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Introduction
Sydenham High School is an independent school for girls located in Westwood Hill, Sydenham, London. It was founded by the Girls’ Day School Trust in 1887. Originally educating 20 pupils, the school soon grew into a school of 600 girls.
Sydenham High’s facilities expanded significantly in recent years due to an ongoing investment by the GDST. A Performing Arts Centre was opened in 2006, whilst the Junior School development added classrooms for teaching Science, Art, ICT and languages in 2009.
The continuous efforts to improve facilities aims to have them reflect the high-quality education that’s offered at Sydenham High. The broad and balanced curriculum includes mathematics, design and technology, English, religious studies, science, art, computing, history, PSHE as well as French, Spanish, German and Italian as language options.
The curriculum aims to prepare girls academically for the Upper School as well as their GCSE courses, whilst enabling them to develop personal skills and attributes that will benefit them in the long run.
The school also invests in subject extension activities, such as conferences, trips and workshops which reinforce teaching and learning and give a profound meaning to education through a range of exceptional learning opportunities.
Specialist facilities for the teaching of science, ICT, music, art and design and technology are utilised, whilst a variety of co-curricular activities take place in state-of-the-art sports facilities that include a large indoor sports centre, a fitness suite, a large all-weather pitch and an eight acre sports ground in Lower Sydenham with tennis courts and a pavilion.
The Stepping Up to Year 7 programme introduced by the school aims to help our new pupils transition smoothly into Senior School life. It occurs weekly and is led by the Head of Year 7. Activities include: building new relationships, resilience activities, leaving a legacy and many others.
These and similar efforts to accommodate children to new routines, expectations and relationships tend to encourage them to internalise the school’s original Anglo Saxon motto Nyle ye drede (fear nothing) and live the rest of their lives accordingly.
Sydenham High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Information 2026
Address: 19 Westwood Hill London SE26 6BL
County: Wiltshire
Admissions info: admissions@syd.gdst.net or 020 8557 7004
School type: Independent day school for girls
Number of students: 600 (approx.)
Open day: November, March, May
11+ Exam date: November of Year 6
11+ Exam type / Board: School’s own
Open Events for Sydenham High School 11 Plus (11+) Entry
The school offers Open Events and Taster Sessions throughout the school year. Open Mornings are held on a working day, allowing prospective families to explore the campus through guided tours.
Taster Sessions offer your daughter the opportunity to experience life at Sydenham High first-hand whilst she takes part in different lessons and activities. Places for Taster Sessions are limited and registration is essential. You can view the school’s exact location on the map below:
Sydenham High School 11 Plus (11+) Admissions
Applicants are invited to sit a paper-based examination. The school then conducts an interview with your daughter in order to get to know a little more about her. Interviews last around 15 minutes. A reference from her current school will also be required.
The entrance examinations and the interview typically take place in November of the year preceding entry. The application fee is £100 for UK students and £125 for overseas students.
Sydenham High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Format
The 11+ exam at Sydenham High School consists of the following papers:
- Maths
- English
- Verbal Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Creative Writing
The mathematics paper is designed to test your child’s problem solving and arithmetic skills. The paper will include questions on number, measurement, geometry, algebra and statistics.
The English paper examines comprehension skills, such as inference and factual recollection.
The Verbal Reasoning paper is primarily designed to test and assess pupils’ logical thinking, use of English language and vocabulary.
The Non-Verbal Reasoning paper is designed to test the ability to understand, interpret and problem-solve, testing logic and intelligence rather than knowledge.
The Creative Writing paper consists of writing exercises, including spelling and grammar.
Please see below for further details and recommendations on how to prepare for the Sydenham High School 11+ entrance examinations.
How to Prepare for the Sydenham High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam
For your child to be able to deal with the exam paper questions quickly, efficiently and confidently, we suggest that you utilise our up to date resources.
With the help of these, your daughter will familiarise herself with the style and layout of the Sydenham High 11+ entrance exam, and thus overcome her nerves and gain a significant advantage over other candidates.
Our practice tests will also help you devise an effective study plan. Once you identify the weaker areas that require additional work, you will be able to highlight what needs to be studied and when.
In this way, your daughter will get used to answering our targeted test questions under time pressure, which will result in a major confidence boost ahead of the actual exam.
Our resources are age-appropriate yet challenging. For that reason, they are used successfully by tens of thousands of students every year. They are available for immediate download, print and use after purchase.
Please see below our picks for successful Sydenham High School 11+ entrance exam preparation.
Sydenham High School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Practice Papers
NOTE: The following English and Mathematics practice tests are in standard format, which means that students need to write in their own answers rather than choose from a list of multiple-choice options. This matches the 11+ Exam format used by the school.
The following packs are highly recommended for improving comprehension and writing skills, including spelling, vocabulary and inference ahead of the Sydenham High School 11+ English exam.
Practice Papers
In order to help develop your daughter’s skills within an examination context ahead of the Sydenham High School 11+ maths test, we strongly suggest that you make use of the following packs.
Practice Papers
To develop your child’s Verbal Reasoning abilities ahead of the Sydenham High School 11+ entrance examination, we suggest that you make use of the following packs that cover all of the key question types:
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
For the Sydenham High School 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning paper, make use of these highly recommended packs of practice tests that cover all of the key question types:
Practice Papers
Video Masterclasses
Video Masterclasses
If you’d like to have your child’s writing assessed and marked, you may be interested in our Writing Marking Service. Please click here to learn more.
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Our practice tests aim to show what sort of questions have been included in Sydenham High School 11+ past papers. The information provided about Sydenham High 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 Sydenham High School.
Other entry points for Sydenham High 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
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Author(s)
Louise Lang
Director of Learning