimation & Place Value

11+ Factors & Multiples

11+ Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

11+ Measurements

11+ Money

11+ Operations

11+ Perimeter, Area & Volume

11+ Position & Direction

11+ Probability

11+ Problem Solving – Pack 1

11+ Problem Solving – Pack 2

11+ Properties of Shapes

11+ Ratio & Proportion

11+ Reflection, Rotation & Symmetry

11+ Sequences

11+ Special Numbers

11+ Speed, Distance & Time

11+ Statistics

Masterclasses

11+ Maths (GL) Masterclass

 

✅ You can now purchase a bundle of all of our recommended resources for the Maths section of the Slough 11+ Exam at a large discount. Click the button below to learn more:

 

11+ Slough Mathematics Bundle

 

Non-Verbal & Spatial Reasoning

The following Non-Verbal (NVR) and Spatial Reasoning (SR) resources will provide your child with focused preparation for the St. Bernard’s 11+ exam:

 

NVR Full Practice Tests

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 1

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 2

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 3

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning – Pack 4

Skill Specific Practice

11+ Analogies

11+ Classes Like

11+ Classes Unlike

11+ Extended Series

11+ Figure Classification

11+ Figure Matrices

11+ Horizontal Codes

11+ Operations

11+ Series

11+ Triangle Matrices

11+ Triangle Series

11+ Star Matrices

11+ Vertical Codes

NVR Masterclasses

11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Masterclass

SR Full Practice Test

11+ Spatial Reasoning – Pack 1

SR Skill Specific Practice

11+ Block Counting

11+ Combining Shapes

11+ Fold & Punch

11+ Folding Cubes

11+ Hidden Shapes

11+ Shape Completion

11+ Spinning Shapes

11+ Rotation

 

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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.

 

 

Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions were included in St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School 11+ past papers. The information provided about St. Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School was 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 post.