How to get into City of London School for Girls at 11 Plus

Introduction

City of London School for Girls has a significant intake at 11+, with 100 students joining at this point. Some students will come straight from the newly-established City Junior School. The school’s other major entrance point is into the Sixth Form at 16+. There are around 7 applicants for every place at 11+. 

Places are awarded on the basis of performance in a two-stage admissions process in Year 6. These examinations and interviews take place in both the Autumn and Spring terms of Year 6 (the school year before admission), when students will be 10 or 11 years old.

Open Events and Registration

The school holds 2 open events per year for prospective parents at 11+, in the Autumn and Summer terms. These are booked up quickly, and only open for booking in September and April respectively. 

Parents must register their daughters by the end of October of Year 6. For example, the registration deadline for entry in September 2024 is Friday 27th October 2023.

Parents of applicants must register online using the form below:

https://clsg.org.uk/registration/11reg/

At this point, parents must indicate their daughter’s date of birth, basic information like name, current school, address and parent’s contact details. Registration costs £160, or £250 for parents outside the UK. This fee covers all administration around the exam.

City of London School for Girls will contact your daughter’s current school by December of Year 6 to request a reference and to let them know that they will be sitting the exam. As a result, they advise you to let your daughter’s current school know that they are applying.

Pre-testing

City of London School for Girls does not use pre-testing at 11+.

Assessments

City of London School for Girls sets a first 11+ entrance exam in November of Year 6. This is an hour-long online test of maths and reasoning, including verbal and non-verbal. Results are then sent out by email in mid-December, and successful students are invited in for a second assessment.

For entry in September 2024, the first assessment will take place between 17th and 22nd November 2023. 

The second assessment will be on Tuesday 9th January 2024. This is a 45 minute English paper and a 45 minute Maths paper. 

The school supplies sample papers in Maths and English, which you can view below:

https://clsg.org.uk/app/uploads/2021/09/English-sample-paper-2021.pdf

https://clsg.org.uk/app/uploads/2021/09/Maths-sample-paper-for-website.pdf

Interviews and Offers

Students who do well at both stages of the 11+ examinations are invited in for interview in late January of Year 6.

At 11+ the interview process is around 20 minutes long. Please don’t worry about this: the school wants to know if your child is going to be happy and do well there. A tutor can run through some likely questions with your daughter!

Offers are then sent out by email on Friday 9th February 2024. These must be accepted by early March 2024. 

Scholarships and Bursaries

City of London School for Girls offers both Scholarships and Bursaries. Only Music scholarships are offered at 11+. Scholarships are worth up to £1500 a year, and are awarded for the duration of a student’s time at the school.

Music scholarships are awarded at 11+. Applicants must be at least Grade 6 in an instrument (including voice). Students who have applied are invited to attend an audition, which will be in January 2024, after the entrance assessment process is complete. This is followed by an interview with a Music teacher.

The school offers full-fee bursaries, as well as smaller awards. Parents must fill out a separate form at the time of application. Please contact the school for further information.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Academic scholarships are not offered by the school

Art scholarships are awarded at 11+. Applicants must submit a portfolio of work. Students are invited to attend a 30 minute still life drawing exam, which will be on the same day as an interview. This is followed by an interview with an Art teacher.

Drama scholarships are awarded at 11+. Students are invited to attend an audition, which will be on the same day as an interview. This is followed by an interview with a Drama teacher.

Music scholarships are awarded at 11+. Applicants must be at Grade 6 in an instrument. Students are invited to attend a 30 minute audition, which will be on the same day as an interview. This is followed by an interview with a Music teacher.

Sports scholarships are awarded at 11+. Applicants must already be at a strong level in their chosen sport. Students are invited to attend a trial at the school, which will be on the same day as an interview. This is followed by an interview with a Sports teacher.

Fees

Fees (payable termly) were £7,926 for Year 7 (11+ entry) in the year 2023-2024. This came to £23,778 a year.